Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Marks a Year of Unprecedented Achievements
Atlanta, Aug. 28, 2024 — The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has wrapped up their 2023-24 fiscal year with notable financial growth and numerous distinguished accomplishments. The orchestra, which balanced its budget for the tenth consecutive year, reported record-breaking revenues and increased audience numbers, signaling the organization’s robust health and continued relevance.
Throughout the fiscal year ending in August 2024, the ASO surpassed revenue targets across all categories, with the Delta Classical Series ticket sales reaching unprecedented heights. The series achieved an all-time high in **ticket revenue**, attracting a remarkable number of new audience members. Over the past twelve months, the orchestra celebrated 13 sold-out performances, showcasing the community’s growing engagement and enthusiasm for classical music.
Noteworthy highlights over the season included acclaimed programs featuring music director Nathalie Stutzmann, in her second year leading the orchestra, as well as special appearances by star soprano Renee Fleming and esteemed pianists Maria Joao Pires and Daniil Trifonov. Additionally, an all-Dvorak program recorded live for release on Warner Classics further added to the season’s prestige.
In addition to their performance achievements, the ASO celebrated a historical milestone as a commissioned work titled Adagio (For Wadada Leo Smith) by composer Tyshawn Sorey earned the Pulitzer Prize for Music, marking the first-ever Pulitzer Prize for the ASO. Furthermore, the orchestra won its first Emmy Award this June for their full-length arts and entertainment feature at the Southeastern Emmy Awards ceremony for the docu-concert, My Bolero with Nathalie Stutzmann.
Jennifer Barlament, executive director of the ASO, reflected on the myriad of accomplishments stating, “On all fronts, last season was a great one at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, with memorable musical moments, important new partnerships, and watershed financial achievements. Ten years in the black, record numbers of new audiences, a tour, recording, an Emmy and a Pulitzer are all big accomplishments—and to see them all in the same year is remarkable. We have a lot to celebrate.”
The ASO also saw a successful year of broadening their outreach and establishing new connections within the community, contributing to their continued rise in audience numbers. The organization’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality performances and community engagement remains evident as they prepare for the upcoming season.
As the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra looks forward to another year, the achievements of the 2023-24 season set a promising precedent for what lies ahead. With a season full of unforgettable moments, strategic growth, and significant honors, the ASO continues to be a beacon of musical excellence and cultural vitality in the heart of Atlanta.
