A National Orchestra
Throughout its history, the National Symphony Orchestra has served the nation through annual state residencies, national television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, and touring. The NSO is also a cultural ambassador for the United States and represents the nation on tours to Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.
Capital Concerts
Forty years ago – in 1979 – the National Symphony began a tradition of free holiday concerts on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Sponsored by Congress, concerts on July 4 and Memorial Day have been televised since 1981 and 1990 respectively.
Today, both concerts are broadcast live on PBS as well as to our troops serving around the world on the Armed Forces Network. A Capitol Fourth can also be heard live on NPR member stations nationwide.
As Music Director of the National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth on PBS, Maestro Jack Everly proudly leads the National Symphony Orchestra in these patriotic celebrations on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Both concerts are star-studded events featuring well-known musical artists, actors, and political and military leaders.
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Audience members sitting on the grounds of the United States Capitol Building for the Labor Day Concert.
Photo by Scott Suchman
The National Symphony Orchestra performing on the grounds of the United States Capitol Building for the Labor Day Concert.
Photo by Scott Suchman
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American Residencies
An important project in the National Symphony Orchestra’s history was the American Residencies program, which took the NSO to twenty-one states. This project encompassed sharing all elements of classical symphonic music with a specific state, exploring its diversity of musical influences, and giving the state a musical voice in the nation's center for the performing arts through exchanges, training programs, and commissions.
Because of the generous support of many organizations—principally the Kennedy Center and the U.S. Department of Education—all proceeds from any ticket sales resulting from these events remain within the state to support local arts organizations.
The American Residencies started in Alaska in 1992 under the guidance of former Music Director Mstislav Rostropovich and concluded in 2011.
American Residencies by state:
Alaska, 1992
Louisiana, 1994
Maine, 1995
Wyoming, 1996
Montana, 1996
Arizona, 1997
Alabama, 1998
Mississippi, 1999
Vermont, 2000
Oklahoma, 2001
South Dakota, 2002
North Dakota, 2003
Tennessee, 2004
North Carolina, 2005
Nevada, 2005
Nebraska, 2006
Kansas, 2007
South Carolina, 2008
Arkansas, 2009
West Virginia, 2010
Kentucky, 2011
Assistant Principal violinist William Foster with a student in North Dakota.
Photo by Scott Suchman
Lakota Sioux flutist Keith Bear and NSO flutist Alice Weinreb perform.
Photo by Scott Suchman
Students and teachers in Nebraska watching the NSO perform.
Photo by Thom Wolf
