MISSION: The Prince William Symphony Orchestra is a professional ensemble that presents concerts to audiences from the Greater Manassas and Prince William County area who enjoy and appreciate fine classical music.  The orchestra is dedicated to fostering a love of music among children and adults alike.  It seeks to enhance the quality of life in our county, and to fulfill that mission at the highest possible standards of performance and education.

HISTORY: The orchestra was founded in 1972 as a civic ensemble.  It grew in both artistry and vision, and by the mid-1990s it had become a fully paid ensemble with an enthusiastic following in Prince William County.  The PWSO now includes professional players and gifted educators, as well as musicians from the various top-rated military ensembles, including the bands of the Army, the Marines, the Navy and the National Academy. In the spring of 2010 the orchestra will begin its residency in the new Hylton Performing Arts Center on the campus of the George Mason University in Manassas.

SUPPORT: In addition to revenue from concerts and private gifts, the PWSO is generously supported by numerous local and statewide institutions, businesses and private foundations, including, from the public sector, George Mason University, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the City of Manassas, and Prince William County Park Authority Arts Council, and from the business sector, NOVEC and Lockheed Martin.

FUNCTION: Governed by an active Board of Directors and managed by an administrative team, the orchestra currently presents three different series: the Mainstage concerts in Grace E. Metz Auditorium in Manassas, an historical series at the Manassas Museum, and our popular library concerts called "Sounds of the Symphony".  Please click on "Concerts" for an overview of events.