The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1947, The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra (link to their other website) proudly serves the citizens of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona, and the southwestern United States. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 315,000 people annually with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the Valley of the Sun and beyond.

The orchestra presents an annual season from September through May, featuring classical and pops concerts in downtown Phoenix, along with a variety of symphonic and community presentations throughout Arizona. Each season, the Symphony performs for more than 70,000 students and children (representing over 75 schools), helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education, community, and youth-engagement programs.

As Arizona’s only full-time, professional orchestra, The Phoenix Symphony operates on an annual budget of over $10 million, of which ticket revenues cover approximately 40%. Remaining funds are provided through the generosity and vision of thousands of individuals, corporations, and foundations.

The Phoenix Symphony offers a wide variety of programming each year – including regular series of Classics, Symphonic Pops, and Family offering, as well as special community presentations celebrating various holidays and area events. A strong corps of over 500 volunteers helps support the Symphony each year, including the Friends Giftshop and the annual Black & White Ball.