The Austin Civic Orchestra’s mission centers on enhancing opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the performing arts. Our initiatives cultivate a lasting appreciation and active involvement in the arts. Numerous studies indicate that participation in the arts correlates with improved academic performance and contributes significantly to the development of engaged, well-rounded citizens.
Yearly, ACO reaches more than 1,200 students via three principal programs, all provided free of charge to schools.
Our educational initiatives assist both students and teachers in the classroom, nurturing a love for classical music within our community.
Link Up
The ACO is a partner orchestra with the Carnegie Hall’s Link Up initiative. Each year, the ACO produces an interactive concert experience that engages hundreds of Austin ISD students in singing and movement alongside the orchestra. Students in grades 3 to 5 participate by learning to sing and move in their classrooms, culminating in a performance with the ACO at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center. This program is made possible through collaboration with the Austin ISD Fine Arts Department.
This year, the event is titled Link Up: The Orchestra Sings. Scheduled for October 16, it will feature the return of costumed dancers from the NrityaVarsha Dance studio showcasing the Kathak dance, along with a ballerina performing the finale from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
Harmony for All Chamber Music Program
In partnership with Austin Soundwaves, our Harmony for All Youth Chamber Program identifies and guides a student ensemble that performs alongside our orchestra on the ACO stage.
Following a virtual application process, the staff at Austin Soundwaves assigns and mentors students in this ensemble. The group showcases their talent at one of our concerts. Additionally, every performer receives scholarship support from the Pearl Amster Memorial Scholarship Fund to facilitate their education at an accredited institution.
This season, the chamber ensemble is scheduled to perform on February 7, 2026, at the Klett Theater in Georgetown. We warmly invite you to join us for the Harmony for All: A Community Celebration of Music concert.
Paint to Music
Since its inception in 2016, our Paint to Music program collaborates with local elementary art and music educators to foster creative expression through visual art inspired by classical compositions. The ACO supplies recordings and lessons focused on a chosen orchestral movement, guiding students as they craft original artwork based on the direction of their music or art teachers. These creations are showcased during our May concert, where the featured orchestral piece is performed live. This event allows students and audience members to appreciate the synergy between music and visual arts.
This year, students will create their artworks while immersing themselves in the sounds of Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov. The completed artworks will be displayed at The Extraordinary Woman concert on May 9th.
Music Memory Celebration
The ACO takes great pride in its role as the performing orchestra for the annual AISD Music Memory Celebration that occurs every April.
Throughout the school year, elementary students who choose to engage with this program purchased by their elementary school from Mighty Music immerse themselves in 16 selected pieces, with many taking the initiative to listen and learn about them in their own time at home.
Each music teacher at the participating schools forms teams of 4-6 students, who collaborate to identify both the composer and title of a piece after the ACO performs a 15-second excerpt. The event also includes bonus snippets of various arrangements of 3-4 of the pieces.
The excitement among the students is palpable during this activity. To wrap up the concert, the ACO performs one of the pieces in its entirety, providing a wonderful opportunity for its members to dedicate a few hours of their Saturday morning to this engaging experience.