American Classical Orchestra

The American Classical Orchestra specializes in performing historically-informed classical music of 17th, 18th and 19th century composers on period instruments, and through its award-winning music education outreach program, Classical Music for Kids, stimulates the interest of young people in music from the Classical era.

While the Orchestra is based at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and performs at other intimate sites around New York City, its Classical Music for Kids performs on site at schools and family concert venues throughout the tri-State area, particularly in Connecticut.

The ACO is devoted to preserving and performing the repertoire of 17th, 18th and 19th century composers. By playing the music on original instruments and using historic performance technique, we attempt to recreate the sounds an audience would have experienced when the music was written and first performed. We pass along skills and appreciation for this practice to future generations through concert performances and educational programs.

Founded in 1984 Thomas Crawford, as the Orchestra of the Old Fairfield Academy, the orchestra was renamed American Classical Orchestra in 2005, when Mr. Crawford established its permanent home in New York City.