Founded in 1969, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra is a musical home for Southern Indiana residents who want to keep their love of music alive.

We provide performance opportunities and a real sense of community for musicians from several counties across south-central Indiana. We also provide ongoing educational opportunities for audiences, local students, and the community at large, because we truly feel that music is a gift that’s meant to be shared.

Our Musicians

The 75 musicians currently on the BSO’s roster range in age from 15 to nearly 90. One of our string bass players has been with the orchestra since its first rehearsal in 1969! Nearly every type of profession is represented, too—school teachers, physicians, small-business owners, professors, sales clerks, bakers, and students, just to name a few. We are, in a very real sense, an orchestra of the community, for our community.

Our Performances

The BSO season runs from August through May and includes concerts, special events, and outreach opportunities. From light-hearted holiday pops shows and children’s concerts to the great masterpieces of orchestral music, our programs educate, enlighten, and entertain audiences of every age and background.

Peter Jacobi of the Herald-Times calls the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra “a gift to the community.”

Our 50th Anniversary

We celebrated our golden anniversary during the 2019–2020 season, and while cut a little short due to the pandemic, it was full of memorable moments, including the return of old friends, a new chamber music series, and the first-ever concert at Bloomington’s new Switchyard Park Pavilion.