Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the PSO is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. 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 May of 2008 Robert Moody was named the twelth Music Director in the PSO’s history. He has also served as Music Director for the Winston-Salem Symphony (NC) since 2005, and Artistic Director for Arizona Musicfest since 2007.

Moody is a frequent guest conductor with orchestras across the United States. This season marks his tenth year leading the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s “Discovery” concert series. Other recent and upcoming guest conducting appearances include debuts with the Seattle, Memphis, Charleston, and Virginia symphonies and at the Ravinia Festival; as well as return engagements in Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Grant Park, Ft. Worth, and Anchorage. In the summer of 2007 Moody served as Conductor-in-Residence for the famed Eastern Music Festival (Gerard Schwartz, Artistic Director).

Two recent recordings mark a new chapter for Maestro Moody. The Canadian Brass released a CD entitled “Bach” late in 2007, and a second, entitled “Legends,” in the summer of 2008. Moody is guest conductor on both.

Born and raised in Greenville, SC, Moody took up the cello in the public school system (Duncan Chapel Elementary) in the 4th grade. His voice and cello studies throughout high school (including three years of study at the Greenville County Fine Arts Center, one of the first public high schools for the arts in the nation) took him to Furman University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music, with performing emphasis in both voice and cello. He then completed his Master of Music Degree in Conducting at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he studied with Donald Neuen.

When not making music, one is most likely to find Robert Moody snow-skiing, hiking, running, or involved in other outdoor activities. He was a founding member of The Phoenix Symphony Running Club, and completed his first marathon -- Phoenix’s “Rock-n-Roll” Marathon -- in 2005. Christmas 2007 he ran the “Mistletoe” Half-Marathon in Winston-Salem, and Portland’s famed “Beach to Beacon” 10K in August 2008.

Chair of the Board: Gordon Gayer

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, Space Gallery, and PCA Great Performances. In addition, each year PSO donates tickets to local non-profits including 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
»  4 Sunday Classical
»  4 Pops (two performances of each program)
»  12 Magic of Christmas
»  4 Independence Pops
»  2 Youth Concerts (four performances of each program)
»  40 KinderKonzerts (up to three performances in 10 locations throughout Maine
    and into New Hampshire)