| New World Symphony | |
| Established: | 1987 |
| Type: | Full-time orchestral academy |
| Head: | Stéphane Denève |
| Head Label: | Artistic director |
| Address: | 500 17th Street |
| City: | Miami Beach |
| State: | Florida |
| Country: | USA |
| Coordinates: | 25.791°N -80.133°W |
The New World Symphony is an American orchestral academy based in Miami Beach, Florida. Established in 1987, the organization is a training ensemble for young musicians in preparation for professional careers in classical music.[1] Since 2011, the New World Symphony has its headquarters in the New World Center.[2]
In 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas established the New World Symphony, with initial financial assistance from Ted Arison, the founder of Carnival Cruise Lines. Thomas and Arison had similar visions of a training orchestra for young conservatory graduates to assist them in finding employment with professional orchestras. The New World Symphony gave its first public concert on 4 February 1988 in Miami.[3] By the time of Arison's death in 1999, he had contributed $62M USD to the organization.[4]
The New World Symphony offers three-year fellowships, where the program offers a wide range of performance and educational opportunities in both domestic and international venues. The program offers opportunities for fellows to design and present their own concerts, which often feature seldom-heard works for unusual instrumentation. The training also includes mock auditions, financial management, donor and media relations, as well as opportunities for teaching in local schools.[4]
The New World Symphony presents a season of concerts from September to May at the 756-seat concert hall of the New World Center.[5] Performances include full-orchestra concerts, a chamber music series, a new music series, percussion consort series, small ensemble concerts, a family series, and special festivals and recitals.
The Orchestra's 2010 tour through Umbria was documented in the book 'Feast For The Senses',[6] authored by Lin Arison and Diana Still, and featuring photographs by Neil Folberg.[7]
On June 29, 2011, the New World Symphony Orchestra received the first place award for "Adventurous Programming" (group 2 orchestras) from ASCAP for its strong commitment to new American music.[8]
In March 2022, the organization announced that Tilson Thomas is to stand down as its artistic director, effective 1 June 2022, in conjunction with Tilson Thomas' simultaneous public disclosure of his health status.[9] In September 2022, the organization announced Stéphane Denève as its new artistic director, with immediate effect, and the transition of Tilson Thomas to the role of artistic director laureate.[10]