Birmingham Attractions: Alabama Symphony Orchestra

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra has filled Birmingham with delightful sounds since 1921. Conducted by Maestro Justin Brown, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra plays more than 150 concerts annually, including 15 free concerts each year for residents of Birmingham, Alabama.

Although it was not formally formed until 1933, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra actually performed it's first concert in April 1921. At that time, 52 volunteer musicians banded together to perform at the Birmingham Music Festival, being held at the Jefferson Theater.

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra, originally called the Birmingham Symphony Association, was officially formed in 1933 by JJ Steiner with a modest budget of only $7,000. Just two short years later, the orchestra had grown to over 80 members, with a budget of $410,000. By comparison, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra currently has a staff of 72 people, including 18 administrative personnel. The orchestra has an annual budget of $6 Million, and a total endowment of $12 Million.

The early growth of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra was temporarily suspended as America became involved with World War II. That was brought to an end in 1948 when the local newspaper, the Age-Herald, printed an editorial asking for the orchestra to reorganize.

"Birmingham needs a symphony orchestra. A city of this size, with a stirring musical life, needs an orchestra of symphonic size as a crown to its efforts." the editorial read, in part.

Shortly after the newspaper editorial, the Civil Symphony Association set about the task of reorganizing a Symphony Orchestra for Birmingham, Alabama.

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra faced a number of reorganizations and challenges over the decades. The most challenging times came during the 1984-85 orchestra season. At this time, there was a widely publicized cancellation of the Orchestra's season, because there was simply not enough money to keep the symphony alive.