East Metro Symphony Orchestra has been supporting music and community in the East Metro for over 60 years. Originally the 3M Symphony Orchestra, EMSO became an independent, non-profit community organization after 3M suspended its support of the company’s internal music groups. For more than 10 years now, EMSO has continued to create fun and unique musical experiences for both its members and its audiences. We are proud of our rich history and hope to continue to provide a broad range of educational, multicultural, and inspirational orchestral experiences for years to come.
3M Symphony Orchestra (1957 – 2009)
The 3M Symphony Orchestra was organized in the summer of 1956 and became an activity of the 3M Club, sponsored by 3M Company’s Employee Recreation Department. It started out as a small string ensemble and by 1957 had grown into a full concert orchestra. Every player was connected to 3M, as an employee, retiree, family member, or friend, and they were all amateur musicians, practicing and playing on their own time. They all shared a deep appreciation for music and a desire to make live music available to everyone.
East Metro Symphony Orchestra (2009 – present)
During the 2008-2009 season 3M announced that it would no longer be supporting its internal music clubs so the members of the orchestra had to decide whether to disband and go their separate ways (since there were actually many more community orchestras in the twin cities metro than ever), or transform themselves from a corporate club to an independent, fully-functioning community arts organization. To their credit, the orchestra members decided that they would continue to make music together and went through the process of creating a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.