A Hidden Gem in the Capital District of New York

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     On the corner of North Pearl Street and Clinton Avenue in the city of Albany is one of the city's more unique venues. The Palace Theater, an entertainment venue opened in 1931 for entertainment and community events, is one of two homes for the Grammy Award winning Albany Symphony Orchestra. Partnering with not only the Palace Theater, but also the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Rensselaer County, the Albany Symphony Orchestra is the oldest and most widely known orchestra in the Capital District and the surrounding counties of Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties. Founded in 1930, the Albany Symphony use to be called the People's Orchestra of Albany.

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     The Albany Symphony has been an integral part in the music scene and culture of Albany. As its mission statement, the Albany Symphony continues to perform new works by modern composers, thereby exposing audiences to a new generation of orchestral music. The Albany Symphony continues to provide an output for new composers to gain the experience of hearing there music performed by a live, large, modern orchestra. Continuing the Orchestra's tradition of conducting new compositions, the conductor David Allen Miller began conducting the orchestra in 1992. Coming up to his 25th season, the world renown conductor and orchestra has won many awards, including recently the Grammy Award for the Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2014 and for its recording of John Corigliano's Conjurer - Concerto for Percussion & String Orchestra with soloist Evelyn Glennie. 

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     The Albany Symphony continues to hold its tradition of playing new music by not only educating the schools of the surrounding communities, but also by holding its annual American Music Festival. Teaming up with communities in downtown Troy, Albany Symphony held its most recent festival in the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. There, people were introduced to a series of works and compositions of varying form from new young composers. Performances were also shown through the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and other small venues in and around Downtown Troy. The Symphony's commitment to entertaining and educating the surrounding communities, and commitment to engaging with old and new classical music makes the Albany Symphony one of a kind in the state of New York.