Austin Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1911, the Austin Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is Austin’s oldest performing arts group. Since its founding, ASO has evolved into a leading regional orchestra known for artistic excellence, strong community engagement, and deep educational impact. ASO brings orchestral music to life for more than 175,000 people each year through concerts, school field trips, and community events across Central Texas. The Masterworks Series features classic and contemporary compositions from the orchestral canon, and the Sarah and Ernest Butler Pops Series attracts diverse, intergenerational audiences with music from film, TV, and video games. Chamber ensembles perform in various locations around town in About Town performances. ASO’s Young People Concerts provide enriching, multidisciplinary performances for 4-5th graders aligning with grade level-specific TEKS teaching objectives, and Building Blocks of the Orchestra engages K-3rd graders in-school with small ensembles, who teach students about their instruments. The annual music and literacy program Tuneful Tales offers interactive storybook readings coupled with live music presentations at local library branches for families of children ages 3-10. All ASO’s education and community engagement programs have bilingual options. Photo by Joel Nesvadba.