Since 1961

Welcome to the website of the North Shore Symphony Orchestra

About the NSSO

The North Shore Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1961 by conductor Dr. Charles Gouse as "The Community Orchestra" under the sponsorship of the Hicksville Public Schools' Continuing Education Program. From 1979 to the spring of 2004 NSSO was in residence at North Shore High School. We are now orchestra-in-residence at Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. Appointed as Music Director in 1990, Susan Deaver re-established NSSO as one of Long Island's finest community orchestras. NSSO rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings and presents a series of four concerts each season.

For 49 years, the North Shore Symphony Orchestra has provided a way for hundreds of individuals from all professions and ages to share their enthusiasm for orchestral music. Many members of the orchestra attended the country's leading conservatories such as Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School of Music . The North Shore Symphony Orchestra has presented performances of standard orchestral repertoire as well as newly commissioned contemporary pieces and has featured many outstanding soloists including promising young Long Island musicians and members of the New York Philharmonic. In 1993 the North Shore Symphony Orchestra established a Young Artist Award to recognize outstanding high school musicians.

The North Shore Symphony Orchestra is supported by Friends of the North Shore Symphony Orchestra, registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, and registered with the Charities Bureau in the New York State Office of the Attorney General. All contributions to Friends of the North Shore Symphony Orchestra are tax-deductible.

Mission Statement

The North Shore Symphony Orchestra continues its 49-year tradition of excellence in presenting classical orchestra music to its Long Island community, reaching out to a diverse audience of adults, students and seniors each season. NSSO also provides an opportunity for Long Islanders of all professions and ages to share their enthusiasm and interest in performing orchestral music, and to actively pursue their musical talents as orchestral players. The Orchestra ’s weekly rehearsals and yearly concert series spotlight standard orchestral repertoire as well as newly commissioned and contemporary music. Outstanding soloists include internationally known artists and promising young Long Island musicians selected from NSSO’s “Young Artists Award Competition.” NSSO’s goal is to offer professional-caliber concerts by local musicians, accessible to all music lovers on Long Island.

The principal members of the North Shore Symphony Orchestra's wind section.

A North Shore Symphony Orchestra string quartet plays at a local senior residence.