Worcester Symphony Orchestra

Worcester Symphony Orchestra News and events related to WSO The orchestra is an independent cultural organization committed to enhancing the quality of life in our communities.

Our vision: Connecting New England with Great Music

Our mission: The Worcester Symphony Orchestra enriches and inspires lives through music, community engagement, and education, while maintaining financial stability. The Worcester Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has served Central Massachusetts for more than 47 years, providing programs for the education, enrichment and pleasure of the citizens an

d musicians of the region. The WSO founded in 1974 in South Lancaster by Dr. Jon Robertson as the Thayer Conservatory Orchestra. Mark Churchill later succeeded Dr. Robertson and nurtured TCO for the next six years. Following Dr. Robertson's tenure, Francis Wada became the music director of the then named Thayer Symphony Orchestra. From its inception as a community orchestra, the now newly named WSO has provided professional, as well as community volunteer and student musicians, the opportunity to perform in a quality full-size symphony orchestra in New England. The WSO has maintained its core mission to "sustain and develop a symphony orchestra of the highest quality for the education, enrichment and pleasure of the citizens and musicians of Central Massachusetts and beyond." This performing arts institution is an independent, non-profit cultural organization that does not receive major support from any one source. The WSO is a non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing the best that our many communities have to offer. The WSO has become the region's most comprehensive music organization. The WSO includes the Friends of the New England Symphony, who augment our fund-raising activities and assist our professional staff. The Massachusetts Cultural Council recognized the Worcester Symphony Orchestra as a leader in enriching the cultural life of the Commonwealth. The WSO was one of only twenty-nine organizations awarded this special recognition and is one of only eight to receive this distinction two years in a row. This has proudly provided cultural enrichment to this region for over 47 years. As we celebrate our forty-eighth season, our commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve only grows stronger. The WSO's present Music Director, Roderick MacDonald is the successor to Maestro Francis Wada who retired after over 30 years of service.

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03/06/2026

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Email from Worcester Symphony Orchestra Don't Miss This Evening of Sinatra Magic - Get Your Tickets Now! Hi Patron: Make plans to be at Mechanics Hall on March 28 at 7 PM for a memorable evening with

02/06/2026

Frank Sinatra didn’t need a microphone to silence a room.

Sometimes, all it took was one sentence and a line he refused to let anyone cross.

It was a night in Las Vegas in the early 1960s, backstage at the Sands Hotel. Neon lights flickered along the Strip outside, music poured from the main showroom, and behind the scenes, performers moved through what should have been a routine evening.

Sammy Davis Jr. had just finished his set. He walked offstage to applause, sweat still on his brow, his smile not yet faded. As he approached the guest elevator, a hotel employee stopped him and spoke quietly, but clearly enough to sting:

“I’m sorry you’ll have to use the service entrance.”

It wasn’t because Sammy was late.
It wasn’t because he had broken any rules.
It was because of the color of his skin.

Sammy froze. He had endured moments like this before so often that the fatigue sometimes cut deeper than the insult. He turned to walk away, ready to take the familiar back route. That was when Frank Sinatra appeared.

Frank didn’t ask questions. He took in the scene, then looked straight at the employee. His voice was calm, steady, but firm enough to still the hallway:

“If he doesn’t ride this elevator,” Frank said, “then neither do I.”

Management was summoned. Tension filled the air. Frank folded his arms not shouting, not threatening just repeating himself, more clearly this time:

“Either Sammy rides like everyone else, or I don’t perform tonight. And the show ends here.”

Not every star would have taken that stand. Not everyone would have been willing to put contracts, money, and reputation on the line for what was right. But Frank Sinatra did.

In the end, the elevator doors opened. Sammy Davis Jr. stepped inside not as an exception, but as a man deserving of equal respect. Frank followed, resting a hand on Sammy’s shoulder, saying nothing more.

Years later, Sammy would recall that what moved him most wasn’t the small victory itself, but the way Frank handled it without theatrics, without seeking praise, without needing an audience. He simply refused to accept injustice, even when it happened quietly, behind the curtain.

Frank Sinatra is often remembered for his love songs, his flawless suits, and a voice that defined an era. But for those who truly knew him, moments like that night mattered just as much.

Because behind the spotlight, Frank wasn’t just a legend.
He was a friend.
A man who knew where to stand especially when no one was watching.

And perhaps that was his most honest performance of all.

Our next concert at Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester
01/07/2026

Our next concert at Mechanics Hall in downtown Worcester

12/29/2025
Past WSO symphony concert excerpt.
12/05/2025

Past WSO symphony concert excerpt.

Worcester Symphony Orchestra(September 23rd, Mechanics Hall, Worcester Massachusetts)

06/21/2025

Wagner, Richard (excerpt)

This is fun, Maestro Slade is from Worcester, England,...I think they had a concert last night too..
06/01/2025

This is fun, Maestro Slade is from Worcester, England,...I think they had a concert last night too..

05/29/2025

First rehearsal tonight

Symphony Concert: Duty, Honor, Country
04/25/2025

Symphony Concert: Duty, Honor, Country

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11/27/2024

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Email from Worcester Symphony Orchestra We need your help for 2025. Hi Edgar: Thank you for your support of the Worcester Symphony Orchestra as we enter our 51st year. Our vision of 'Connecting New

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Leominster, MA
01453

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