Founded in New York City in 1976 by six musicians, the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (NASO) has grown to include over 75 players who are a combination of professional, semi-professional, and accomplished avocational players. NASO’s participants have been consistently diverse, including men and women of all ages and ethnic, racial, and professional backgrounds.
The primary goal of NASO is to seek out and showcase outstanding musicians and provide them with the much-coveted opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in New York City. NASO has presented over 150 concerts in a range of venues including Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Fordham at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Riverside Church, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
NASO concerts have featured emerging conductors and soloists and world premieres of works by young American composers. NASO has also paid tribute to seasoned artists and provided them with the opportunity to present innovative or special programs in exciting New York City venues. Over the past 46 years, NASO has provided conducting opportunities for young conductors. Many have gone on to prominent positions in the music world. Conductors who have led the New Amsterdam Symphony in the early years of their careers include:
George Manahan Music Director, American Composers Orchestra; Music Director, Portland (Oregon) Opera; Director of Orchestral Studies, Manhattan School of Music; former Music Director, New York City Opera (14 seasons)
Kimbo Ishii Eto Music Director, Theater Magdeburg, Germany; former Principal Guest Conductor, Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Recently appointed as General Music Director of the State-Theater Schleswig-Holstein (2019-20 season).
Open Spaces
Eckart Preu Music Director, Spokane Symphony Orchestra; Music Director, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra; Music Director, Long Beach Symphony
Alondra de la Parra Music Director, Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Australia (2017-18 season); in 2020, she planned to conduct the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchester Linz, and the Aspen Chamber Symphony, among others
Gemma New Music Director, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra; Resident Conductor, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; and Music Director, St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. Recently appointed as Principal Guest Conductor, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (2019-20 season)
Open Spaces
NASO has also presented many outstanding soloists in the beginning stages of their careers. Soloists who have performed with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra include:
Pianist Ursula Oppens, Avery Fisher Prize winner
Cellist Nathaniel Rosen and violinist Stephanie Chase, Tchaikovsky Competition winners
Clarinetist Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic
Founders Elizabeth Felton John Howell Michele Korf-Epstein Rosalind Levinson Eilene Schiller Patricia A. Vardin
Board of Directors Ann Amarga Rosalind Levinson Alicia Miller Joe Peters Carolyn Pollak Ruth Singleton Emily Whildin
