Princeton Festival and Princeton Symphony Orchestra Have Merged

PRINCETON, NJ — Two local non-profit music organizations in Princeton are merging under a common umbrella.

The Princeton Festival and Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) have merged under Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Inc., both organizations announced. The merger takes effect this summer.

The Princeton Festival will retain its name and continue as an artistic program of the PSO alongside the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s classical, pops, chamber music, and PSO BRAVO! education programs.

“The merger capitalizes on the strong positions and proven resiliency of both organizations coming out of the pandemic,” said PSO Executive Director Marc Uys in a media statement.

"With strong artistic leadership, we will pave the way to a new era of creativity, making high-quality performing arts more available to our community and beyond.”

During the pandemic, both organizations successfully pivoted to online platforms.

“The merger will create a formidable, combined organization with the creative, artistic, and financial strength providing a foundation for future growth in a challenging and much changed environment for the arts,” said Benedikt von Schröder, The Princeton Festival Board Chair.

Many board members of The Princeton festival were nominated to the PSO board earlier this month, and a Festival Advisory Board was created. Two full-time members of the Festival staff will join the orchestra’s veteran administrative team.

Boards of both organizations formally committed to the merger on June 10.

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