The NBSO is a fully professional orchestra under the baton of world class conductor Toshiyuki Shimada,

which draws on musicians from New England and New York to provide concerts of classical and popular

music of the highest quality to New Britain and the surrounding community. Currently in its 77th season, the

NBSO was founded in 1948 by a group of music teachers and professors at the then Teachers College to fill

a perceived need in the community, and that mission has continued to this day. Over our history, we have

hosted well known musicians from Itzhak Perlman to Victor Borge, Robert Merrill to Andre Watts.

We believe that music is an essential part of a child's education and have been performing the Young

People's Concert at CCSU's Welte Hall for more than 25 years. Most children in our community do not have

the opportunity to experience live orchestral music, and we have created a program to both educate and

inspire students to learn to play an instrument. This 2026 concert has a program designed to appeal to a

wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including music like the theme to Star Wars. Our current

vice president, Corinne Terlecky, is a music teacher at McGee Middle School in Berlin, and has worked

closely with our conductor Toshiyuki Shimada in updating the concert for 2024.

The New Britain Symphony Orchestra is the only fully professional orchestra in the Berlin/New Britain area,

and is currently in its 77th season. The Young People's concert is our "jewel in the crown", the program of

which we are most proud, and look forward to continuing its performance for decades to come.