ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION INC

THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION OPERATES THE REGION'S ONLY PROFESSIONAL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, OWNS/OPERATES HISTORIC MILLER SYMPHONY HALL IN DOWNTOWN ALLENTOWN, PA, AND HAS A TRADITION OF BRINGING INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED GUEST ARTISTS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO AUDIENCES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND SURROUNDING REGION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, WHOSE 74 CLASSICALLY TRAINED MUSICIANS ARE DRAWN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND FOUR SURROUNDING STATES HAS RISEN TO HIGH STANDARDS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE UNDER MUSIC DIRECTOR DIANE WITTRY DURING 30 SEASONS TO-DATE. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST BUDGET ORCHESTRAS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT OWNS AND OPERATES ITS OWN PERFORMANCE VENUE, HISTORIC MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. SINCE THE EARLY 2000'S THE SYMPHONY HAS FUNDED A SERIES OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AT A COST OF MORE THAN 12 MILLION, BEGINNING WITH THE FOWLER EDUCATION WING, WHICH PROVIDED THE 1899 -ERA THEATER WITH MUCH NEEDED BACKSTAGE SPACE AND RENOVATED EXISTING SPACES IN THE BUILDING. MILLER SYMPHONY HALL OFFERS THREE PERFORMANCE SPACES AND FACILITIES THAT CAN BE RENTED TO THE PUBLIC FOR MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION PRESENTED 18 ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (ASO) CLASSICAL AND POPS CONCERTS, FIVE ASO YOUTH & FAMILY PERFORMANCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, 12 JAZZ UPSTAIRS PERFORMANCES; EIGHT MET IN HD BROADCASTS; AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TWO NEW CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES CONCERTS AS PART OF ITS COMPOSER- IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM. IT ALSO RENTED MILLER SYMPHONY HALL TO EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR MEETINGS, PERFORMANCES, AND PRIVATE EVENTS. THIS INCLUDED TWO PERFORMANCES OF REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE'S NUTCRACKER WHO FEATURED THE ASO IN THEIR PRESENTATION. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO ITS MISSION. EL SISTEMA LEHIGH VALLEY, THE DAILY AFTERSCHOOL STRING INSTRUMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM, SERVES ABOUT 130 STUDENTS ANNUALLY WHO HAIL FROM MORE THAN 20 LEHIGH VALLEY SCHOOLS. GROUP LESSONS WERE HELD AFTER SCHOOL FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAM'S STUDENTS AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHILE STUDENTS ATTENDING RAUB MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD LESSONS 1-2 DAYS PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THE SYMPHONY'S YOUTH AND FAMILY CONCERTS AND YOUNG MUSICIANS STRING FESTIVAL WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH TWO NEW CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES CONCERTS HELD AT MORAVIAN UNIVERSITY AND THE RODALE ROOM AT MILLER SYMPHONY HALL. THE SYMPHONY BALL, WHICH RAISES FUNDING FOR THESE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2024 AND RAISED A NEW RECORD AMOUNT OF REVENUE FOR THE ORGANIZATION.