Adrian Symphony Orchestra
The Adrian Symphony Orchestra was founded more than 30 years ago with the mission to create musical performances of the highest quality and to present activities that educate, enhance, and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Lenawee County and Southeast Michigan.
Now in its 31st season, the ASO is committed to providing excellent Music for Everyone through diverse seasons of classical, pops, family, and educational concerts. Our goal is to create remarkable live concert experiences now and for years to come.
The ASO attracts the finest musicians from the world's stage to produce performances of the high quality normally experienced in a large city. Members of the orchestra are professional musicians active in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. These musicians perform with other professional orchestras, ballets, and opera companies. Many teach music in the region, in private studios, colleges, universities, and public schools.
The orchestra regularly collaborates with extraordinary soloists, including prize winners of the Naumburg, Leeds, and Tchaikovsky competitions. ASO guest artists have appeared with internationally-known orchestras in venues ranging from New York's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Vienna's Musikverein. Recent ASO soloists have appeared with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Dresden Staatskapelle, as well as other prestigious orchestras around the world.
In 2008, the ASO became one of only seven orchestras selected nationwide by the League of American Orchestras to participate in its Institutional Vision Program, a three-year intensive program devoted to long-term institutional growth and big-picture planning. During the program, the orchestra was mentored by Lowell Noteboom, President of the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras, and Tom Morris, former Executive Director of the Cleveland Orchestra.
John Thomas Dodson, Music Director of the ASO, took over the organization's artistic leadership in 2001. His artistic focus has been on inviting soloists of exceptional quality and raising the orchestra's musical level to a new standard. Dodson's tenure has offered a variety of concert genres, diverse concert venues, innovative audience-outreach programs, and broad educational efforts for adults as well as children.
In April 2009, Elizabeth Watson became the ASO's Executive Director. Having served as an ASO musician, volunteer, and member of the Board of Directors, she brings a uniquely broad perspective to the role.
The ASO is governed by a community-based volunteer Board of Directors and is a Michigan non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The ASO serves as the Professional Orchestra-in-Residence at Adrian College.
The ASO would not succeed without support from individuals like you. The orchestra is funded through earned revenue (ticket sales and program advertising) and through unearned revenue (donations, bequests, and grants) from area individuals, businesses, and foundations.
We hope you will choose to enrich your life with live music. We are confident that you will find ASO concerts to be remarkable experiences.
Explore Related Categories
