Filtered by category: ACSO Announcements Clear Filter

ACSO Announces New Officers and Board Members for 2024-25

During the ACSO Annual Meeting on Friday, July 26, 2024, members welcomed the association's new 2024/25 board officers and elected three new board members to serve a three-year term beginning October 1, 2024. Congratulations!

2024/25 BOARD OFFICERS

Scott Vandrick
President
Senior Director of Advancement
The Music Center 


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ACSO Announces 2024 Award Recipients

The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Executive Leadership Award, Emerging Professional Award, Young Musician Leadership Award, and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Volunteer Awards. Awards will be presented at ACSO’s 2024 Annual Conference in San Francisco from July 25-27. Congratulations to all the worthy nominees and recipients!

ACSO’s annual awards program recognizes remarkable individuals and organizations within ACSO’s membership network for their meaningful contributions to the orchestra field.

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NEA Announces $260,000 in Grant Funding to 8 ACSO Members

On May 15, 2024, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the second round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2024, with more than $110 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the second of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year. These grants fall under three NEA funding categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional PartnershipsEight ACSO members have been selected to receive grants totaling $260,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.

NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD said, “These projects exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts. So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and well-being, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and this funding at the local, state, and regional levels demonstrates the National Endowment for the Arts’ commitment to ensuring people across the country benefit.”

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ACSO 2024 Festivals Guide: Find a Summer Festival Near You

The 2024 summer music festival season is here! Artists and live music lovers from all over the world are coming to California and the Western U.S. to experience a unique blend of music-making, camaraderie, and scenic beauty. The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to share this summer's offerings from our festival members, highlighting a vital and vibrant way for artists and audiences alike to deeply engage in classical music in picturesque, unique communities.

No two festivals are exactly alike, yet each share one common thread: a love and respect for composers, musicians, and the communities in which they are rooted. There are many opportunities to experience world-class performances and connect with the artists who bring these great works of art to life.

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NEA Announces $140,000 in Grant Funds to 4 ACSO Members

On January 24, 2024, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the first round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2024, with more than $32 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the first of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year and includes grants to organizations through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Challenge America, Research Grants in the Arts, and Research Labs categories. Four ACSO members have been selected to receive grants totaling $140,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.

NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD said, “The NEA is pleased to announce these grants, all of which strengthen our nation’s arts sector in different ways. Whether it’s the creation of new art, opportunities for the public to participate and engage in the arts, or work to better understand the impact of the arts, these grants contribute to the well-being of individuals and communities, help meet the challenges of our time, and build towards a future in which all people can lead artful lives and reach their full potential.”

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Up & Down the Scale: November 2023 to January 2024

We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from November 2023 through January 2024. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists. 

 

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ACSO and 12 of Our Members Receive Grants from the California Arts Council

On December 1, 2023, the California Arts Council (CAC) announced 856 grant awards totaling more than $32.75 million in overall projected investments for operational and project support to nonprofit organizations and units of government throughout the state of California.

In this 2023 grant cycle, ACSO and 12 of our orchestra members received grants totaling $457,463, as did 14 additional orchestras and music organizations that received grants totaling total of $471,750. This is a nearly $1million investment of public funds in our sector.

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Up & Down the Scale: June to October 2023

We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from June through October 2023. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists. 

Berkeley Symphony received a gift of $1.5 Million from Gordon Getty to support its future growth.

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ACSO Celebrates National Arts & Humanities Month by Highlighting our Members Participating in the California Festival

National Arts & Humanitites Month logoACSO joins thousands of arts organizations and communities across the nation to recognize October as National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM). NAHM is coordinated by Americans for the Arts, the national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts for all of the people. It is a coast-to-coast collective recognition of the importance of art and culture in America during the month of October with goals of:

  • FOCUSING on equitable access to the arts at local, state, and national levels;
  • ENCOURAGING individuals, organizations, and diverse communities to participate in the arts;
  • ALLOWING governments and businesses to show their support of the arts; and
  • RAISING public awareness about the role the arts and humanities play in our communities and lives.

Learn more about how your organization can get involved here.

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ACSO Announces New Officers and Board Members for 2023-24

During ACSO's Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 17, 2023, ACSO members welcomed new board officers for 2023/24 and elected six new board members. Congratulations!

