At Auburn Symphony Orchestra we routinely bring to the stage a wide variety of music and performances. We collaborate with art groups like the Guild Dance Company, star soloists like violinist Randall Goosby, and local community groups like Auburn School District. It is important for orchestras to perform both canonical works composed decades or centuries ago as well as new works created by living composers. New music performed today adds to the overall canon of music so that a century from now listeners will have an idea of what music was like in the early twenty-first century.

Commissioning new music is one of the ways we support living composers and American music. The world is full of talented and creative composers and through commissions we help bring their voices to Auburn listeners. Not least of all, commissioning new music is fun! Working with a living composer is so incredibly rewarding for musicians as we get to ask questions, obtain feedback, and help shape new music as it is being written. Look for this symbol in our program listings which indicates an American composer.

What is a commissioning consortium?

Commissioning consortium are groups of people or organizations who collectively pay a composer to write a new piece of music. Usually one person or organization initiates and organizes the process. The advantage of a consortium is that it lowers the cost for individual funders and therefore makes the process more affordable. Additionally, instead of just one performance, the commissioned piece is played by each of the co-commissioning orchestras allowing more listeners to hear this brand new piece of music.

The Guild Dance Company performing with Auburn Symphony in 2022.

Auburn students performing along side ASO musicians in 2019.