League of American Orchestras

10/06/2026

Why choose between classical music, Shakespeare, mariachi, and ballet, when you can combine them all? The Austin Symphony Orchestra (ASO) used creative community collaboration to plan school concerts with a local focus. “Midsummer in Marfa: A West Texas Fairy Tale” featured the ASO alongside Mariachi Las Alteñas, Ventana Ballet, Austin Shakespeare, and more, with arrangements by Texas composer Federico Chávez-Blanco.

Find more arts-integrated inspiration in the League's new report on education and community engagement: https://americanorchestras.org/orchestras-building-community-through-education-and-engagement/

(Photos by Misty Rae Photography)

10/02/2026

“Our art form has evolved significantly over these last 25 years. Going forward, rapid change is guaranteed.”

As Howard Herring marks the end of 25 years as president and CEO of New World Symphony, he shares his thoughts with Symphony on the future of bringing classical music to audiences.

Read more:

10/01/2026

Kick off the fall season with our latest policy update. Learn about voter engagement tools, a new bill to combat ticketing fraud, and tightened restrictions on work eligibility of international students:

09/30/2026

What a “vision” to behold! Drawing inspiration from quantum mechanics, vision care, color blindness, dyslexia, and the Hubble Space Telescope, Leanna Primiani, composer’s VISIONS was premiered by ROCO and conductor Delyana Lazarova last weekend.

The piece was commissioned by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program, an initiative of the League of American Orchestras in partnership with the American Composers Orchestra (ACO).

(Photo credit: Rolando Ramon)

09/26/2026

ROCO embarks on its 22nd season with Eyes on the Horizon, an opening weekend featuring two world premiere commissions in back-to-back orchestra performances conducted by Artistic Partner Delyana Lazarova.

The program begins with Jonathan Peters‘ Sonus Colorum, an orchestral celebration of color in sound, before moving into two multimedia world premieres that explore the connections between sight, sound, and perspective. Leanna Primiani’s VISIONS, a concerto for orchestra, explores the lenses through which we see the world and how perception shapes our understanding of ourselves and those around us. Composer and saxophonist Alison Shearer features in her own new work, The Light Paintings, inspired by abstract artwork created by her late father, acclaimed LIFE photojournalist John Shearer. The evening concludes with The Godfather trilogy composer Nino Rota‘s rarely performed Symphony No. 3 in C Major.

Thanks to the Houston Arts Alliance and the City of Houston for support of ROCO’s 22nd season!

09/24/2026

If you’re attending a concert this weekend, you’re in good company! 22.5 million people attended 30,000 performances by orchestras over the 2024-2025 season, and 40% of those performances were offered for free to the community.

(Photo: Akron Symphony Orchestra audience members, applauding a February 2026 performance of "Gospel Meets Symphony." Credit: Dale D**g.)

09/23/2026

If you can’t make it in-person to the world premiere of Leanna Primiani, composer’s VISIONS by ROCO this weekend, Friday’s concert will also be livestreamed on both the League’s and ROCO’s pages, beginning at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific.

The piece was commissioned by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program, an initiative of the League of American Orchestras in partnership with the American Composers Orchestra (ACO).

09/22/2026

Students! Share your knowledge and leadership skills to help us grow the student constituency and build your resume—today , September 22, is the FINAL day to apply for the 2026-27 Student Leadership Council!

More details about the Council:

The Student Leadership Council provides a platform for the organization to integrate the voices of young people into its work and support the growth of student engagement within the orchestra field.

09/18/2026

Orchestras are commemorating their history while looking to the future in exciting ways.

Congratulations to all of our member orchestras and business partners celebrating anniversaries this season! Read more in Symphony:

09/17/2026

Check out how the New Jersey Symphony is celebrating Arts in Education Week!