2023/24 BOARD OFFICERS


Elizabeth Shribman
President
Chief of Staff
San Francisco Symphony



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95 Organizations Throughout California Join in the California Festival, Nov 3-19, 2023

95 Organizations Throughout the State of California
Announce Programs Featuring Music Composed Within the Last Five Years
As They Join in The California Festival:
Two Weeks of Innovative and Compelling Music from Around the World,
November 3-19, 2023

LOS ANGELES (August 1, 2023)—The Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony and San Francisco Symphony today announced that 95 organizations will participate in the California Festival: A Celebration of New Music, presenting some of the most innovative and compelling music from around the world for two weeks, November 3-19, 2023, in venues throughout the state. Announced in January 2023 and conceived by LA Phil Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare and San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, and the California Festival highlights the collaborative and innovative spirit that thrives in California by inviting musical organizations of all kinds to incorporate works written within the past five years into their broader season programs.



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ACSO Announces 2023 Award Recipients

The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Executive Leadership Award, Emerging Professional Award, and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Volunteer Awards, and the inaugural recipients of the new Young Musician Leadership Award and Social Impact Award. Congratulations to all the worthy recipients and nominees!

ACSO’s annual awards program recognizes remarkable individuals and organizations within ACSO’s membership network for their meaningful contributions to the orchestra field.

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Up & Down the Scale: February to May 2023

We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from February to May 2023. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists. 

 

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NEA Announces $256,000 in Grants Funds to ACSO and 9 of its Members

On May 24, 2023, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the second round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2023, with more than $103 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the second of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year and includes grants to organizations through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnership categories. 

ACSO and nine of its members have been selected to receive Grants for Arts Projects in the Music and Arts Education categories, totaling $256,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.

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ACSO 2023 Annual Conference Inspires, Revitalizes, and Connects Communities

ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS‘ ANNUAL CONFERENCE 
INSPIRES, REVITALIZES, AND CONNECTS COMMUNITIES

Los Angeles, CA (May 19, 2023) – The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) Annual Conference is back in person for the first time in four years, and for the first time in the organization's 54-year history, it takes place in the Inland Empire. The conference is being held at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, CA from August 16 - 18, 2023 and is hosted by the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.

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Lead by Example - A Call for ACSO Board Candidates

ACSO is seeking new board members to serve three-year terms beginning on October 1, 2023 OR beginning October 1, 2024. We are looking for individuals who are dedicated to guiding the organization’s growth, forward momentum, and leadership in the field and will help expand ACSO's capacity to serve its members.

You could be a great fit for ACSO if…

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ACSO 2023 Festivals Guide: Find a Summer Festival Near You

The 2023 summer music festival season is here! Artists and live music lovers from all over the world are coming to California and the Western U.S. to experience a unique blend of music-making, camaraderie, and scenic beauty. The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) is pleased to share this summer's offerings from our festival members, highlighting a vital and vibrant way for artists and audiences alike to deeply engage in classical music in picturesque, unique communities.

No two festivals are exactly alike, yet each share one common thread: a love and respect for composers, musicians, and the communities in which they are rooted. There are many opportunities to experience world-class performances and connect with the artists who bring these great works of art to life.

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NEA Announces $220,000 in Grants Funds to 8 ACSO Members

On January 10, 2023, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the first round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2023, with more than $34 million in funding to support the arts nationwide. This is the first of the NEA’s two major grant announcements each fiscal year and includes grants to organizations through the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, Challenge America, and Research Awards categories. Eight ACSO members have been selected for grants, totaling $220,000 in funding (see list below). For the full announcement from the NEA, please click here.

“Together, these grants show the NEA’s support nationwide for strengthening our arts and cultural ecosystems, providing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, and contributing to the health of our communities and our economy,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “I encourage everyone to explore these projects and the ways they help provide inspiration, understanding, and opportunities for us to live more artful lives.”

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Up & Down the Scale: November 2022 to January 2023

We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from November 2022 to January 2023. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists. 


Berkeley Symphony welcomed five new musicians to its core orchestra for the 2022-23 season. New musicians include Principal Oboist Ben Brogadir, violinists Isabella Amador, Julia Churchill, and Sarah Elert, and Assistant Principal Second Violinist Mijung Kim. In addition, they announced the appointment of two new Board Members: Shikiri Hightower-Gaskin and Rigel Robinson. 

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ACSO and 18 ACSO Members Receive Nearly $1.3 Million in California Arts Council Grants

On December 23, 2022, the California Arts Council (CAC) announced its second round (Cycle B) of grant awards for 2022, awarding more than $41 million across 900 grants supporting artists, culture bearers, and cultural workers throughout the state of California.

All told, the projected sum of grants to be awarded for 2022’s regular program funding cycle is more than $72 million—the biggest annual investment in the California Arts Council’s 46-year history, largely supported by the $40 million one-time boost in support for the agency’s creative youth and arts education development programs.

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