The Association of Major Symphony Orchestra Volunteers AMSOV

We hope you enjoyed our

AMSOV Conference in Toronto

May 2026

We hope that you enjoyed our AMSOV Conference in Toronto in May 2026. We had a number of outstanding speakers and panel discussions that deepened our understanding of symphony orchestras, the issues they face, and the important role that volunteers play in helping symphony orchestras keep providing outstanding music experiences throughout North America.

AMSOV expresses its many thanks to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and to the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee (TSVC) for their outstanding leadership in organizing and holding this Conference.

We were able to recognize six wonderful award winners at the Conference.

The AMSOV Innovator Award was won by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League for its inventive Savor the Symphony 2025 fundraising event held last year.

We also recognized five outstanding individuals for super volunteer work in their local communities with our Standing Ovation Awards: Sheri Gill (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Tracey Hawkins (Kansas City Symphony), Mike Minor (Kansas City Symphony), Patricia Wagner (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) and Linda Weisbruch (Charlotte Symphony). We were proud to honor these outstanding winners.

Pictured with Toronto Symphony Orchestra conductor Gustavo Gimeno are (at left) AMSOV delegates from Dallas and (above) AMSOV delegates from Cincinnati.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League won AMSOV's Innovator Award at the Toronto Conference for its Savor the Symphony 2025 event. Shown at left accepting the award for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League is its president, Claire Catrino. The award was presented by outgoing AMSOV President Don Dagenais.

Shown below are three of our five Standing Ovation Award winners, accepting their awards from AMSOV's President. They are (left to right) Sheri Gill of Los Angeles, Tracey Hawkins of Kansas City and Patricia Wagner of Cincinnati.

AMSOV Conference speaker Zanana Akande, a former government minister in Canada, was an inspirational speaker at the Toronto Conference. She is shown here with Tracey Hawkins of Kansas City.

AMSOV's next biennial Conference will be held in the spring of 2028 in Los Angeles! Please watch this website for further information about our forthcoming Conference. In the meantime, please attend the webinars that we will be announcing on this website and reach out to your fellow AMSOV members for ideas and creativity to help your own symphony orchestra!

WHY JOIN AMSOV?

The opportunity to meet in concentrated effort with Symphony volunteers from across North America has been a complete pleasure. I left this past conference in Kansas City with many intriguing ideas to share with my Board and a number of action points to accomplish. Membership in AMSOV is essential as we all seek to support our orchestras in the most effective ways. Many thanks to my Kansas City colleagues who showed the rest us us a wonderful time at the recent conference.

Nancy L.

Dallas

I am honored to have been involved in AMSOV as the organization’s treasurer. AMSOV is a great volunteer led organization with a diverse and talented board, there is nothing like it for supporting and increasing the knowledge of symphony volunteers. The Kansas City Conference was my first AMSOV Conference experience, and what an awesome experience it was. I learned so much to take back to my Seattle Symphony volunteer organization. I’m very much looking forward to continuing my learning and networking at the Toronto Conference in 2026.

Jeff H.

Seattle

I have attended three AMSOV conferences and I have come away from each conference so much richer in various ways. Not only is it a great opportunity to meet new fellow music lovers, but also to forge new friendships and learn from one another. One big eye opener at the most recent Kansas City conference was to learn that it is possible to have volunteer organizations support symphony orchestras without actually playing a fundraising role. I also enjoy tremendously the presentations and discussions by panelists consisting of professionals at the highest levels in the symphony orchestra music world. All in all, it is amazing to see what groups of volunteers can accomplish.

Rose G.

Dallas

The best thing about AMSOV are all the friendships that I have developed along the way. As volunteers, when we share and work together using our unique proficiencies and experiences, the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. I am indebted to AMSOV for all the

one-of-a-kind experiences that I have had visiting symphony volunteer organizations in the United States and Canada and the opportunity to attend outstanding performances of their symphonies.

Mike M.

Kansas City

In the 20+ years that I have been a member of AMSOV, I have greatly appreciated how the organization supports and champions North America’s major symphony orchestra volunteer groups. Its conferences, website and email newsletters inform groups about orchestral activity and developments. The conferences provide educational sessions from renowned speakers on innovation, advocacy, projects and fundraising, and leadership advancement. Friendships with the volunteer groups have been formed and sustained through the many years. I am excited to go to Kansas City in 2024 to greet longtime friends and make new friendships from the member orchestras.

Deborah B.

Dallas

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP OR TO JOIN, CLICK HERE.