THIRD MILLENNIUM ENSEMBLE Competitors

Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. In collaboration with the best conductors and guest artists on the international music scene, the CSO performs well over one hundred concerts each year at its downtown home, Symphony Center and at the Ravinia Festival on Chicago’s North Shore. Music lovers outside Chicago enjoy the sounds of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through best-selling recordings and frequent sold-out tour performances in the United States and around the globe.

For over 100 years, the LA Phil has embodied the spirit of Los Angeles. Guided by our commitment to innovation, excellence, and access, the LA Phil operates four major venues: Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, and the Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood. At our core is our orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, whose brilliant performances and dedication to the future of music led The New Yorker’s Alex Ross to declare it “so far ahead of other American orchestras that it is in competition mainly with its own past achievements.” We bring the same principles to YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), our music learning program which has provided instruments, education, and opportunities to thousands of students and families in LA. On stage, off stage, and in the community, the LA Phil’s work reflects the incredible array of music and cultures that have shaped Los Angeles, and the power of music to inspire and connect people.

Founded in 1842, the New York Philharmonic plays a leading cultural role in New York City, the United States, and the world. Each season the Orchestra connects with millions of music lovers through live concerts in New York and beyond, as well as broadcasts, recordings, and education programs. Gustavo Dudamel becomes the New York Philharmonic’s Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Music & Artistic Director in September 2026, having served as Music & Artistic Director Designate in 2025–26. The Orchestra’s 2026–27 season, which marks the beginning of Dudamel’s tenure, ushers in a dynamic new era of artistic growth, groundbreaking collaboration, forward-thinking programming, and deeper community engagement.