Conducted by Kenneth Slowik, the SAO showcases a world-class ensemble of the country’s top young period specialists. Through the Smithsonian, the Academies bring together these talented musicians to explore challenging programs throughout the year on replicas of the instruments the composers would have written for.The Smithsonian Academy Orchestra is a program of the National Museum of American History, presented in cooperation with The Smithsonian Associates, and made possible by the generous support of The Honorable John FW Rogers and Goldman Sachs.