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ARTISTRY, CREATIVITY, OPPORTUNITY
Who we are. The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is a national discovery and development pipeline for new orchestral music, focused on bringing the full spectrum of American music to orchestral stages, providing a gateway to the orchestral composition and performance process, and amplifying the expressive power of orchestral music to enable a vibrant future for all Americans. We've made incredible strides over the past 4+ decades, and we are just getting started.
What we do. For composers of all experience levels, we offer an end-to-end composition accelerator to get you from idea to performance in partnership with orchestras nationwide. For orchestral commissioners, we offer a comprehensive suite of resources and relationships to realize your artistic vision. For students and educators, we offer an array of programs and resources designed to nurture creativity through music composition and improvisation. For our country, we bring new works into the world that represent the American experience through the imagination of today’s composers.
Meet ACO
Founded in 1977 by a collective of fearless musicians based in NYC, the American Composers Orchestra expands the definition of American orchestral music to ensure a vibrant and inclusive future. Over more than 40 years committed to artistry, creativity, community, and equity, ACO has blossomed into a national institution that cultivates and develops the careers of living composers, providing a direct pipeline to meaningful partnerships with orchestras across the country.
Our Work
Through ground-breaking performances and nationwide initiatives, ACO continually works to expand the definition of American orchestral music and ensure a vibrant and inclusive future.
Composer Advancement
For over 40 years, ACO has discovered and developed the careers of composers whose work expands the definition of American orchestral music. Our national EarShot composer advancement initiatives are the nation’s first ongoing, systemic program for building relationships between composers and orchestras through Readings, CoLABoratory fellowships, consortium commissions, and professional development.
Performances and Events
Join us for electrifying performances featuring world premiere works by artists whose creativity knows no bounds. The American Composers Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall, the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, the Apollo Theater, and beyond.
Educational Programs
For 30 years, ACO has positioned music composition as a gateway to creative thinking, problem solving, and self-expression. Our long-term Sonic Spark residencies nurture the imagination through creative rituals and play, cultivating personal, social, and academic growth. Sonic Spark serves students at all levels of experience, including those who have never played an instrument before, are learning to write music for the first time, or are on track to develop high level careers in the field.
Featured Artists
Joseph C. Phillips Jr.
A composer based in New York whose work transcends genre, Joseph C. Phillips Jr. creates “mixed music,” a deeply personal synthesis of diverse influences. His approach to artistry centers on fusing traditions and identities into a singular, organic sound world that is both innovative and emotionally resonant. His work We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident was featured in the our Carnegie Hall performance, Hello, America: Letters to Us, from Us.
A composer of acoustic and electroacoustic music originally from Arizona, Alicia Castillo crafts immersive sonic environments that blur the lines between performer and listener. Her artistry is rooted in collaboration and exploration, shaping sound into dynamic, shared experiences across disciplines. Her piece Billow was featured in EarShot Readings at Lawrence University.
A cellist and composer from Norfolk, Virginia, Malachi Brown brings a genre-fluid voice to stages ranging from concert halls to film. His approach to artistry embraces interdisciplinary collaboration, guided by an instinct to translate the sounds he imagines into vivid, expressive works. Brown was a featured artist in the our EarShot Readings June 13–14, 2024 and will also participate in the CoLABoratory Workshop June 11, 2026.
