American Composers Orchestra

The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is an American orchestra dedicated to the creation, celebration, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by American composers. With a strong commitment to diversity, disruption, and discovery, the ACO has established itself as a pioneer in the field of contemporary American orchestral music. The organization's mission is to foster a vibrant community of creators, audience, performers, collaborators, and funders through its various programs and initiatives. Founded in 1975 by composer Francis Thorne and conductor Dennis Russell Davies, the ACO was born out of a conversation about the lack of American music being played by orchestras. The orchestra's inaugural concert took place in February 1977 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, with Davies serving as principal conductor and music advisor. Since then, the ACO has moved to Carnegie Hall, where it celebrated its 10th anniversary season, and has continued to be a platform for both established and emerging American composers. The ACO is renowned for its commissioning program, which has generated more new American symphonic works than any other since its inception. Notably, the orchestra has provided many composers with their first orchestral commissions, including Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Joseph Schwantner, who both won Pulitzer Prizes for their ACO-commissioned works. Throughout its history, the ACO has launched several significant initiatives, such as the "20th-century Snapshots," "Sonidos de las Américas," and "Coming to America: Immigrant Sounds/Immigrant Voices." The orchestra has also been at the forefront of integrating technology with orchestral music through programs like Orchestra Tech and has encouraged improvisation in orchestral settings with the Improvise Festival. One of the ACO's landmark events is the SONiC: Sounds of a New Century festival, which showcases 21st-century music by composers under the age of 40. The festival has featured an impressive number of composers and ensembles, receiving global attention and acclaim. In addition to its performance initiatives, the ACO has a strong educational component, with programs that place composers in schools to teach students about music creation. The organization's educational outreach extends throughout New York City, and its professional development initiatives include the annual Underwood New Music Readings and Commission and the EarShot program. The ACO has a rich discography with recordings available on various labels, and its performances have been broadcast on multiple platforms. The orchestra has been recognized with numerous awards, including a special award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a proclamation from the New York City Council, and the American Music Center’s Letter of Distinction. The ACO is headquartered at 494 8th Ave, Suite 503, New York, NY 10001, and can be contacted at 212-977-8495 or via email at info@americancomposers.org. The organization invites individuals to join its community by participating in its programs, attending events, and supporting its mission to advance American orchestral music. For more information or to stay updated on the ACO's latest news and events, interested parties can join the organization's mailing list.