Prioritizing contemporary music: a study of two American regional orchestras

Symphony orchestra programming has become steadily more traditional due to the perception that contemporary music will not deliver at the box office. This thesis is a case study of two American regional orchestras, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Albany Symphony, that have found success by making significant institutional commitments to contemporary music. By doing so they have promoted an expectation of adventure in their audiences and identified new supporters. Important factors in their success include: consistency with contemporary music programing, demonstrable support of new repertoire from orchestra leaders, and the production of festivals dedicated specifically to contemporary music. Thorough decisions to identify their ensemble’s outputs with the entirety of the canon, rather than only what has become standard repertoire, both the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and Albany Symphony have set their work apart, engaged with their communities more fully, and contributed to the continuance of the art form.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201