Founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski, The American Symphony Orchestra performs its primary subscription series at Avery Fisher Hall as part of the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center.

Its artistic director and principal conductor is Leon Botstein. Comprised of New York City's finest musicians, the ASO regularly participates in numerous sponsored cultural and educational events, including a telecast and recording last year with popular composer Tim Janis for the benefit of PBS, and a performance with Vice-President Al Gore in February 2000 benefiting New York City charitable organizations.

Among its other notable sponsored events are a gala concert at Avery Fisher Hall celebrating the 50th anniversary of the state of Israel with Kathleen Battle and Sarah Chang.

In 1996, Leon Botstein led the Orchestra in a special concert at Avery Fisher Hall honoring the 3000th anniversary of the city of Jerusalem, with Beverly Sills, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, and Twyla Tharp.

The ASO has also performed for the Paris Opera Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera as well as for the Royal Ballet.

It has participated in gala benefits for The Korea Society, and played in the world premiere of the live orchestral version of Abel Gance's 1927 film Napoleon at Radio City Music Hall,.

In January 1994 the Orchestra returned from an extensive tour of Japan, sponsored by Toshiba.

In 1998, the ASO traveled to Brazil to open a new concert hall in São Paolo.


The American Symphony Orchestra has had an illustrious history of music directors and guest conductors. Succeeding Leopold Stokowski, who directed the Orchestra from 1962 to 1972, were Kazuyoshi Akiyama (1973-1978), Sergiu Comissiona (1978-1982), Moshe Atzmon and Guiseppe Patane (co-directors 1982-1984), John Mauceri (1985-1987), and Catherine Comet (1990-1992).

Notable guest conductors have included Leonard Bernstein, Karl Böhm, Aaron Copland, Morton Gould, Aram Khachaturian, James Levine, André Previn, Yehudi Menuhin, James de Preist, Gunther Schuller, Leonard Slatkin, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Sir William Walton.


Earlier this year, Telarc released the American Symphony's second operatic recording, 'Die ägyptische Helena' with Deborah Voigt, Leon Botstein conducting.

The American Symphony Orchestra's other recordings under Leon Botstein include Strauss's 'Die Liebe der Danae' with Lauren Flanigan (Telarc); Franz Schubert: 'Orchestrated' (Koch International) with works by Joachim, Mottl, and Webern; Johannes Brahms 'Serenade No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11 for Orchestra' (Vanguard Classics) and 'Ernst von Dohnanyi Concertino' for Harp and Orchestra (Bridge; forthcoming 2004).

Last season, the American Symphony Orchestra inaugurated the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, designed by Frank O. Gehry, at Bard College, and became the Center's orchestra-in-residence.

In addition to performances in the Bard Music Festival and Summerscape Festivals in July and August, the Orchestra debuted its winter concert series at the Center to capacity audiences.