in 1945, saul caston, who had been associate conductor of the philadelphia orchestra under both leopold stokowski and eugene ormandy, was hired as the denver symphony's conductor and music director. caston built the orchestra significantly during his tenure, through touring, school performances, low-priced family ticket plans, and outdoor performances at the red rocks amphitheatre, west of denver. a 1951 "time" article documented his leadership, declaring, "last season the denver symphony was among the leaders in performing american music".