Alexandria Symphony Orchestra

A nonprofit organization

Our Goal

Funds from Spring2action support all ASO's programs including orchestra concerts, ASO Sympatico, the annual Alexandria Birthday Celebration concert and other community engagement initiatives!

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is to provide quality, affordable and accessible music in the Alexandria, Virginia regional area through its highly respected, innovative, and professional performances and programs. In addition to contributing to the community’s cultural life, the ASO is dedicated to strengthening music education in our schools, fostering a life-long appreciation of music, and expanding the availability of quality music to underserved audiences.

ASO - A Brief History

Founded in 1943, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents five subscription series programs at two venues from September/October to April. The ASO underwrites Sympatico, an El Sistema-inspired music education program at John Adams Elementary School (Alexandria City Public Schools) throughout the school year. The ASO performs at the Alexandria Birthday Celebration in Oronoco Bay Park each July and presents a chamber concert each spring. In total, the organization reaches more than 20,000 people annually through performances, music education programs and community engagement.

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SO Sympatico, the educational arm of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO), is based on the El Sistema model of music education, which is internationally recognized as a life-changing music program for youth, particularly those at risk and underserved. In 50 countries and 100 locations in the U.S., El Sistema-inspired programs, through music instruction and performance, provide youth with the essential life skills and values they need to succeed in school and reach their full potential as young adults. Sympatico is a member of El Sistema USA, through which it networks with other programs throughout the country and has access to regional and national conferences for professional development. An ASO trustee and founder of Sympatico was recently named to the Board of Directors for El Sistema USA.A

SO Sympatico BackgroundA

SO Sympatico was established at Alexandria City’s John Adams Elementary School (JAES) K-5 classes in 2013. The introduction of an El Sistema-inspired program was the brainchild of a generous Alexandria couple who are devoted supporters of the ASO and committed to transforming underserved children’s lives through music. Sympatico employs intensive ensemble training and performances to give children with the fewest resources and the greatest need the joy and sense of pride of making music together. Sympatico offers students as young as age five the opportunity to participate in one of five musical ensembles that meet every school day for one hour: Cantamos (chorus), intermediate bucket band, Mallet Machine (intermediate Orff/mallets), Fiddle Factory (mixed strings), and Basic Beats and Beyond (K-2). JAES is a Title I Targeted Assistance School with over 700 students, all of whom receive free breakfast and lunch. There is no cost to participating students or families, and no prerequisites for enrolling. Sympatico serves students of all abilities, musical and otherwise, as well as those with special needs.S

ympatico is unique among other out-of-school time programs due to the intensity and consistency of students’ daily instruction by the teaching artists and collaboration with their fellow ensemble members, and what sets it apart is its out-sized transformational impact on a relatively small number of dedicated young students. It is the only program of its kind in the Washington, D.C. region. Sympatico received the Yale Distinguished Music Education Partnership Award in 2015 and a proclamation of excellence from the City of Alexandria in 2016. In January 2020, Sympatico received the Shining Star Award from Dominion Energy, one of only five arts education programs in the state of Virginia to receive this distinction.A

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out John Adams Elementary SchoolJo

hn Adams Elementary School is a Title I Targeted Assistance school. All students receive free breakfast and lunch. JAES represents ACPS’ overall ethnic and cultural diversity—39% Hispanic, 24% African-American, 24% White, 10% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 2% Multi-Racial. In Sympatico, music serves as a common language. More than 40 languages and dialects are spoken among the JAES student body, and 62% of JAES students are enrolled in English language learning (ELL) classes. Many JAES parents work multiple jobs, creating a need to drop students off earlier and pick them up later than the school day allows. With both morning and afternoon ensembles available to their children, Sympatico alleviates the need for additional childcare for many families.Jo

in ASO for Dinner! On

Wednesday, April 9 from 5:00-9:00pm, ASO will be partnering with Chadwicks to make Spring2ACTion even more memorable. Chadwicks will be donating 10% of their proceeds to ASO's Spring2ACTion campaign du…

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