The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), in residence at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, engages audiences locally, across the country, and around the world through excellence in performance and education. We embrace both tradition and innovation to inspire and transform the cultural life of Washington, D.C. and the nation through music. Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda currently serves as the Orchestra’s seventh music director. The NSO’s artistic leadership also includes Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke and Artistic Advisor Ben Folds. Founded in 1931, the NSO performs approximately 150 concerts each year, including classical and popular concerts at the Kennedy Center, at Wolf Trap in the summer, and on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol; and chamber music performances in the Terrace Theater, on the Millennium Stage, and at theaters around D.C. It has distinguished history of touring, media projects, an extensive education program, and nationally recognized community engagement initiatives including its In Your Neighborhood program.