Mission and Values

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Society, Inc. exists to connect, enrich, inspire, and advance Arkansas through the power of music. ASO’s strategic imperatives include doubling the number of Arkansans it serves, reaching a diverse audience in the concert hall and the community, providing enriching education for more young people, further increasing financial strength, continuing to grow the artistic quality of the orchestra, and building upon our team-centered organizational culture.

Incorporated in 1966, ASO now performs more than 60 concerts per season through its Masterworks, Pops, and River Rhapsodies series. In addition to free neighborhood concerts, ASO maintains a busy schedule of statewide touring and educational performances in numerous venues. Community collaborations are an important part of ASO’s service, and the organization frequently collaborates with Ballet Arkansas, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association, the Central Arkansas Library System, and more.

Integral to the ASO's activities is the E. Lee Ronnel Music Academy, which includes the ASO Youth Ensembles, String Academy, Bucket Band, and the annual Children’s Concerts and provide education programs for over 30,000 students each year. ASO’s resident string quartets, the Rockefeller and Quapaw Quartets, travel the state presenting curriculum-based music education programs in schools, libraries, after-school programs, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities.

Comprised of the state's most sought-after professional musicians, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra is heard by more than 165,000 Arkansans each year, and consistently plays to high critical praise. Distinguished guest artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Zuill Bailey, Tessa Lark, Conrad Tao, and Kris Allen, among others, have appeared in concert with the orchestra in Arkansas.