Nashville Symphony

The Nashville Symphony is a cornerstone of the Music City's cultural and artistic landscape, with roots stretching back to the post-World War II era. Founded in 1945 by Nashville native and World War II veteran Walter Sharp, the Symphony was established with the aim of enriching Middle Tennessee with the vibrancy of orchestral music. The inaugural concert took place on December 10, 1946, under the baton of the first music director and conductor, William Strickland, at the War Memorial Auditorium. This historic performance featured the world premiere of Cecil Effinger's "Tennessee Variations," which underscored the Symphony's enduring commitment to American contemporary music. Throughout its history, the Nashville Symphony has premiered over 40 compositions and has commissioned or co-commissioned works from esteemed composers such as Terry Riley, Jennifer Higdon, Wayne Shorter, Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck, and Ben Folds. The legacy of high performance standards, set by Strickland and upheld by subsequent music directors including Guy Taylor, Willis Page, Thor Johnson, Michael Charry, and notably Kenneth Schermerhorn, has been a hallmark of the Symphony's artistic excellence. Under the leadership of Schermerhorn, who served from 1983 until his passing in 2005, the Nashville Symphony achieved significant milestones, including a debut at Carnegie Hall and an East Coast tour. The partnership with the Naxos label began during this period, resulting in numerous critically acclaimed recordings. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, named in honor of the late music director, opened in 2006, signifying a new era for the Symphony with its state-of-the-art acoustics and neo-Classical design. The Symphony's current Music Director, Giancarlo Guerrero, appointed in 2008, has propelled the organization to new heights with an active recording schedule and a commitment to world premieres and commissions. The Nashville Symphony's discography has garnered 14 GRAMMY Awards from 27 nominations, a testament to its artistic prowess. The Symphony's resilience was tested during the Nashville flood of 2010, which caused significant damage to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Despite these challenges, the Symphony continued its performances and, after extensive repairs, reopened the venue at the end of the same year. This period was marked by record-breaking ticket sales and fundraising efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic presented further challenges, leading to the furlough of a significant portion of the workforce, the cancellation of an entire concert season, and substantial financial losses. However, with strong community support and federal relief, the Nashville Symphony has emerged with renewed determination to serve the community and continue its legacy into the future. The Nashville Symphony's mission extends beyond performance to education and community engagement, with initiatives such as Accelerando, which supports young musicians from underrepresented ethnic communities, and the Violins of Hope Nashville project, which honored Jewish musicians from the Holocaust. The Symphony's educational programs reach tens of thousands of children and adults each year, emphasizing its role as a dynamic and inclusive cultural institution in Middle Tennessee.