• Photo of piano concerto soloist Colin Xie performing with the orchestra

    2026 Concerto & Composition Competitions

    The next edition of our annual Concerto and Composition Competitions is now open to applications through October 28, 2025!

  • Dr. Virginia and Dan Norton Memorial Season

    Join us for 22nd Concert Season – click below for concert dates, with venues and more info announced soon!

  • Become a Friend of the NPO

    Our work to provide quality performances for all Nashvillians is only possible through our generous community of supporters. Make a donation today and become a Friend of the NPO!

Dr. Virginia and Dan Norton Memorial Season

About our 2025-2026 season Honorees:

Hailing from Memphis, Dr. Virginia and Dan Norton were married for 72 years and built a life full of laughter, adventure, and service. Virginia became the first person to earn a PhD in Biology from the University of Memphis, while Dan became the oldest active CPA in Tennessee at 92. They raised three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, and filled their retirement with painting, ballroom dancing, traveling to six continents, and cheering on their grandchildren’s musical pursuits. Known for their warmth, humor, generosity, and determination, they also volunteered thousands of hours for their church and retirement community.

They are remembered through this gift from their granddaughter Megan O'Roark, a long-time NPO violinist and former board member, and her husband Darwin Fu, to honor their volunteer spirit and support for the arts. 

Room to Play

For two decades a group of amateur and professional musicians volunteer their time to gather weekly to rehearse music that is challenging, new, and diverse. Their dedication and performance is of the highest quality. 

Whether they've played it every day since they first started as a child, picked it up as an adult, or took a thirty-year break in between, Room to Play investigates how a group with such talent and purpose came and stayed together. Going behind the scenes, the musicians and staff share stories of how the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra has been a catalyst for so many friendships, families, and new fans of symphonic music.

NOW STREAMING on RoomToPlayFilm.com

Who We Are

The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra is an all-volunteer community orchestra featuring amateur and professional players from throughout Middle Tennessee. Our mission is to offer area orchestral musicians opportunities to perform while providing high-quality symphonic music free of charge to a wide variety of audiences.

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Community Engagement

Ensuring that high-quality performances are accessible to everyone is the heart of Nashville Philharmonic. See the many ways in which we are involved in making music across Nashville and building community in the process.

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Contact Us

Nashville Philharmonic is always looking for new members, venues, supporters, and community outreach opportunities. If any of these sound like you, or you want to get involved but aren’t sure how, we’d love to hear from you!

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