The Aurora Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1978 by local civic leader and musician Alice Lee Main when a young conductor named Gloria Olsen approached her with an idea to start a community orchestra. After a few newspaper articles to attract musicians, the fledgling orchestra — the Aurora Civic Orchestra — began with 15 musicians. Their first public performance was at Bicentennial Park for the AurorArts Festival in 1979. From that modest start, the orchestra steadily grew into Aurora’s only symphony orchestra when it became a non-profit corporation in 1996.

The ASO has given an identity to the community, according to Main. From a 15-member orchestra playing in lunchrooms, to middle school auditoriums, the ASO has come a long way. Over the years, Main has seen the orchestra grow in quality and size, which she contributes to the ASO setting their standards higher every year and continually doing so.

The ASO makes people in the community proud, according to Main. People take pride in good schools, beautiful parks, etc; the ASO is one of those things, Main said.

The ASO offers musical opportunities for children of all ages. The members of the ASO have a strong commitment to educating the young musicians in the community to develop a life-long love of music.