Pioneer Valley Symphony Information

One of the oldest community orchestras in the United States, the PVS was founded to serve the Pioneer Valley through music in three ways: by performing symphonic and choral music; by providing members of the community the opportunity to participate in making music; and through musical education, particularly by introducing young children to live orchestral music. Founded in Greenfield in 1939, the full orchestra performs in Northampton and Amherst as well, drawing its audience from the wider Pioneer Valley. This year we welcome Maestro Tianhui Ng as the new Music Director of the Pioneer Valley Symphony. In addition to the orchestra, the Pioneer Valley Symphony has a strong amateur chorus and chamber choir under the direction of Gregory W. Brown and our youth orchestra directed by Steven Bathory-Peeler. Each year we offer seven symphonic concerts that include family, educational, and choral programs. In June and July, 2013, we began offering four Summer Sings for members of the community to get together and sing major choral works on an informal basis, often with soloists and instrumental accompaniment. Our Youth Orchestra performs two concerts a season. The PVS created a much-loved education program for third- and fourth-graders in the Franklin County schools in 1994, consisting of a six-week classroom unit, visits to classrooms by PVS musicians, and a final education concert during the school day by the adult orchestra. The Pioneer Valley Symphony has also gained national recognition for its programming of contemporary music, earning three ASCAP awards for adventurous programming: In 1997, 2011, and 2014.