Mission Statement: The mission of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is to develop and sustain a symphony orchestra of the highest artistic standards and to reach East Tennessee audiences of all ages by providing excellence in musical performance and education programs. Formally established in 1935, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra reaches more than 200,000 children and adults each year by performing in the traditional venues of the Tennessee and Bijou Theatres, Knoxville Civic Auditorium, and in non-traditional places like school classrooms, hospitals, city parks, and churches. In the next decade, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra aims to touch the lives of more than a million people through accessible musical performances and education programs. The KSO is creating new programs and services in under-served neighborhoods, communities, and schools eager to be a part of an East Tennessee arts renaissance.