Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is a versatile professional orchestra, performing the gamut of musical styles – from Mozart to Montgomery, Shostakovich to Simon. Equally at home giving shining performances of the revered classical symphonic masterpieces as it is with platforming newly minted commissions, the A2SO performs to 70,000 listeners every year in the Ann Arbor area.

Founded in 1928, the A2SO (then known as the Ann Arbor Community Orchestra, and later the Ann Arbor Civic Orchestra) offered its first major program in November 1931. In 1941, distinguished music educator Joseph Maddy, who had founded what would later become the Interlochen Center for the Arts, became the fourth conductor of the Symphony, which at this time was still made up of amateur players. By 1986, the A2SO had become a fully professional orchestra under conductor Carl St.Clair, and has continued to grow in artistic quality ever since. On June 9, 2022, the orchestra announced the appointment of the 2022 Sir Georg Solti Award winner Earl Lee as the orchestra’s 14th Music Director, ushering in a new chapter in the A2SO’s mission and vision.

One of the Midwest’s leading symphony orchestras, the A2SO is critically acclaimed for innovative programming and a deep commitment to artistic excellence. Its musicians are the finest professional performers in the region and around the globe and present concerts in all venues – from area farmers markets to school classrooms, and from libraries to day care and senior centers. Recent innovations include the launch of the A2SO's My Song program, equipping kids with tools and resources to create their own melodies. The culmination of this process is the opportunity for students to hear their compositions performed by a professional musician, building on their foundations and demonstrating the basics of writing for a variety of instruments. Demonstrating the orchestra’s deep commitment to supporting teachers and learning initiatives across the region, the A2SO has developed resources for its Teacher Resource Hub, presented the Link Up performances in partnership with Carnegie Hall, brought its KinderConcerts series into Ann Arbor, Saline, Ypsilanti, Chelsea and Dexter libraries, and presented special performances at C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

A2SO concerts can be heard in person at the historic Michigan Theater and Hill Auditorium, as well as broadcast on the WRCJ and WKAR radio stations. Whether on your device or radio, in the concert hall or the classroom, the A2SO is passionately committed to enriching the culture of the region. We attract, inspire and educate the most diverse audiences possible, foster a growing appreciation for orchestral music and regional talent, and provide imaginative programming through community involvement.