Symphonic Sounds

While Memphis may be known as the Birthplace of Rock and the Cradle of Soul, the sounds of our city are far more varied than our beloved Elvis and Booker T. We have the benefit of experiencing a full range of music through all styles of bands, musicians, and orchestras from our city, and the listening opportunities seem endless. From a youth symphony to a big band, a brass band to an intimate orchestral collective, and the world class Memphis Symphony Orchestra, we get to take in various styles of instrumental talent at any given season. Fine musicianship has always thrived here and it seems likely that it always will.

An Abundance of Music

You may not even realize the wealth of music we have access to in Memphis. Find something you might love and give it a whirl…the holidays offer fantastic opportunities to catch a seasonal concert.

The Memphis Symphony Youth Program - This historical symphony integrates students from all walks of life, educational pathways, and backgrounds to produce a diverse and gifted collection of young musicians from the Mid-South. Gathering students from every community within and around the city, the symphony boasts a collection of unique musicians at varying levels to learn and grow together, producing several large performances a year. 

The MSO Big Band - The Big Band is a collection of Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) players that don white suit jackets and jazz it up several times a year for lawn concerts and other festive occasions. Playing standards we all know and love, the MSO BIg Band brings a side of casual fun to any event they play, whether it be a Sunset Symphony or the annual Mother’s Day celebrations on the grounds of the Dixon. 

The Mighty Souls Brass Band - This small but fierce collective of brass players is likely to show up at a festival, reception, or party you’re attending at some point during the year. As a rotating group of soulful musicians, the Mighty Souls bring a special Southern flavor with their big sounds and dance-inducing tunes. These players are not just skilled in their instruments, but talented composers that often play original numbers.

The Iris Collective - Rebirthed in 2022, the Iris Collective is an independent, non-profit orchestra that is redefining what it means to be a classical musician in a traditional orchestra. Iris deeply strives to become part of the cultural fabric that sets Memphis apart as a music frontier, while developing an artist-in-residence model that welcomes artist residences from all over the country to come play, learn, and connect with our city for a length of time. Iris plays a myriad of community events all over the city throughout the year as a larger orchestra and in small, chamber iterations as well. 

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra - Founded in 1953, our cities’ resident professional orchestra offers concerts of all kinds throughout the year, including Classical, Pops, and special MasterWorks shows as well as provides music for Ballet Memphis and Opera Memphis performances. The MSO works throughout the year to not only entertain the city, but educate its children on what fine musicianship, performance, and composition looks like through its work with the Memphis Shelby County school music programming.

The truly beautiful fact is that this list is nowhere near exhaustive! Our city is brimming with incredible music groups, teachers, studios, and programs that continue to make Memphis a thriving music city. This may not be where all songs are born, but it’s certainly a place you can hear them. Try a new kind of the tune in the upcoming months and support our local music.