History and Organizational Profile

The mission of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is to develop and sustain a symphony orchestra of the highest artistic standards and to reach East Tennessee audiences of all ages by providing excellence in musical performance and education programs.

When Bertha Walburn Clark first performed with her string quartet in 1910, she laid the foundation for what would become the Southeast's oldest continuing orchestra and a pillar of East Tennessee's cultural life-the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.  Formally established in 1935, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra began a period of significant growth in 1947 when David Van Vactor assumed dual roles as Chairman of the University of Tennessee's Department of Fine Arts and the KSO's Music Director.  For the next 26 years, Van Vactor attracted many outstanding musicians to the community and nurtured the Orchestra's burgeoning reputation for excellence.

In 1973, under the direction of Arpad Joo, the Orchestra began compensating all musicians for their services and required each player to audition.   Zoltan Rozsnyai took the KSO to a new level of professionalism in 1978 when he hired 16 full-time string players who eventually formed the nucleus of the Knoxville Symphony's Chamber Orchestra.  In 1985, Kirk Trevor joined the orchestra as Music Director and Conductor.  During his 18-year tenure the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra was recognized as one of the finest regional orchestras in the United States.  He broadened the musical spectrum of the KSO by adding the Pops and Chamber series to the orchestra's regular season, as well as the highly-acclaimed Clayton Holiday Concerts.

An international search to replace Maestro Trevor brought Lucas Richman to the podium as Music Director in 2003-04.  He brings an exciting background in conducting and composing to the KSO having been recently honored at the annual Broadcast Music Incorporated Film and Television Awards Gala in Los Angeles.  Continuing the orchestra's tradition of artistic excellence, he has focused additionally on the education and outreach programs and created a new Music and Wellness initiative that has been recognized nationally by the League of American Orchestras.  He is also credited with bringing back the acclaimed Family Concerts and introducing his original animated character: Picardy Penguin. 

Today the budget of the KSO spans more than $3 million and supports a core of full-time professional musicians who perform more than 200 programs throughout East Tennessee each season.  Performing in the traditional venues of the Tennessee and Bijou Theatres, Civic Auditorium, and in non-traditional places like school classrooms, hospitals, city parks and churches, the KSO reaches more than 200,000 children and adults each year.

Vision for the Future

In the next decade, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra aims to touch the lives of more than a million people through accessible musical performances and education programs. The KSO is creating new programs and services in under-served neighborhoods, communities and schools eager to be a part of an East Tennessee arts renaissance. The KSO is expanding music education programs at all grade levels in an effort to introduce music to future audiences and to train musicians of the 21st century. The KSO is focused on recruiting and retaining top quality musicians for the orchestra who will become active members of the Knoxville community.

Bridge to the Future

The Knoxville Symphony has a rich history and strong tradition in East Tennessee, which it has developed through the innovation of its artistic direction, commitment of its leaders and the interest and desire of the community to host a premiere regional symphony.   Therefore, the KSO must plan for its future and build on its 74 years of success.  The Orchestra's ability to increase endowment funds -- the source of permanent support for all premiere arts organizations -- is the key component in providing the resources necessary for financial stability and future artistic growth.

Community Impact

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is partnering with teachers and schools to implement our vision: To see children of all ages become music makers.  Each season, the KSO gives the gift of music to more than 50,000 school children, providing for many a first experience with live classical music.  Between September and May, Knoxville Symphony musicians present more than 150 free educational programs in area schools.  Recently, the KSO has taken the idea of partnerships to an even higher level with the nationally award-winning Music and Wellness program which brings classical music directly to patients undergoing care at local hospitals.

Community Support

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra enjoys the support of a loyal community of volunteers, donors and patrons.  More than 3,500 people subscribe to the Knoxville Symphony's four subscription series, Moxley Carmichael Masterworks, Chamber Classics, News Sentinel Pops and KSO Family Concerts. Thousands more purchase single tickets to individual events, and more than 1,200 individuals, corporations, and foundations contribute more than $1.5 million each year to the KSO's annual fund campaign.