Marietta
Georgia
Georgia Symphony Orchestra
The mission of the GSO
To engage and enrich diverse audiences through the presentation of music at the highest artistic level and to provide programs and education that instill a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
With an estimated 15,000 patrons annually and over 800 people who participate in our programs, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra offers musical opportunities to the greater North Georgia and Metro-Atlanta region. As a standing regional semi-professional symphony orchestra, GSO encompasses a full symphony Chorus, a Chamber Chorus, a professional jazz ensemble and the largest youth orchestra in the Southeast.
The Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO) alone encompasses three full youth orchestras, a string orchestra, a jazz ensemble, and a percussion ensemble. Its mission is to inspire young people to discover their full potential through creativity and performance, and to develop the discipline and spirit to accomplish their musical goals.
The GSO is dedicated to becoming a catalyst for community collaborations, broadening the musical experience of current and future audiences with love and appreciation for their art. Further, we endeavor to enhance the quality of cultural life in our communities.
GSO History
For over six decades, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra has engaged audiences through imaginative programming, visionary leadership and critically acclaimed performances.
The Georgia Symphony Orchestra began in the music room of the home of Arthur F. Moor at 383 Church Street in Marietta as the Marietta Music Club. His daughter and a member of the Marietta Music Club, Elizabeth Moor Tomlinson, so loved the orchestra that upon her death she bequeathed $50,000 to it and her brother, Ralph C. Moor, continued to support the GSO in his sister’s name until recently passing at 102 years old.
Since its founding in 1951, the quality of the orchestra’s performances steadily increased over the years due to the dedication and talent of its musicians and of Betty Shipman Bennett, the GSO’s conductor from 1955 until her retirement in 1989. Her successor Steven Byess continued attracting other local talented musicians to the GSO and, while he served as Music Director, he expanded the number of professional musicians and continued raising the artistic standards of the orchestra.
In July 2004, Michael Alexander’s tenure as Music Director began with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra while the orchestra continued to grow. In 2007, the Georgia Symphony Chorus was formed under the direction of Bryan Black and continues to draw accomplished vocalists from the greater metro area to perform choral/orchestral works with the GSO and to produce independent choral concerts as well. Alexander’s final concert with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra was performed in May 2015, leaving the Georgia Symphony Orchestra poised to select a new Music Director.
After a 2-year search process reviewing over 130 candidates from across the world, the GSO selected Timothy Verville as its new Music Director beginning in the fall of 2016.
Orchestral and choral highlights from previous seasons include Mahler’s Second Symphony, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony and Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Over the past 65 years, the orchestra has changed its name from the Marietta Music Club to the Marietta Community Symphony, the Cobb Symphony Orchestra, and finally to the Georgia Symphony Orchestra as the organization’s mission and role in the community has expanded. Today, audiences across the region are engaged and enriched by the musical gifts of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Recent News
Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score News - April 15, 2024
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include information…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score News - April 3, 2024
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News The Score of March 4, 2024
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include information…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News - February 1, 2024
GSO Spotlight: Auriyan Tillman Recent KSU grad and rising star, Auriyan Tillman will be headlining the upcoming GSO Jazz concert “What the World Needs Now.” She sat down with Executive Director, Suzanne Tucker to talk about her start in…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score - January 16, 2024
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include information…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score - January 2, 2024
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include information…
Read More »Generosity that Expands Horizons
Generosity that Expands Horizons The benefits of music education are many. Through music, children develop their intellectual capabilities, learn to work in harmony as a group and to present themselves with confidence to others. Students of music…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score - December 15, 2023
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include information…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score - November 15, 2023
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Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra : The Score - October 15th, 2023
“The Score” Welcome to this edition of the GSO’s newsletter “The Score”! We’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score News - October 1, 2023
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Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra: The Score News - September 15, 2023
The Score Hello and welcome to the GSO’s new newsletter “The Score”! Here we’ll keep you up to date with any of the GSO, GYSO, GSO Chorus, and GSO Jazz! info you might have missed. We will also include information about…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News - September 1, 2023
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Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News - June 30, 2023
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Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News - June 26, 2023
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Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News - June 20, 2023
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Read More »Announcing the GSO 73rd Season
2023-2024 Season Announcement We are proud to announce the 2023-2024 season schedule for its orchestral, choral, jazz, holiday, sensory friendly and youth music education program performances. The season will showcase thrilling melodies and…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra Newsletter - May 2023
A Message From Our Executive Director It’s hard to believe that the end of our 72nd season is here. And what a year it has been! - This year, 519 musicians, student, amateur and professional, have performed 33 concerts, and sold almost…
Read More »Martos After Dark Presents: Giulia Messina 'Narcissus Abduction' Opening May 11th, 2023
Martos After Dark Presents Giulia Messina: Narcissus Abduction May 11 - June 3, 2023 Opening - Thursday, May 11, 2023 6 to 8PM Where vivid still lives coalesce with erotic performance, Giulia Messina taps in and arbitrates her own theater of…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra Newsletter - April 2023
Dear Friends, The GSO has had a busy few months! Despite the cold and wet weather, there’s been a special energy in the air as we’ve listened to the sounds of Samba from GSO Jazz!, heard a brilliant original composition by our very own…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra : The Countdown Has Begun! Silent Auction Closes on Saturday
The Silent Auction Countdown Has Begun! Less than 48 hours are left to register and bid on one-of-a-kind items and experiences! The Silent Auction closes at 2:30 pm on Saturday, March 18, 2023. From artwork and jewelry to exciting entertainment…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra - A Letter From Our Director
Happy Black History Month! Dear GSO Patron, I’m so honored to join the GSO community in time for our first classics concert of 2023. The GSO’s Classic Series Concert for February titled “You Shall Hear…”…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra News - Welcome our new Board Chair, Michael Knowles
Welcome our new Board Chair, Michael Knowles! Mike has been a member of the GSO Board for a year, and began serving as Board Chair on January 01, 2023. Michael Knowles has been a Cobb resident for over 27 years, and resides in Kennesaw, Ga with…
Read More »GSO Announces Executive Leadership Changes
Dear GSO Patron, On behalf of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra board of directors, I wanted to let you know that Taylor Rambo, GSO executive director, is stepping down from his role to take a leadership position within his family’s business.…
Read More »Georgia Symphony Orchestra - Join Us For Our 72nd Concert Season, GSO Patron
2022-2023 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE SOON LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING OUR 72ND SEASON WITH YOU Dear GSO Patron, As a valued supporter of our mission, I am delighted to share our sensational upcoming 72nd concert season schedule with you.…
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