Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

The Nashville Symphony is a classical music ensemble based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1946, the orchestra has become one of the most prominent cultural institutions in the city and has gained national recognition for its performances and recordings. The Nashville Symphony was founded by a group of local musicians who wanted to create a professional orchestra in the city. The group was led by conductor William Strickland, who had previously worked with the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra's first concert was held on December 3, 1946, at the War Memorial Auditorium in downtown Nashville. Over the years, the Nashville Symphony has had many notable conductors, including Thor Johnson, Kenneth Schermerhorn, and Leonard Slatkin. Under Schermerhorn's leadership, the orchestra gained national recognition for its recordings of the music of American composer Aaron Copland. The orchestra's recording of Copland's "Appalachian Spring" won a Grammy Award in 1993. The Nashville Symphony has also been recognized for its commitment to contemporary music. In 2006, the orchestra premiered a new work by composer John Adams, titled "Doctor Atomic Symphony." The piece was based on Adams' opera "Doctor Atomic," which tells the story of the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb. In addition to its performances and recordings, the Nashville Symphony is also known for its educational programs. The orchestra offers a variety of programs for students of all ages, including concerts for school groups, music lessons, and summer camps. One of the highlights of the Nashville Symphony's history was the opening of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in 2006. The center is a state-of-the-art concert hall that has been praised for its acoustics and design. The hall is named in honor of Kenneth Schermerhorn, who served as the orchestra's music director from 1983 until his death in 2005. The Nashville Symphony has also been recognized for its community outreach efforts. In 2010, the orchestra launched the "Let Freedom Sing" concert series, which celebrates the music of the civil rights movement. The series has featured performances by artists such as Mavis Staples, Aaron Neville, and the Blind Boys of Alabama. In 2011, the Nashville Symphony faced financial difficulties and was forced to file for bankruptcy. The orchestra was able to restructure its debt and emerge from bankruptcy in 2013. Since then, the orchestra has continued to perform and record, and has received numerous awards and accolades. One of the Nashville Symphony's most notable recent performances was its collaboration with singer-songwriter Ben Folds in 2014. The orchestra and Folds performed a concert of Folds' music, which was later released as a live album titled "So There." The Nashville Symphony has also been recognized for its recordings of the music of composer Joan Tower. The orchestra's recording of Tower's "Made in America" won three Grammy Awards in 2008, including Best Classical Album. In addition to its Grammy Awards, the Nashville Symphony has also received numerous other awards and honors. The orchestra has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Symphony Orchestra League, and the Country Music Association, among others. Today, the Nashville Symphony continues to be a vital part of the city's cultural landscape.

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