CT
The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) is the forth-oldest American Symphony and celebrated its 125th Anniversary in January 2020. Since its inception in 1894, NHSO has performed regularly in New Haven, most of that time in Yale’s historic Woolsey Hall which remains the primary venue for the Symphony’s Classics Concert Series. NHSO has an active concertizing schedule in addition to the Classics Concerts and performs its Pops Series in the neighboring towns of Hamden and Shelton; a Free Family Concert Series in New Haven and Shelton; and FREE concerts in New Haven’s Neighborhoods and on the New Haven Green. It has toured throughout Connecticut and beyond (including performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center), performed numerous radio broadcasts, made the world premiere recording of the complete five-movement version of Mahler’s First Symphony; and commissioned and premiered 15 new American works (more than half by women and composers of color) in the past 10 years.
The orchestra is comprised of 65 professional musicians, most of whom live and work in the greater New Haven area and is led by Maestro Alasdair Neale. Maestro Neale is committed to diverse programming and curates seasons that feature classical and contemporary offerings, new American compositions, and works by historically underrepresented composers. The Symphony has been thrilled to welcome luminaries such as Tai Murray, Jennifer Koh, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Harolyn Blackwell, Tiempo Libre, and Orion Weiss, among others as guest artists for NHSO performances.
Each year, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra reaches nearly 52,000 Connecticut residents including more than 20,000 children, adolescents and their families through its robust education programs. Its geographic reach touches 120 towns throughout the State of Connecticut. This level of engagement and performance opportunities would not be possible without the support and collaboration of our numerous partners which include the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, New Haven’s Heritage Chorale, the New Haven Free Public Library, the Elm City Girls Choir, the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus, Yale Camerata, 42 Connecticut school districts, and more. In addition to welcoming partners to collaborate on our programs, NHSO frequently accepts contracted work to present education programs and concerts at schools, assisted living facilities, and large performance venues.
NHSO is actively working to be an anti-racist organization and is taking steps to embed Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) in all areas of Symphony operations and programming. Successes have included the launch of NHSO’s Harmony Fellowship for Underrepresented Musicians and subsequent expansion to include Conducting, Board, and Administrative Fellows as well as IDEA training for all staff, board, and musicians. Outreach in the community including partnerships with local colleges and Boys & Girls Clubs; community conversations; programs featuring artists/composers of color; and presenting programs in New Haven’s neighborhoods support this goal.
Additional Content:
The latest images and activities from the New Haven Symphony Orchestra
World Premiere: TJ Cole's "To the Universe" (New Haven Symphony Orchestra)
An example of the NHSO in performance premiering a piece commissioned by the orchestra.
An excerpt from the NHSO's collaboration with the Ivoryton playhouse to present A Christmas Carol.
Institution/Business Type:
Performing Group
Legal Status:
Nonprofit - Independent
Year Founded:
1894
Institution/Business Type:
Performing Group
Legal Status:
Nonprofit - Independent
Year Founded:
1894
Primary Discipline:
Music - OrchestralAdditional Disciplines:
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NHSO provides free concert tickets to all blind, low vision, or dyslexic constituents. For over a decade, the Symphony has partnered with the Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center at the VA to offer their residents opportunities to attend concerts and practice navigating a crowd with or without dogs. VA staff also works with the NHSO to train ushers on best practices to assist blind/low vision patrons. Large print programs are available at Symphony concerts.
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Fee Range:
$500 - $50,000State of Residence:
ConnecticutMinimum Number of Performers:
1Maximum Number of Performers:
1