The Abilene Collegiate Orchestra is a joint effort by the Department of Music at Abilene Christian University and Hardin-Simmons University's School of Music. A full symphony orchestra, it performs a minimum of four concerts a year which feature a wide variety of literature from the standard orchestral repertoire.
All students are eligible by audition to participate.
Auditions are held at the beginning of each fall semester, and, according to need, at the beginning of spring semesters. Audition materials include solo selections of the student's choice, orchestral excerpts announced and distributed prior to the audition, and sight reading. The rehearsal and performance schedule is balanced between the two schools. The orchestra rehearses at ACU in the fall and at HSU in the spring. The orchestra also performs with the Abilene Collegiate Opera every two years.