About the Lansing Symphony Orchestra

The Lansing Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 80th Season with a host of memorable events, programs and guest artists. Established in 1929, under the artistic direction of Izler Solomon, the LSO has become mid-Michigan’s singular professional source of live orchestral music. This Season, it will perform for over 15,000 people through 17 concerts; it will inspire over 15,000 students in music education programs in five mid-Michigan counties and it will reach an additional 250,000 residents with rebroadcasts of its MasterWorks Series concerts on NPR affiliate WKAR-90.5FM Radio.

Your Symphony has obviously changed and grown in 80 years, but one thing has remained the same. It still offers its patrons the finest classical music each Season from the best musicians in the state. All musicians who perform with the LSO are professionals who have auditioned for their positions. Nothing would be possible without them and all of the skills they possess. They literally make the music happen!

The LSO’s 78 years have seen a number of people come and go, but some of the most memorable changes have come in shape of its home. In 1982 the LSO welcomed the Wharton Center for Performing Arts to the campus of Michigan State University. Wharton Center became the home of the LSO that Season and has remained our main venue ever since. Many of you remember some of the other homes of the LSO, principally the Everett and Sexton High School Auditoriums. Some of you may remember other, or even earlier, venues.

The LSO calls two additional facilities in mid-Michigan home as well. The Lansing Symphony Big Band concerts are performed at Dart Auditorium on the Lansing Community College Campus. The LSO Chamber Series concerts are performed in the intimate environment of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing.