Whether you’re a classical music maven or someone who enjoys a fun evening or afternoon out on the town, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) offers a performance you’ll love. Founded in 1924 as the Amateur Strand Symphony Orchestra, the musical ensemble has been through a handful of name changes and more than 12 conductors in its century-long journey to becoming one of the top symphonies of its size in the country. Composed of 82 professional musicians from all over New England under the direction of conductor Eckert Preu, the PSO aims to enrich the lives of the community through music by appealing to audiences of all kinds with two categories of main stage performances: classical and pops.
“Our classical series is a combination of the more well-known repertoire, like Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, along with newer pieces written by underrepresented groups including BIPOC and female composers,” explains Allison Page, marketing director for the PSO. “This season, we’re presenting a work that we commissioned by a modern female composer named Anna Klein, which we’re really excited about. We always try to honor the well-known legacy of the classical genre while being forward-thinking with new works and uplifting minority voices,” she says. The pops series, a yang to the classical series’s yin, offers popular programming that ranges from music featured in movies and pop culture to homages to different performers throughout the years. “In the past, we’ve presented programs that feature works from Louis Armstrong and Queen,” Page notes, but for the upcoming 100th season, the PSO is diving into the film-in-concert experience with a performance of Star Wars: A New Hope. “The film will be played above the orchestra, and the orchestra will be performing the score to the movie live,” she explains. “Plus, it will be happening on May 4th, 2025, which is fun—May the fourth,” Page laughs.
Most Mainers have heard of the PSO’s annual Magic of Christmas holiday performance, which will be entering its 45th year of magic this winter. “There are some parts of the show that are traditional, like the Hallelujah Chorus, and we always try to incorporate newer traditions like the Maine Christmas Song. Every year, we bring in a guest vocalist and play new selections,” Page says, adding that the PSO sees families return to the performance annually as part of their holiday tradition. Don’t miss out on the upcoming season’s magic, which will feature Cirque de la Symphonie aerialists performing gravity-defying feats above the orchestra during certain numbers.
In addition to providing the community with incredible musical performances, the PSO emphasizes education and engagement for Portland’s youth. “Our Discovery Concerts are designed to be a family-friendly introduction to classical music,” Pages explains. “Tickets for these concerts are only $10, and we offer pre-concert activities like an instrument petting zoo, where kids can touch, play, and hear some of the different instruments, and Podium Hero, where they can get a quick lesson in using the baton and experience conducting a few musicians.” Outside the auditorium, an interactive program called PSO Explorers brings professional musicians into local classrooms to foster literacy awareness, and young students can experience KinderKonzerts, a small ensemble of four or five musicians performing a short concert with a storytelling element. The PSO also runs youth concerts at Merrill Auditorium, which support the acquisition of academic skills set by Maine Learning Result standards and provide an opportunity for school field trips.
If you’ve made it this far and you’re still not sure if the symphony is for you, take it from Page: “A lot of people know more classical music than they realize,” she says. “It can be challenging to get newcomers in the door, but we try to cultivate a welcoming environment at Merrill, and a lot of people who think they might not like classical music really enjoy the experience.” And of course, because this is Maine, the symphony doesn’t have to be fancy. “Some people dress up because it’s their night out in Portland, and others come in their flannels and Bean boots,” Page says. “The symphony is really an experience for everyone, and we don’t have a dress code—people can wear whatever they’d like.”
For the upcoming 100th season, the PSO is pulling out all the stops and focusing on three core concepts: celebrate, grow, and engage. “We’re trying to position the PSO as an artistic catalyst not just in Portland, but across the country,” Page says, adding that “there’s blockbuster programming coming up, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing with the symphony at our 100th Anniversary Gala.” By commissioning new works that elevate modern voices and focusing on partnerships with other arts organizations in the community, the PSO is making its centennial season a can’t-miss celebration. “We’re working with Opera Maine to produce a semi-staged production of La bohème, one of the more well-known operas that the broadway musical Rent is based on, and we’re partnering with Portland Ballet to stage a concert and performance focused on famous romances,” Page adds. “We’re also starting a new initiative with Carnegie Hall called Link Up, which provides supporting curriculum material for teachers who are planning to bring their students to a youth concert. If the students are learning how to play the recorder, for example, they’ll have the opportunity to learn some of the pieces that the orchestra is performing, and then they can bring their recorders to the concert and play along with professional musicians. It’s a really engaging opportunity for them to experience orchestra in a different way than just sitting there and listening,” she explains.
To kick off the 2024-2025 season, the PSO is planning an opening weekend celebration complete with a block party featuring food trucks, activities, and opportunities to meet the musicians. “We really want the community to experience this celebratory kickoff with us and to get to know us in a new and different way,” Page says.
"The PSO is an artistic catalyst not just in Portland, but across the country."