National Symphony Orchestra
- Orchestra
ProfileProfile
Founded in 1931, NSO is based at the Kennedy Center in the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C. and performs approximately 150 concerts each year, including chamber music recitals, community outreach and education programs, and popular concerts at the Kennedy Center and at Wolf Trap in summer. NSO fulfills an important role as Americans’ most beloved orchestra, performing at important national events including presidential inaugurations and Independence Day celebrations.
NSO has a history of distinguished music directors, such as Rostropovich, Slatkin and Eschenbach; and in the 2017-18 season, Gianandrea Noseda became the orchestra’s 7th music director. Maestro Noseda has enthusiastically undertaken expansion of the orchestra’s repertoire and support of contemporary composers, and continues to present U.S.-premiere and world-premiere works to Washington audiences.
The orchestra also focuses on educational programs. Many of its members participate in the NSO Youth Fellowship Program and Summer Music Institute, contributing to the education and guidance of specially selected young musicians of talent.