Louisville Orchestra

Founded in 1937 by conductor Robert Whitney and Charles Farnsley, Mayor of Louisville, the Louisville Orchestra has been called the cornerstone of the Louisville arts scene. A full-time, 71-member ensemble offering a wide variety of concert series to the community, including classical programs featuring world-renowned guest artists, lighter classical and pops performances, and education and family offerings, the Orchestra is also the resident performing group for the Louisville Ballet and the Kentucky Opera, and presents several concerts across the Kentucky/Indiana area.

From its beginnings as a part-time ensemble known as the Louisville Philharmonic Society, the Louisville Orchestra has grown to become a major arts organization. Ten years after its origin, the Orchestra launched First Edition Recordings, becoming the first American orchestra to own a recording label. In 1953, the Orchestra received a Rockefeller grant of $500,000 to commission, record, and premiere 20th century music by living composers, effectively placing the Louisville Orchestra on the international circuit and securing an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall.