Wikipedia

List of symphony orchestras in the United States

There were 1,224 symphony orchestras in the United States as of 2014. Some U.S. orchestras maintain a full 52-week performing season, but most are small and have shorter seasons.[1][2] As of 2007, there were 117 U.S. orchestras with annual budgets of $2.5 million or more.[3]

Critics in the 1950s identified five American orchestras as the Big Five, those considered leaders in "musical excellence, calibre of musicianship, total contract weeks, weekly basic wages, recording guarantees, and paid vacations."[4] The five were the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Cleveland Orchestra. But the concept and the list are now outmoded. Music critics today include more orchestras on their lists of "top" American orchestras.[5]

Notable U.S. orchestras are listed here by state. Youth orchestras are listed in a separate list of youth orchestras in the United States. For orchestras in other countries, see list of symphony orchestras.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

  • Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
  • Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
  • Texarkana Symphony Orchestra

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

  • Delaware Symphony Orchestra

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

  • Hawaii Symphony Orchestra

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

  • Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Reno Philharmonic Orchestra

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

  • Chattanooga Symphony and Opera
  • Jackson Symphony Orchestra
  • Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
  • Memphis Symphony Orchestra
  • Nashville Symphony Orchestra
  • Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

  • Northwest Sinfonia
  • Northwest Symphony Orchestra
  • Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra
  • Spokane Symphony
  • Walla Walla Symphony

West Virginia

Wisconsin

See also

References

  1. ^ Catherine Wichterman, "The Orchestra Forum: A Discussion of Symphony Orchestras in the US", 1998 Annual Report, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, archived from the original on 2012-09-06
  2. ^ Voss, Zannie Giraud; Voss, Glenn B.; Yair, Karen (2016), Orchestra Facts: 2006-2014 (PDF), League of American Orchestras
  3. ^ a b c d U.S. Symphony Orchestras and Their Music Directors, Information Please Database, 2007, Pearson Education, Inc.
  4. ^ Robert R. Faulkiner, "Career Concerns and Mobility Motivations of Orchestra Musicians", The Sociological Quarterly, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Summer, 1973), p. 336. Archived at JSTOR. Retrieved 28 March 2012. Subscription required.
  5. ^ Michael Walsh, Lee Griggs, James Shepherd, "Music: Which U.S. Orchestras Are Best?" Time, April 25, 1983. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Small Orchestra Organizations: Issues and Challenges" (PDF). Harmony. Symphony Orchestra Institute. 2001.
  7. ^ Jennifer Guerra (August 10, 2010). "Teens rock out at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra". Michigan Radio.
  8. ^ Zeke Jennings (October 9, 2012). "Once again, Jackson Symphony Orchestra showing willingness to take bold chances". All Michigan. MLive Media Group.
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