The Score | Downtown Lights: Amherst Symphony at 75

The Amherst Symphony Orchestra in New York State was planning to pull out all the stops to celebrate its 75th anniversary this season, but the pandemic meant that the orchestra, like so many others, had to cancel performances. The orchestra and its volunteer musicians normally present four concerts a year at Amherst Middle School as well as an outdoor summertime concert—all free of charge. How to mark the big anniversary and keep the orchestra front-of-mind while in-person performances were on hiatus? Working with local authorities, the orchestra installed 38 commemorative banners on lampposts along Main Street in nearby Williamsville, and collaborated with an artist on a colorful painted traffic signal box in the Town of Amherst. The orchestra was the focus of a lengthy feature article in the summer issue of Western New York Heritage magazine, which featured text and images of its history. What’s ahead for the Amherst Symphony? Plans are afoot, so stay tuned.