Mission: The Portland Symphony Orchestra serves our community by enriching lives through music.
Year established: 1924
Music Director: Eckart Preu
Chair of the Board: Wendy Suehrstedt
Concertmaster: Charles Dimmick
Collaborative Partners: PSO has engaged in promotional and/or artistic partnerships with University of Southern Maine School of Music, Portland Public Library, Portland Ballet, Maine State Ballet, Choral Art Society, Portland Community Chorus, SPACE Gallery, and Portland Ovations. In addition, each year PSO donates hundreds of tickets to local non-profits and community service organizations.
Support: The PSO enjoys corporate support from leading regional institutions such as Unum, IDEXX, WEX, LL Bean and foundation support from local and national funders.
Business Holdings: PortTIX (co-owned with Portland Ovations), Portland Presents (co-operative venture with Portland Ovations, Portland Stage Company and City of Portland)
Annual Operating Budget: $3.3 million
Musicians: The orchestra is comprised of 82 professional musicians, 40% of them residing in Maine and the rest coming from the greater Boston area, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Administrative Staff: 15
Board Members: 28 Board of Directors, 33 President’s Council Members, 2 Distinguished Service Trustees
Volunteers: In addition to the board and its various committees, PSO volunteers provide invaluable support in fundraising, concert assistance, special events and other projects.
Primary Performance Venue: Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland
Merrill Auditorium is a 1,908 seat performing arts facility located in the Arts District of downtown Portland, Maine. The Auditorium was originally built in 1912 to replace two former halls both destroyed by fire. Cyrus Curtis, a publishing tycoon, donated the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, a celebrated instrument with 5,000 pipes of varying sizes that was incorporated into the stage.
In 1997, through efforts of the City of Portland, Portland Ovations (then PCA Great Performances), the Portland Symphony Orchestra, concerned citizens and the corporate and philanthropic communities, Merrill Auditorium was completely renovated with improved acoustics, sightlines and stage facilities. Since the restoration, Merrill Auditorium has established itself as one of New England’s finest performing arts centers.
Concerts and Programs per September to June Season:
» 6 Tuesday Classical
» 5 Sunday Classical
» 5 Pops (two performances of each program)
» 12 Magic of Christmas
» 2-3 Discovery Concerts
» 4 Youth Concerts
» 50+ KinderKonzerts (up to three performances in at least four locations throughout Maine and into New Hampshire)
