Founded as the Portland Symphony Society in 1896, The Oregon Symphony is the oldest orchestra west of the Mississippi and was one of the first American orchestras to be founded before 1900. With a commitment to serve the statewide and regional community, the Oregon Symphony offers a multitude of special programs that serve both the city of Portland along with surrounding rural areas through their Community Music Partnership initiative. During the summer, the Symphony collaborates with local community organizations and arts groups, offering free concerts in its Neighborhoods Series. An afternoon festival before each concert features performances by local groups, arts displays, and instrument petting zoos.
Special programs for children include the “Kids Series”, for ages 5-10, and “Symphony Storytimes”, a partnership with the Multnomah County Library System where each performance focuses on learning about one of the four families of instruments (strings; winds; brass; percussion). These concerts feature Oregon Symphony members performing music to enhance “storytime”, and include a crafts session and instrument petting zoo. Before each classical series concert, the Symphony offers pre-concert discussions of the program, and KBPS All Classical 89.9 FM features an in depth preview of the music at 6pm on Thursdays before each Classical Series concert.
Oregon Symphony Information
- Public Transportation: Good (accessible by Tri-Met/MAX lightrail and bus)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: 100+ per season
- Ticket Prices: Prices range from $15-$125
- Group Discounts: Groups of eight or more people receive special discounted prices. For larger groups, complimentary tickets are offered to the group organizer and bus driver
- Subscriptions: Subscription programs are offered by genre of music and include the Classical Series, Pops Series, “Inside the Score”, Kids Series and others. A “Flex Pass” Subscription offers 12 tickets with best available seating to any Oregon Symphony subscription concert (excluding Dress Circle seating and Special Events.) 6-ticket packages are also available. Subscriptions are also available at discounted price for Students and Seniors. Subscriber Benefits include discounts for tickets to “Special Concerts” and some ticket exchange flexibility
- Basic Membership: Individual membership begins at $100. Benefits include a 10% discount at “Classical Millennium”, entrance to Membership Rehearsals, Concert Program recognition and Tickets to the “Evelyn Nagel Donor Appreciation Concert”
- Other Benefits: At higher levels of donation, Members are invited to special receptions, rehearsals, concerts and dinners.
