“Every important occasion in life must have music.”

— Bertha Walburn Clark, KSO’s Founder and First Conductor

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra carries this belief into classrooms, hospitals, public parks, and community spaces across East Tennessee. While our musicians are the heart of this work, our impact is only possible through the support of generous partners — from local businesses and civic organizations to schools and healthcare providers.

Together, we bring the power of music to more people and more moments than ever before:

Training Young Musicians

Nearly 500 students from 93 schools across 18 counties rehearse weekly as part of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Ensembles — building skill, confidence, and connection through music.

Inspiring Students

More than 17,000 young learners participated in KSO programs like Musical Story Time and the Young People’s Concerts, introducing the joy of live orchestral music to the next generation.

Bringing Music to the Community

Through free community concerts, the KSO reached nearly 60,000 audience members, proving that music belongs everywhere — not just in the concert hall.

Healing Through Music

With support from our healthcare partners, our Music & Wellness program brought live music to more than 6,000 patients and caregivers in clinical settings.

Partnerships are essential to this mission, and we invite you to learn more about how your organization can get involved in helping us serve East Tennessee through music.

Contact: Maddie Helbling, Director of Education & Community Partnerships.