About Us
We seek to inspire, entertain, and educate the Central Indiana community through music—a universal language of the human experience.
Music Connects Us All
Founded in 1930 the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in the nation with its commitment to artistic excellence and its ambitious approaches to music education, performance, and collaboration.
The orchestra provides an extensive selection of musical programs inside and outside its historic Hilbert Circle Theatre home.
HistoryMusical Programs
Commitment to Community
The Learning Community delivers a spectrum of programs serving the community, reaching 80,000+ people per year.
Teddy Bear Series introduces preschool and kindergarten students to the orchestra through story, movement, and live music, and has produced two picture books.- Discovery Concerts are designed so children in grades 3–6 have the chance to hear a live orchestra.
- Classical Jam with the ISO allows adults the chance to play with the ISO on stage. A conductor leads a rehearsal with guests and ISO members playing side by side before a performance.
- Words on Music, before each Classical concert, provides behind-the-curtain perspective from musicians, conductors, guest artists, and community hosts.
Side-by-Side and the Michael Ben & Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Contest
More than 1,000 talented students have shared the Hilbert Circle Theatre stage with their professional counterparts since Side-by-Side began in 1991. Students are auditioned and coached by members of the ISO. The result is a concert featuring the 100+ piece orchestra of students and professionals. Likewise, the Michael Ben & Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Contest encourages accomplished young Indiana musicians (through grade 12) by providing an opportunity to perform in a competitive setting. The winner of the Young Musicians Contest performs their prizewinning concerto with the ISO during the Side-by-Side concert.
Metropolitan Youth Orchestra
MYO was founded in 1996 by Artistic Director Betty Perry and became a program of the ISO in 2008. Currently, under the direction of Krystle Ford, MYO serves more than 200 students and their families each year—developing musical and life skills. A parent/guardian learns a stringed instrument alongside their student for the first several years.
