Regional Orchestra of the Week: Atlanta Symphony, GA

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to announce its newest series - the Featured Symphony Orchestra of the Week!

Today's featured classical ensemble is the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Atlanta, Georgia!

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, currently in its 68th season, consistently affirms its position as one of America's leading Orchestras by performing great music, presenting great artists, educating, and engaging.

The Orchestra is known for the excellence of its live performances, presentations, renowned choruses, and its impressive list of GRAMMY Award-winning recordings. The leading cultural organization in the Southeast, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra serves as the cornerstone for artistic development and music education in the region. Since September 2001, the Orchestra and audiences together explore a creative programming mix, recordings, and visual enhancements, such as the Theater of a Concert, the Orchestra's continuing exploration of different formats, settings, and enhancements for the musical performance experience. Another example is the Atlanta School of Composers, which reflects Mr. Spano, and the Orchestra's commitment to nurturing and championing music through multi-year partnerships defining a new generation of American composers. Since the beginning of his tenure (to date), Mr. Spano and the Orchestra have performed over 100 concerts containing contemporary works (composed since 1950), including 15 ASO-commissioned world premieres.

During its 32-year history with Telarc, the Orchestra and Chorus has recorded more than 100 albums and its recordings have won 27 GRAMMY Awards in categories including Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance, and Best Opera Performance.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs more than 200 concerts each year for a combined audience of more than a half million in a full schedule of performances which also features educational and community concerts. A recognized leader and supporter of contemporary American music, the Orchestra recently received the 2007 award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In addition, Music Director Robert Spano was named Musical America 2008 Conductor of the Year.

With the opening of the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in May 2008, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra became the first U.S. orchestra to annually perform and present in its concert hall, and in two amphitheaters. In Summer 2008, the Orchestra celebrated 35 years at legendary Chastain Park Amphitheater, the award-winning 6,500 seat venue in Atlanta, during the Orchestra's annual Delta Classic Chastain concert series.

Upcoming events in March presented by the Atlanta Symphony include 'Coucheron Performs Mendelssohn', 'Beethoven's Pastorale', 'Russian Stalwarts' and The Youth Orchestra's 'Crescendo'. For a full list of concerts, click here.

To learn more about Atlanta Symphony, click here.

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Info and photos courtesy of Atlanta Symphony