Originally founded by Henry Sopkin as a youth orchestra in 1945, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has become a cornerstone in artistic development throughout the Southeast. Winner of over 20 Grammy Awards, the ASO is comprised of a 95-player instrumental section and a 200-member chorus. Its leaders have included the late Robert Shaw and Yoel Levi, who is currently Director Emeritus. Now under the direction of Robert Spano, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra continues to grow and excel.

Spano – born in Ohio and raised in Indiana – grew up in a musical family, and played the piano, flute and violin. He studied conducting under Robert Baustian and Max Rudolf, and spent eight years as the Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra before coming to Atlanta. He is now credited as one of America's top conductors. In the summer of 2005, Spano will conduct Wagner's "Ring" cycle at the Seattle Opera. To learn more about the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its performance schedule, visit the ASO website.