SPO is Salem’s own 45 piece full symphony orchestra which has for 120 years provided a series of free winter concerts to Salem area residents. Consisting primarily of professional musicians drawn directly from our community, the orchestra also invites talented students to play alongside its professionals for an experience that is nearly impossible to find anywhere else in the area. Programming covers a wide range of musical genres – from classic overtures to newly commissioned compositions by local composers. Every concert features one or more soloists, often young musicians who have never had the opportunity to work with an orchestra, or a talented professional whose abilities should be better known. High points of the season are the appearances of the Salem High School Symphony Orchestra and the Salem Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, both of which perform a generous segment of music, then combine with the Salem Philharmonic for a grand two-orchestra experience.  This is a rare opportunity for our young musicians to learn in a very direct way from more experienced mentors. In 2011, the SPO began a formal affiliation with the Salem area’s youth orchestra, now known as the Salem Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. The youth orchestra, under the direction of the SPO's Conductor Emeritus, Alan Hawryluk, rehearses at Salem State University every week, and is made up of young players of all ages through high school seniors. Even before the youth orchestra’s relationship with the SPO began, the orchestra had for a number of years been inviting talented young musicians from this group to play with the adult orchestra. We believe this arrangement to be unique to our area, and we look forward to continuing collaborations between the youth orchestra, the adult orchestra, and Salem State University. The orchestra does not charge admission, and in this regard, the concert series is very likely the oldest ongoing free concert series in the United States. No other similar group in this area performs in this manner today.  The orchestra’s current Music Director, John Koza, was appointed in 2014. He had been for many years the orchestra's assistant conductor and Mr. Hawryluk's assistant with the SPO youth orchestra. Before his appointment, Mr. Koza had served the orchestra as a clarinetist since 1976.