Susan Dench

Portland Symphony Orchestra

The Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra has been inspiring audiences since it made its debut almost a century ago. And while there's little chance that today's patrons will find a concert canceled because the hall's custodian went fishing (as was the case in 1924) the PSO still resonates with a refrain that echoes far beyond the borders of our city and stage. That sound is grounded in our commitment to the world-class performance of exceptional musical experiences we invite you to share. The orchestra is comprised of 82 professional musicians, 40% of them residing in Maine and the rest coming from the greater Boston area, New Hampshire and Vermont. The primary performance venue is Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, Maine. Merrill Auditorium is a 1,908 seat performing arts facility located in the Arts District of downtown Portland, Maine. The Auditorium was originally built in 1912 to replace two former halls both destroyed by fire. Cyrus Curtis, a publishing tycoon, donated the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ, a celebrated instrument with 5,000 pipes of varying sizes, that was incorporated into the stage. Concerts and Programs per September to June Season: » 6 Tuesday Classical » 5 Sunday Classical » 5 Pops (two performances of each program) » Magic of Christmas (14 performances) » 3 Discovery (Family) Concerts with pre-concert instrument petting zoos » 4 Youth (School-based in Merrill) Concerts (two programs per season) » 50+ KinderKonzerts (up to three performances in at least four locations throughout Maine and into New Hampshire)