Our Mission

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1992 (as the Northern Kentucky Symphony) with a mission to make classical music attractive, accessible and affordable to people in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. Since its inception, the KSO has demonstrated a unique ability to make the concert experience relevant and entertaining to its audiences while maintaining high performance standards and integrity.

Each KSO program contains both familiar and unique repertoire presented in a thematic context that is compelling and entertaining. Through the years, KSO concerts have offered many surprises including silent films, dancers, comedians, zoo animals, alternative, rock and complete operas and musicals, country bands, a limbo contest, aerobic classes, poetry readings, Civil War battle re-enactments and more.

The KSO has also collaborated with local arts organizations such as the Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Playhouse in the Park, the Taft Museum and community institutions such as the Cincinnati Observatory and Kentucky National Guard to name but a few.

For nearly 32 years The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra has taken the “phony” out of symphony through live thematic concerts that culturally enrich, educate and entertain the residents of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. The KSO performs throughout Northern Kentucky with three series of concerts; Summer Series in Devou Park (July- September), Free Education/Outreach concerts (October – March), and an affordably priced Subscription Series (5 programs held October-May).