As we look forward to the 2025–26 season – our 90th year serving this community – I want to share a few reflections on where we are today and what lies ahead. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra exists to serve and connect people through music. This past season, we continued to do just that – not only in the concert hall, but in classrooms, hospitals, public parks, and community spaces across East Tennessee. With strong attendance, expanding youth programs, and growing community partnerships, the KSO remains a vital part of our region’s cultural life.
The numbers behind our programs this past year tell a clear story of meaningful growth and impact. In 2025, the KSO engaged more than 9,200 students through in-school education programs led by our musicians and performed school-only concerts for over 7,300 students. Our free community concerts reached nearly 60,000 people across East Tennessee, and our Music & Wellness program brought live music to approximately 6,000 individuals in healthcare settings.
Over the past 18 years, we’ve seen sustained and intentional growth. Our operating budget has increased by 66%, and we’ve transitioned the five musicians of our Woodwind Quintet to full-time core status while forming the KSO Brass Quintet by adding five part-time core musicians. We’ve accomplished all of this while keeping our administrative staff lean and maintaining a balanced budget every year. That’s a testament to the dedication of our team and the strength of our supporters.
We continually strive to be wise stewards of our resources – making the most of every space, every dollar, and every hour – while also ensuring our foundation is strong enough to keep that momentum going. Our education programs are a clear example. This year, nearly 500 students from 93 schools across 18 counties participated in our Youth Ensembles. Rehearsals take place weekly in shared venues all over town from churches to area schools and we regularly convert office spaces into practice rooms for our professional KSO musicians. It’s an incredible story of adaptability, and also a reminder that we need to plan for the long term.
As we present the KSO’s 90th season and look beyond, our focus is on deepening our community impact: expanding access to music education, investing in collaborative partnerships, and building meaningful musical experiences that reflect and serve the people of East Tennessee.
On behalf of our musicians, staff, board, and volunteers, thank you. Your belief in our mission makes this work possible. As we celebrate this upcoming milestone season, we remain committed to stewarding the Knoxville Symphony with care, creativity, and purpose.
Sincerely,
Rachel Ford, Chief Executive Officer
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
