The Auburn Chamber Orchestra (ACO) was founded in 1986 with the goals of providing opportunities for qualified musicians to perform orchestral music, offering area residents access to affordable symphonic concerts, promoting the composition and performance of orchestral music, and increasing public awareness and appreciation of the performing arts.   
With support from patron donations, program advertising, grants, and donations at concerts, the Auburn Chamber Orchestra has presented concerts featuring a varied repertoire of symphonic selections, light classics, and show/popular tunes.
Memorable performances in past years include these exciting collaborations:
  • A Children’s Concert, featuring former Auburn mayor Ed Lauckern narrating Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf
  • Performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in conjunction with the Hardenberg Dance School 
  • An Americana concert with former Auburn mayor Guy Cosentino narrating Copland’s A Lincoln Portrait 
  • La Festa di Musica Italiana, a concert of Italian music featuring soloists from the Syracuse Opera Company and selections by the Three Tenors of Auburn, sponsored by the Italian Heritage Society of Auburn
  • Musical Tribute to Harriet Tubman with vocal selections by The People’s AME Zion Church choir from Syracuse
  • Music Inspired by Shakespeare with Merry-Go-Round Playhouse actors performing short selections from Shakespeare plays
  • Christmas Joy featuring vocalists from MasterWorks Chorale, Auburn Community Chorus and Auburn Public Chorus
  • Peter and the Wolf with narration by Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Youth Theatre actors
  • Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore with Auburn Players Community Theatre vocalists
  •  Music Inspires Art with live painting by Tim Amory
Since its founding, the orchestra has performed in many different venues: area churches, Auburn public schools, Cayuga Community College, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Willard Memorial Chapel,  Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Carriage House Theater, Springside Inn, Holiday Inn, and, most recently, the Events Center at the Fingerlakes Mall.
Thanks to the dedication of the orchestra musicians, the contributions of our many donors and the enthusiastic support of our audience members, the Auburn Chamber Orchestra will continue to provide memorable and varied musical experiences for local musicians and audiences in the years to come.