New York-based American orchestra founded in 1962 dedicated to making rarely-heard orchestral music accessible to all. For over 60 years, the American Symphony Orchestra has provided fresh and challenging musical experiences to the public, expanding innovative orchestral performance as a reflection of the vibrant cultures that comprise America. The mission of the ASO is to renew live orchestral music as a vital force in contemporary American culture. To this end, the ASO presents thematic programming, in which musical works are curated around ideas drawn from a variety of disciplines such as history, visual arts, science, politics and literature. ASO pursues innovation in concert presentation and is devoted to the promotion of musical education. The ASO was founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski, with a mission of making orchestral music accessible and affordable for everyone. Music Director Leon Botstein expanded that mission when he joined the ASO in 1992, creating thematic concerts that explore music from the perspective of the visual arts, literature, religion, and history, and reviving rarely-performed works that audiences would otherwise never have a chance to hear performed live.