Nonprofit Spotlight
Our Nonprofit Spotlight in January is featuring the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra!
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra nurtures a life-long love of music through imaginative and inspiring experiences for the listeners of today and tomorrow.
Even in its 97th season, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) remains steadfast in its mission to nurture a life-long love of music through imaginative and inspiring experiences for the listeners of today and tomorrow. The A2SO performs to over 70,000 listeners every year in the Ann Arbor and greater Southeast Michigan regions.
One of the Midwest’s leading symphony orchestras, the A2SO is critically acclaimed for innovative programming and a deep commitment to artistic excellence both on and off the stage. Its musicians are of the finest professional caliber in the region and throughout the world and present concerts in all venues, to music lovers of all ages – from area farmers markets to school classrooms, and from libraries to day care and senior centers. Demonstrating the orchestra’s deep commitment to supporting teachers and learning initiatives across the region, the A2SO hosts annual presentations of the Link Up performances in partnership with Carnegie Hall; brings its KinderConcerts series into Ann Arbor, Saline, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, and Dexter libraries; and regularly presents special performances at C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.
A2SO MainStage concerts can be heard in person at Ann Arbor’s historic Michigan Theater and the University of Michigan’s Hill Auditorium, as well as broadcast on the WRCJ and WKAR radio stations. The A2SO Chamber Series features small ensembles in intimate venues throughout Washtenaw County and beyond. Whether on your device or radio, in concert halls or classrooms, the A2SO is passionately committed to enriching the culture of the region and remains steadfastly committed to inspiring a community of belonging through the transformative power of music.
Details
Events to support Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
In Recital: Aristo Sham
January 17, 2026
3:00 pm
Enjoy a captivating piano matinee as 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition winner Aristo Sham makes his Ann Arbor debut, performing signature works by Ferruccio Busoni and Johannes Brahms. At the Rackham Auditorium. Tickets in the link.
Mozart & Beethoven
January 24, 2026
7:30 pm
2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann joins the A2SO to perform Mozart’s agile and elegant Piano Concerto No. 23. Beethoven's genial Symphony No. 4 and Gabriela Lena Frank’s "Elegía Andina" round out the first concert of the New Year. At the Michigan Theater. Tickets in the link.
Free Chamber Concerts
February 6, 2026–February 8, 2026
The A2SO presents three free chamber concerts in Ann Arbor and Saline. Enjoy the music of Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga and Beethoven presented by A2SO violinists Aaron Berofsky and Anna Sykes, violist Kathryn Votapek, and cellist Sebastian Berofsky. Learn more and RSVP in the link a2so.org/chamberconcerts/
Supporting A2SO
Ticket sales cover only a portion of what it takes to bring live orchestral music to Ann Arbor. It is the generosity of our community that truly allows the A2SO to thrive.
Support from individuals, foundations, and corporations helps bring this music to life for more than 70,000 Michiganders each year — both on and off the stage. Their musicians can be found throughout the community, from local K-12 schools and university masterclasses to hospitals, libraries, and senior living communities. By meeting people where they are, they proudly contribute to Michigan’s vibrant arts ecosystem.
Your gift, no matter the size, directly supports their mission to serve and connect our community through music. Visit a2so.org/support to contribute to their annual fund and help sustain the A2SO’s impact for years to come.
Volunteering
From ushering at concerts to helping around the office, the efforts of their volunteers guarantee the success of the Symphony’s mission year after year. To join the vibrant cohort of volunteers, contact Jaxon Williams at [email protected].
Why Zing Loves A2SO
Zingerman's applauds A2SO for bringing culturally rich, moving music to our community and making it inclusive for people from all walks of life. With the nonprofit sector facing increasing challenges, we know that the organizations supporting the arts are met with a decrease in vital support during these hard times. We believe that arts and culture are a large piece of what makes a community as fantastic as the one we have here, and that people need music to find connection together, to express themselves, and to profoundly tap into their experiences. We urge you to connect with the Symphony in whatever aspects you're able.