DeKalb Symphony Orchestra

Established in 1964, the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra has served the community by offering audiences an enjoyable symphonic experience in a relaxed, unpretentious, affordable setting.

The DeKalb Symphony Orchestra presents concerts of traditional and contemporary symphonic repertoire, seeking both the highest possible level of artistic quality and the advancement of musical awareness and participation among its musicians and diverse audiences.

Membership in the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra is by audition. Of the 85 players in the full orchestra, only a core of 12 are paid a small stipend to act as principal players. The other 76 are volunteer players from the community. A recent study concluded that each player in the DSO devotes approximately 200 hours per year to the Orchestra’s rehearsals and performances and that the average member serves for 10 years or more.

The DSO plays up to 15 concerts each year including the Subscription Series, Children’s Concert, Picnic Pops Concerts, Free Community Concerts, and special performances. The DSO has been housed since its inception at Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkston; however the DSO is a regional organization and is not limited to DeKalb County in its service, operations or personnel.

The DeKalb Symphony Orchestra is a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League and the Atlanta Coalition for the Performing Arts.