Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1927, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra has a mission to present inspiring experiences that welcome all members of our community to discover and cultivate a profound, personal connection with live orchestral music.

LSO presents a season of 11 concerts each year under the leadership of Music Director Edward Polochick. These performances reach more than 13,000 patrons annually and include seven classical programs, two interactive family concerts, a holiday concert, and a pops concert.

The professional members of Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra live and work in Lincoln or Omaha, and the majority of them are music teachers. During its history, LSO has featured guest artists such as Leon Fleisher, Renée Fleming, Itzhak Perlman, and Tony Bennett; and in 2011 became the Resident Orchestra of the Lied Center for Performing Arts.

LSO recently changed its name to Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra; the ‘apostrophe s’ indicates the orchestra’s renewed commitment to the community it serves. LSO believes that live classical music should be financially accessible to everyone in our community. Beginning in 2011, LSO implemented new prices as the starting point for removing barriers that might inhibit attendance; adult tickets cost $20/$40, student tickets cost $5, and premium seats are available for only $10 for music teachers and young professionals.

Since making this price change and moving to the Lied Center, LSO is indeed serving a larger and much more diverse audience. LSO also works to ensure that the orchestra is truly welcoming all members of our community by offering complimentary tickets to military veterans, immigrant and refugee families through a partnership with LPS’s Family Literacy, and human service organizations serving at-risk clients facing unique challenges (such as the loss of a parent, domestic violence, substance abuse, or financial hardship).

LSO is committed to school outreach and partnerships with community organizations, reaching more than 13,500 students in more than 90 schools throughout Nebraska annually. This includes Young People’s Concerts, master classes with guest artists, school performances, artist residencies, Lincoln City Library Partnerships, and an annual Young Artist Competition. LSO also mentors Lincoln Youth Symphony members in an annual side-by-side performance, and LSO’s Music Director and Concertmaster visit high school and middle school orchestras to help them prepare for their own concerts.

LSO’s Harmony in Healing project partners with local hospitals, rehabilitation centers, memory care centers, and assisted living centers, to impact and improve their patients’ care, well-being, and environment through a series of chamber ensemble performances.

Learn more about Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra at lincolnsymphony.com or by calling 402.476.2211.