City: Portland, ME

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (207) 773-6128

Address: 477 Congress Street

Description: The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) was established in 1923 and is the premier orchestra of the city of Portland. Many of the PSO musicians are solo performers and music teachers. The 85 musicians perform a series of classical and pop programs from September through June, including a Magic of Christmas performance in December. The symphony also runs two ongoing series—Classical Tuesdays and Classical Sundays—in which the PSO performs pieces by great composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. Sunday is family day at the symphony and features the PSO Music Camp—activities to help children nine and older understand the performance—prior to each show. The PSO performs in Merrill Auditorium. In 2008 Robert Moody, former music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony, became the PSO’s new conductor and music director. One of Moody’s priorities is to bring more young people—including his own generation, Generation X—to the symphony, with concerts like the “Classical Mystery Tour” (featuring Beatles impersonators) and “The Orchestra’s Most Excellent Adventure,” a takeoff on the 1990s movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.