Atlantic Symphony Orchestra

ASO’s Up Close in Concert "Sunday Classical” program is intended primarily for an adult audience, although all ages over 10 are welcome. It is designed to address an identified desire for continuing music education, community building, and better connection to the musicians or the orchestra. Each event is hosted and facilitated by ASO’s music director, and offers an opportunity to meet one artist in an intimate setting, experience them in solo concert, and learn more about their instrument, background, and life as a working professional artist. Program events take place over dinner at a regional restaurant, and provide a social occasion as well as educational evening for participants.

ASO’s Discovery Concerts are intended for our youngest audience members and their families. The concerts are designed to introduce a new generation to the pleasures of classical music with age appropriate programming in a setting that is comfortable for all ages. We also provide opportunities to meet members of the orchestra, learn about the orchestra’s composition and working life, and explore instruments and music-making with hands-on interactions.

Since 2007, the ASO Concerto Competition for Young Professionals addresses an important sector need for competitive recognition and career development. It is designed to identify and recognize the best among the newest generation of professional classical musicians, and provide experience working with a high-level professional orchestra. After an initial screening process, applicants undergo rounds of blind and observed panel judging, with selected applicants advancing to the next round. The competition culminates in a live performance round before an audience. In addition to award purses and certificates of placement, first prize winners are given a solo performance highlight onstage with the orchestra during the following season, and second prize winners are given the opportunity to perform in concert with the orchestra chamber players. Past ASOCC winners include some of the most well-known names in the classical circuit today.

During the performance season, select groups of high school classical musicians and choral groups from the region are invited to perform in the lobby at ASO main symphonic concerts, experience a dress rehearsal, attend a concert, and to meet and interact with the orchestra’s conductor and other musicians. Future plans will introduce an audition element to the selection process. This program is intended to recognize and promote the work of regional student musicians, inspire them to continue their musical pursuits, help them visualize themselves as future professionals, and give them insight into the lives of working professional musicians and a better understanding of the working environment of a professional orchestra.

During the performance season, free event tickets are made available for family and professional caregivers who need an important “break” for self-care, the emotional healing of beautiful music, and reconnection to friends and the larger community in a social setting, without being too far from home. Tickets are dispersed through an emerging network of community partners who focus on caregiver support or on families of disabled, seriously/chronically ill, or hospice populations.

ASO provides support for improved access to our high quality public performances through a 3-pronged program: reduced ticket prices for seniors, youth, and young adults; free ticket programs for public school students & staff, youth organizations, human services organizations, and other identified community service organizations; and free-for-all public performances, when funded.