Your Local, All-Volunteer, Community Orchestra
Serving Aurora, Colorado & the Denver Metro Since 1978
WHO WE ARE
Mission and History
Founded in 1978 by local civic leader Alice Lee Main and founding conductor Gloria Olsen, the Aurora Symphony Orchestra embraces our community’s rich cultural diversity and appreciation for the arts by performing symphonic music that honors our heritage, celebrates our contemporary artistic environment and forges a cultural legacy for the future. Its first public performance was given at the Bicentennial Park as part of the Aurora Arts Festival in 1979. From that modest start, the orchestra steadily grew into Aurora’s only symphony orchestra when it became a non-profit corporation in 1996.
The Aurora Symphony also offers a myriad of musical opportunities for all ages. Our Board of Directors, Artistic Director, and all the members of the orchestra have a strong commitment to arts education in the community to develop better citizens and a life-long love of music.
As part of the concert season, our annual Children’s & Family performances are a wonderful, free way to introduce children to the great world of music and musical instruments. Children who participate in music education have been shown to develop positive life learning skills such as self-discipline, self expression
and higher self-esteem. Symphony members enjoy encouraging children to develop their musical abilities through these highly entertaining concerts and by allowing them hands-on opportunities to learn about the
different instruments of the orchestra.
Past Conductors
Gloria Olsen 1978 – 1989
Richard Molzer 1989 – 2003
Richard Niezen 2003 – 2011
Norman Gamboa 2011 – 2022
Kyle Rupley (Interim) 2022 – 2023
Mission
The Aurora Symphony Orchestra presents quality music in Aurora and surrounding communities.
Vision
The Aurora Symphony Orchestra embraces our community’s rich cultural diversity and appreciation for the arts by performing an array of music that honors our heritages, celebrates our contemporary artistic environment and forges a cultural legacy for the future.
A Proud Member of the
Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD)
