Orchestras and Youth Orchestras

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More than 900 symphony, chamber, youth, and university orchestras are members of the League. Thousands of their musicians, conductors, managers, board members, volunteers, and staff take advantage of the following programs and services:

A Powerful Network

National Conference - A four-day conference that attracts more than 1,200 artistic, administrative, and volunteer personnel from orchestras across the country each year.
Meetings - National and regional meetings of personnel involved in specific orchestra activities including management, marketing, development, finance, education, and volunteering are held through the year.
Online Discussion Groups - The League facilitates e-mail discussion groups for managers, conductors, trustees, volunteers, youth orchestra leaders, librarians, and staff members in finance, development, marketing, PR, artistic administration, operations, education/community engagement, human relations and information systems who are affiliated with member orchestras.
Employment Search - The League maintains a web site, jobs.americanorchestras.org, where member orchestras may post vacancy announcements for administrative and conducting positions and search resumes of Individual Professional Members.

Information and Advice

americanorchestras.org - The League's principal web site is designed as a comprehensive site for use by professionals throughout the orchestra field. The site provides detailed information about League activities and other trade issues.
Knowledge Center - The League Knowledge Center fields an average of 50 requests for information each day, providing reference materials and publications on topics such as long-range planning, fund raising, governance, and volunteerism.
Research Studies and Surveys - The League also conducts surveys on a range of issues, including two annual studies: the Orchestra Statistical Report (OSR) on income, expenses, and operations, and the Orchestra Staff Compensation survey.
Referrals - Questions that cannot be answered by available studies or publications are referred to League staff members and experts throughout the orchestra field.

Education and Community Engagement

MetLife Awards for Excellence in Community Engagement — The League in partnership with the MetLife Foundation to rewards orchestras’ community engagement efforts with this prestigious and competitive annual grant
Bank of America Awards for Excellence in Orchestra Education — Grants are offered to three orchestras each year in recognition of their work in this area.

Communications and News

Symphony - Executive and Music Directors, Board and Volunteer Presidents receive our award-winning, bimonthly magazine that covers issues critical to the orchestra community.
The Hub - News and insight for League members. Updated daily.
Newsletters - Volunteer Notes provides specialized perspectives for orchestra volunteers. UpBeat focuses on specific issues related to youth orchestras. Education and Community Engagement Update keeps education and community engagement professionals informed of relevant news and events.

Leadership and Learning Development

The Orchestra Leadership Academy is a comprehensive professional development initiative designed to enhance the institutional strength of orchestras. Holding seminars throughout the country, the Academy offers a diverse range of content focused on strengthening leadership throughout the orchestra, enabling individuals to hone skills in specific programmatic areas, and creating opportunities for those new to orchestra management.
The Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview showcases important American conducting talent chosen by a national advisory committee based on their talent, accomplishments, and preparedness to assume professional conducting responsibilities.

New Music

The League is committed to identifying and promoting the performance of contemporary American compositions that merit a prominent place in the orchestral repertoire.

Music Alive - A residency program which, in partnership with Meet The Composer, is designed to connect composers with orchestras and the communities they serve.
Awards for Adventurous Programming – Each year, the League and ASCAP celebrates American orchestras that program challenging concerts, build the repertoire, and strengthen support for American composers.
Ford Made in America - Small budget orchestras collectively commission new full-scale orchestral works by leading American composers.

A Unified Voice in Support of Orchestras and the Arts

Public Relations - The League communicates the public benefit of orchestras and provides media relations on behalf of the field.
Advocacy Alerts/Government Affairs Updates - Stay informed of trends on national arts policy and pending legislation affecting the orchestra community through the League's Advocacy and Government Division.
Direct Representation - The League represents the interests of America's orchestras to members of Congress and the Executive Branch and facilitates state and local advocacy efforts.
Immigration Approvals - Support of orchestra requests for temporary immigration visas.