Traverse Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1951 as an amateur community ensemble, the Traverse Symphony Orchestra has evolved to become Northwestern Lower Michigan’s largest resident performing arts organization and only professional orchestra. It is recognized as an artistic jewel, an orchestra of depth, power and brilliance and is routinely praised as a cultural asset in value far above the reach of communities the size of Grand Traverse. Based in Traverse City, the organization is a vital resource for the entire region, artistically, educationally, and economically.

Traverse Symphony Orchestra musicians reside throughout the region and the state, including teachers, faculty and staff members from Interlochen Center for the Arts and Traverse City Area Public Schools, and professionals from all walks of life.

In recent years, the Traverse Symphony Orchestra has invested in concert programming by engaging multiple Grammy Award-winning guest artists, performing new and challenging concert repertoire and expanding our geographic reach via increased print, television and paid social media marketing.

Education Programs:
The Traverse Symphony Orchestra offers three arts education programs that provide enriching musical experiences to more than 2,000 children annually. The only offering of their kind in northwest Michigan, Family Concerts make classical music and musicians readily accessible to young children and their families. Civic Ensembles offer student and adult string instrumentalists the opportunity to perform challenging orchestral repertoire under the guidance of professional musicians and arts educators. TSO in the Schools brings professional musicians into the public school system to work with students in the middle and high school orchestra programs.