Classical music in Atlanta is as vibrant as ever. We’ve got renowned orchestras like Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, festivals including Atlanta Chamber Music Festival and intimate venues from Atlanta Symphony Hall and Spivey Hall hosting classical music concerts Atlanta-wide, plus candlelit specials that transform historic spaces. Here’s your guide to the best classical music concerts Atlanta for 2026, plus the top venues and orchestras the city has to offer.
Where to see the best classical music in Atlanta
Atlanta Symphony Hall
Atlanta Symphony Hall anchors classical music Atlanta as the symphony’s home within the Woodruff Arts Center—a state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center. The 1,762-seat hall features three levels: the orchestra section, the lower balcony and the upper balcony. It has a rectangular layout and high ceilings for superb acoustics.
Spivey Hall
You’ll find Spivey Hall on Clayton State University campus in Morrow, Georgia. After funding from Walter and Emilie Spivey Foundation to the tune of around $4 million, it opened in 1991 under the direction of esteemed organist Emilie Spivey. The concert hall in Atlanta boasts a convex curved ceiling, inward-tilting shelves and right-angled cornices—the perfect acoustic spot to host live music in.
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Located on Emory University’s campus, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts hides a live music venue gem— the 825-seat Cherry Logan Emerson Concert Hall. Inspired by Boston Symphony Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein, this stunning concert hall in Atlanta is home to a custom Daniel Jaeckel pipe organ and features exceptional acoustics by acoustics design firm Kirkegaard Associates.
The Chapel on Sycamore
The Chapel on Sycamore, a historic gem from the 1890s in downtown Decatur, captivates with its graceful archways, Tiffany-stained-glass windows, high wood-beamed ceilings and original woodwork. Candlelight concerts at The Chapel on Sycamore provide intimate classical music concerts Atlanta style amid superb acoustics.
Read more about The Chapel on Sycamore here.The Wimbish House
The Wimbish House, a Châteauesque Victorian landmark completed in 1906, enchants with steep gables, intricate stonework, grand chandeliers and restored rooms. Candlelight concerts at The Wimbish House offer exquisite live music in Midtown alongside superb acoustics and a covered veranda.
Discover more about The Wimbish House here.The top orchestras in Atlanta
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
We can’t talk about Atlanta orchestras without mentioning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. They’re one of the US’s leading institutions and have multiple Grammys to their name (27 to be exact). Past conductors include Yoel Levi, Robert Spano and current musical director Nathalie Stutzmann, only the second woman to lead a major American orchestra. Their classical series has included Sibelius Symphony No. 5, Beethoven with Leif Ove Andsnes and Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
Atlanta Baroque Orchestra
Atlanta Baroque Orchestra is one of the country’s most prominent period-instrument ensembles, specializing in timeless works by composers such as Handel, Vivaldi and Bach. Their focus on Baroque music means their instruments look a little like this: violins, violas and cellos with period bows, keyless flutes, horns and a Baroque bassoon.
Georgia Philharmonic
Professional musicians play shoulder to shoulder with budding enthusiasts in the Georgia Philharmonic. In addition to classical works by the likes of Brahms and Vivaldi, this orchestra reimagines pop songs for some fun crossover appeal, too.
Classical music concerts Atlanta: special festivals and concert series
Atlanta Chamber Music Festival
This Atlanta classical music festival takes place every year at Emory University. It emphasizes chamber music training and education, with shows hosted inside Gaines Chapel and McLean Auditorium.
Candlelight concert series
Candlelight concerts in Atlanta shine inside some of the city’s most gorgeous venues, from The Chapel on Sycamore to The Wimbish House. These classical concerts showcase the best of timeless composers, including Vivaldi and Bach, plus modern favorites reimagined through classical strings like Adele, Taylor Swift and Coldplay, all amid thousands of twinkling candles.
Atlanta Chamber Players Winter Series
The Atlanta Chamber Players Winter Series is an annual highlight in their multi-concert season. Every year, it features intimate chamber music performances blending classical staples like Beethoven’s Piano Trio and Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata with world premieres, such as Andrea Casarrubios’ Sextet.