New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Mission & History
Mission
The mission of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is to place the world’s finest music at the center of the cultural life of the South Coast community. The NBSO enriches the lives of adults and children through the transforming power of great music, performing concerts at the highest level of professional standards, and providing educational programs for children and listeners of all ages that deepen their enjoyment and understanding of music and make it a part of their daily lives. The NBSO is committed to building strong relationships with other music and cultural organizations in our region because collaboration makes all organizations, and your community, stronger.
We invite you to avoid the Boston traffic and head to New Bedford’s Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (or Bronspiegel Auditorium at New Bedford High School while The Z is undergoing renovations) for a memorable music experience. With our enticing selection of classical and pops concerts, family concerts, and open rehearsals, there’s an experience for every music lover. Whether you are a first-time concertgoer or an NBSO regular, we are your symphony!
We value your opinions, so please feel free to share them with us by calling the NBSO office at 508-999-6276 or emailing your comments to info@nbsymphony.org. We’d love to hear what you think about this season or seasons past, and any helpful advice you may have for us or new concertgoers!
The power of classical music is a wonderful thing. Thank you for being a part of it and for helping the NBSO be a vital force in your community.
History
The history and mission of the NBSO begin with its founder, Clarence Arey. In 1915, Mr. Arey, a gifted musician and teacher, established the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra to provide high-quality performances of classical music for his community. Mr. Arey also created the first public high school orchestra program in Massachusetts. When the New Bedford High School Orchestra performed at the annual Massachusetts Superintendents Conference in 1913, superintendents from around the state were so impressed with the quality of the performance that many of them returned home and quickly established orchestra programs in their school systems. Soon, almost every high school in Massachusetts boasted a student orchestra. Mr. Arey’s dual devotion to a Symphony Orchestra presenting high-quality performances of classical music for its community and a music education program opening the world of classical music to young people remains the heart and soul of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.
The NBSO’s governance and management approach is rooted in strategic planning. Each plan is developed to cover a three to five year time frame with the recognition that it is best to renew the process every three years. With this underpinning of strategic planning, the NBSO has experienced unprecedented growth. Over the last two decades, the NBSO’s budget has grown by a multiple of ten, the number of concerts presented has more than doubled, and educational programs have gone from serving 2,000 children annually to more than 8,000. The NBSO is a 501( c)(3), tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation. It is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of volunteers who live in the South Coast region.
CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
The South Coast Chamber Music Series (SCCMS) was formed to present superior chamber music for the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts. SCCMS held its first subscription series concert on October 20, 2001. Since then, we have performed composers from Bach, Brahms, and Ravel to present-day masters Higdon and Piston. Each program presents an engaging array of styles, timbres, and artists in lively acoustic environments in Marion and South Dartmouth. We joined forces with the NBSO in 2014, giving both organizations an opportunity to expand in all directions—more concerts, more musicians, and more music—and are thrilled to connect with our loyal and growing audience.
Your donations make possible our innovative educational programs.
Our educational programs serve over 25,000 children a year, and we are recognized nationally for our innovative approach and high impact. We all know of the documented benefits of children learning music, and we firmly believe that by introducing classical music to a new generation of students through our programs, we are helping them to make critical connections between music and their everyday lives, making their NBSO experience enriching on multiple levels.
