Education and Community

The Alton Symphony Orchestra continues to provide an opportunity for area residents to experience a full symphony orchestra. Our performances are an affordable alternative for area residents who are not able to travel to St. Louis.

 The purpose of the Alton Symphony Orchestra is to:  

• To encourage young people in the study and pursuit of music.

• To provide a place for adult amateur musicians to continue developing musically.

• To present performances of classical music for the education and entertainment of people in the greater Alton area.

We believe music is a pursuit for all ages and our orchestra has members whose ages range from the teens to the 80’s.

Our community’s orchestra contributes to the area’s quality of life and indirectly plays a positive role in the area’s economic development. The variety of cultural organizations is an important factor when businesses and professionals consider moving to a new community.

Our orchestra, being by its nature a community orchestra, has benefited throughout its existence by the participation of local musicians and artists. Our annual “Young Artists” competition is open to all young musicians between the ages of 10-21 that live within a 100 mile radius.

We perform four traditional concerts of orchestra music from October through April in Hatheway Hall at Lewis and Clark Community College. Each concert showcases one or more outstanding soloists or special guests from the area.

One of our concert programs, through area school systems, is specifically designed to help introduce orchestral music to young students.  Additionally, as part of our commitment to the advancement of music awareness and education among young people, members of the orchestra perform or give lectures in area schools without charge.

We have a cooperative agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College that allows students to enroll and perform in the Orchestra for college credit.  We also work with the Alton Youth Symphony to provide an adult full symphony experience to further the evolving musician’s abilities.

We continue to promote the orchestra, not only to the local community, but also by reaching out to the surrounding areas that have no local access to orchestral music. We are available to perform in chamber groups in an assortment of settings, to facilitate a more intimate experience of classical music.

Since 1945, the Alton Symphony Orchestra has served the residents and artists throughout this area. The symphony also serves as a cultural force, broadening the awareness and importance of the fine arts in the community.