The Adrian Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1981 with the mission to create musical performances of the highest quality and to present activities that educate, enhance, and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Lenawee County and Southeast Michigan.
Now in its 44th season, the ASO is committed to providing excellent Music for Everyone through diverse seasons of classical, pops, and school-day educational concerts. Our goal is to create remarkable live concert experiences now and for many years to come.
Finest Musicians
The ASO attracts the finest musicians from the world’s stage to produce performances of the high quality normally experienced in a larger city. Members of the orchestra are professional musicians active in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. These musicians have trained at prestigious music schools including Juilliard, Eastman, Yale, and the University of Michigan and they perform with other professional orchestras, ballets, and opera companies. Many teach music in the region, in private studios, colleges, universities, and public schools.
The orchestra regularly collaborates with extraordinary soloists, including prize winners of the Naumburg, Leeds, and Tchaikovsky competitions. ASO guest artists have appeared with internationally-known orchestras in venues ranging from New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Vienna’s Musikverein. Recent ASO soloists have appeared with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Dresden Staatskapelle, as well as other prestigious orchestras around the world.
Music Directors
The 2014-15 Season marked the conclusion of John Thomas Dodson's tenure as Music Director, after 14 seasons in the role. The orchestra was served by two other music directors in its history: Art Shaw (1981-1986), David Katz (1987-1999) followed by John Thomas Dodson (2001-2015). The 2015/2016 Season featured four finalists for the ASO Music Director position: Allen Tinkham, Roger Kalia, Kayoko Dan and Bruce Anthony Kiesling. Bruce Anthony Kiesling became the current music director.
Community Based Symphony
The ASO serves as the Professional Orchestra-in-Residence at Adrian College and is governed by a community-based volunteer Board of Directors. The ASO would not succeed without support from individuals like you! The ASO is a Michigan non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and is funded through concert ticket sales, program advertising, sponsorships, foundation and government grants and donations from our loyal patrons.
We hope you will choose to enrich your life with live music. We are confident that you will find ASO concerts to be remarkable experiences.
