| Allentown Symphony Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | |
 Allentown Symphony Orchestra logo | |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Location | 23 N. 6th Street,Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Principal conductor | Diane Wittry |
| Website | Miller Symphony Hall |
TheAllentown Symphony Orchestra is a major regionalsymphony orchestra based inAllentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1951, the orchestra's current home is the historic, 1200-seatMiller Symphony Hall, located in downtown Allentown. The orchestra has the distinction of being the smallest symphony in the United States to own its own performance hall.[1]
The orchestra performs five subscription concerts per year. In addition, its educational, youth and family concerts reach more than 5,000 children each year. The orchestra also hosts the Symphony Ball, which for decades has been a leading annual social event in theLehigh Valley.[2]
The Allentown Symphony has had only three music directors throughout its history.Emmy-nominatedDonald Voorhees, conductor ofThe Bell Telephone Hour andCavalcade of America radio and television show orchestras, served as the music director of the Allentown Symphony for over thirty years (1951 to 1983). Under his direction, the orchestra collaborated with such notable musicians asPlácido Domingo,Phyllis Curtin,Rudolf Serkin,John Corigliano,Benny Goodman, and many others. William Smith, assistant conductor of thePhiladelphia Orchestra, conducted the Symphony from 1986 to 1990. In 1995, the Allentown Symphony appointed Diane Wittry as its third music director and conductor.[2]
Established in 1997, the Edwin H. and Leigh W. Schadt String Competition is a national solo string competition run by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. The competition alternates each year betweenviolin,cello andclassical guitar. First prize is a $5,000 cash award and a soloconcerto engagement with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra.[3] The competition is named for, and underwritten by a trust established by Edwin H. Schadt (1910–1994) and Leigh W. Schadt (1904–1996), sons of a wealthy Lehigh Valleygrocerywholesaler.[4]
