About Us – Vanguard

What Is Vanguard?

Since 1963, Vanguard has supported the Albany Symphony Orchestra (ASO) through fundraising and volunteer work. We help with major events like the ASO Gala, assist with office tasks and children’s programs, and even prepare meals for musicians.

We also host fun and engaging fundraising trips for members and the public—like a Mohawk River cruise with a guided tour on local history and architecture.

Our events include Jazz Brunches, Shrimp Boils at June Farms, Sunday classical music Salons, and outings to local favorites like the Apple Barrel Café—great ways to connect with old friends and make new ones.

One of our key programs is Instruments for Students, where we collect gently used instruments and donate them to eight local school districts. These instruments help hundreds of students—whose families can’t afford them—participate in school music programs. We’ve donated nearly 900 instruments so far. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Want to help?
Contact Jill Rifkin, Chair, at (518) 439-1843 or email us. You can also call the ASO office to learn more about Vanguard.

A Rich History

In 1963, Albany resident Sue Yager—then a principal with the New York City Opera—founded Vanguard at the request of Albany Symphony conductor Edgar Curtis. Their first project raised enough money in one year to purchase an acoustical shell that improved the orchestra’s sound projection.

Since then, Vanguard has expanded its support for the Symphony, including fundraising for concerts, musicians, soloists, and composers.

Our most well-known fundraiser, the Designer Showhouse, ran for 37 years and drew thousands of visitors each spring. Top designers transformed historic or new homes, and Vanguard volunteers made it all possible.

We also launched a successful Golf Tournament in 2017 to raise funds for music education. The 2018 event grew even bigger. In 2019, we paused the tournament to focus on our 38th Showhouse.

Explore our site to learn more about our Showhouse tours, café, Designer Days, and more!