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Ensemble

 

The Aspen Festival Orchestra is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1949 in Aspen, Colorado. The orchestra was established as part of the Aspen Music Festival and School, which was founded by Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke in 1949. The festival was created to provide a summer music program for students and to bring world-class musicians to the United States. The Aspen Festival Orchestra is made up of professional musicians from around the world, many of whom are faculty members at the Aspen Music Festival and School. The orchestra is led by a rotating group of conductors, including Robert Spano, Leonard Slatkin, and David Robertson. Over the years, the Aspen Festival Orchestra has performed a wide range of classical music, including works by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. The orchestra has also premiered new works by contemporary composers, including John Adams, Jennifer Higdon, and Mason Bates. One of the highlights of the Aspen Festival Orchestra's history was its performance at the 1950 Aspen Music Festival. The orchestra performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, which was conducted by Robert Shaw. The performance was a huge success and helped to establish the Aspen Music Festival as a major summer music program. In 1962, the Aspen Festival Orchestra performed at the White House for President John F. Kennedy. The orchestra performed works by Mozart, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky, and the performance was broadcast on national television. In 1984, the Aspen Festival Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The orchestra performed works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Stravinsky, and the performance was well-received by both critics and audiences. In 2000, the Aspen Festival Orchestra performed at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The orchestra performed works by Mozart, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky, and the performance was a huge success. Over the years, the Aspen Festival Orchestra has received numerous awards and accolades for its performances. In 2011, the orchestra was awarded the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. The award recognized the orchestra's commitment to performing new and innovative works by contemporary composers. In 2015, the Aspen Festival Orchestra was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance for its recording of John Adams' "City Noir." The recording was conducted by Robert Spano and featured the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Today, the Aspen Festival Orchestra continues to be a major force in the classical music world. The orchestra's commitment to performing new and innovative works by contemporary composers has helped to keep classical music relevant and exciting for audiences around the world.

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