Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the PSO is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. Now in its 83rd season, the orchestra is entering a period of significant evolution, with new administrative leadership and the recent appointment of the new Music Director, Robert Moody.  With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country.

Year established: 1923

Music Director: In its 82 years, the PSO has had eleven music directors and conductors. Toshiyuki Shimada led the PSO as Music Director and Conductor since 1986. Maestro Shimada concluded his extraordinary tenure in the spring of 2006, leaving to serve as Conductor of the Yale Symphony Orchestra. A search for a new Music Director and Conductor began with seven guest conductors performing over the 2005-06 season.

Robert Moody, Music Director Designate: Mr. Moody holds three permanent conducting positions: Music Director for the Winston-Salem Symphony in North Carolina, Music Director Designate for the Portland Symphony in Maine, and Artistic Director for Arizona MusicFest in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona.

On May 30, 2007 the Portland Symphony Orchestra named Robert Moody as 12th Music Director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra.  With the 2008-09 season Moody will begin a three-year term as Music Director. As Music Director, he will conduct in all of the PSO’s series, including Classical, Pops, Youth Concerts, Independence Pops and (beginning in 2009-10) Magic of Christmas.  He will serve as Music Director Designate during the current 2007-08 season, where he will lead the final concert of the year featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, as well as the final Pops concerts April 26-27, 2008 featuring Tiempo Libre.  Moody will also participate in various community events throughout the upcoming season. Joseph Silverstein will serve as Artistic Advisor as previously announced. 

A native of South Carolina, Robert Moody earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Furman University in his hometown of Greenville.  He completed a master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Artistic Advisor: Joseph Silverstein (for 2007-08 season)

Chair of the Board: Deborah Galarneau

Executive Director: Ari Solotoff

Concertmaster: Charles Dimmick

Collaborative Partners: PSO has engaged in promotional and/or artistic partnerships with University of Southern Maine School of Music, Portland Public Library, Portland Ballet, Maine State Ballet, Choral Art Society, Portland Community Chorus, and PCA Great Performances.  In addition, each year PSO donates 2,000 tickets to Portland West, an award-winning community service organization.

Support: The PSO enjoys corporate support from leading regional institutions such as TD Banknorth and IDEXX, and foundation support from local and national funders.

Business Holdings: PortTix (co-owned with PCA Great Performances), Portland Presents (co-operative venture with PCA Great Performances, Portland Stage Company and City of Portland)

Annual Operating Budget: $3 million

Musicians: The orchestra is comprised of 82 professional musicians, half of them residing in Maine and the rest coming from the greater Boston area, New Hampshire and Vermont

Administrative Staff: 14

Board Members: 30 Board of Directors, 28 Advisory Trustees, 7 Distinguished Service Trustees

Volunteers: In addition to the board and its various committees, PSO volunteers provide invaluable support in fundraising, concert assistance, special events and other projects.

Primary Performance Venue: Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland

Merrill Auditorium is a 1,908 seat performing arts facility located in the Arts District of downtown Portland, Maine. The Auditorium was originally built in 1912 to replace two former halls both destroyed by fire. Cyrus Curtis, a publishing tycoon, donated the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, a celebrated instrument with 5,000 pipes of varying sizes that was incorporated into the stage.

In 1997, through efforts of the City of Portland, PCA Great Performances, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, concerned citizens and the corporate and philanthropic communities, Merrill Auditorium was completely renovated with improved acoustics, sightlines and stage facilities. Since the restoration, Merrill Auditorium has established itself as one of New England’s finest performing arts centers.

Concerts & Programs:
»  6 Tuesday Classical
»  3 Sunday Classical
»  4 Pops (two performances of each program)
»  14 Magic of Christmas
»  4 Independence Pops
»  2 Youth Concerts (four performances of each program)
»  43 KinderKonzerts (up to three performances in 10 locations throughout Maine
    and into New Hampshire)