Louisville Civic Orchestra

The Louisville Civic Orchestra is Louisville's premier volunteer community orchestra. Founded in 1915 as the Young Men's Hebrew Association Orchestra, the LCO has been a part of Louisville history for over 100 years. Throughout its century-long history, the LCO has had many notable achievements. In 1931, the LCO gave the Louisville premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In 1937, a faction of the orchestra's musicians spun off a professional group under Robert Whitney, a group that would go on to become today's Louisville Orchestra. From 1959 through around 2010, the orchestra was known as the JCC Orchestra. Many members who played in that group continue today with us.

The Louisville Civic Orchestra exists to provide an space for local musicians of all skill and experience levels to join together and celebrate the great symphonic repertoire, all while providing free concerts to the public annually. This season we explore a wide array of themes including American Stories, Holiday and Family concerts, Ravishing Russian Romantics, and a morning, day, and night concert featuring Symphonie Fantastique.

 

Who We Are

Founded in 1915 as the Young Men's Hebrew Association Little Symphony, the Louisville Civic Orchestra is the oldest continuously performing orchestra in Louisville, and one of the oldest community orchestras in the United States.

Throughout its century-long history, the LCO has played a critical role in the development of Louisville's cultural legacy, such as giving the Louisville premier of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 1931 and in 1937, spinning off the professional ensemble that later became the Louisville Orchestra. For over 100 years, the LCO has existed as a volunteer community orchestra, where professional and amateur musicians alike can join together in celebration of the great symphonic literature.

While today's audiences will most likely know the LCO as the JCC Orchestra, the LCO established itself as an independent 501(c)3 organization in 2015 and rebranded under its moniker from the 1920s and 30s. Today, the LCO gives five free, ticketless concerts per year, including three masterworks concerts, a holiday concert, and a summer pops concert. All events are free and open to the public, no tickets required.

The LCO's artistic mission seeks to stretch the technical and musical horizons of community players by programming large-scale works and ambitious concerts. Musical partnerships with other community artists and performers are core to our programming, and recent engagements have included solo performances by musicians of the Louisville Orchestra, the Kentucky Opera Studio Artists, Bellarmine University Music Department Faculty, and works by Daniel Gilliam, Richard Burchard, and Teddy Abrams.

The LCO never charges admission for its concerts, and so relies on the generosity of its individual donors, sponsors, and grants to fund its activities. And since all the players and administrators are volunteers, the vast majority of donations go directly to funding concert expenses, such as purchasing music and instruments, hiring guest artists, and renting venues.