ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ANNOUNCES 29TH CLASSIC CHASTAIN SEASON

Stellar line-up includes Indigo Girls, Al Green, Trisha Yearwood, George Benson, Natalie Cole, Vince Gill, The BB King Music Festival, and artists from the Grammy® Award-winning "O Brother Where Art Thou" Soundtrack

Chastain Park Amphitheatre receives $2M+ in Renovations

ATLANTA - March 21, 2002 - The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) today unveiled the 2002 Classic Chastain season. Now in it's 29th year of producing concerts at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, the ASO's 2002 Classic Chastain schedule features 28 concerts with over 40 artists, four of whom will appear in concert with the Grammy® Award-winning ASO. The 2002 Classic Chastain season opens on June 14 with Atlanta's own Indigo Girls and continues throughout the summer on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings through August 28. Four subscription packages are available - Wednesday Series (6 concerts), Friday Series (8 concerts), Saturday Series (8 concerts) and Country Chastain (4 concerts). Presenting sponsors for the 2002 Classic Chastain concerts are The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, BellSouth, Wachovia and Worldspan. Media sponsors are The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV Channel 2. Acura is the Official Car of Classic Chastain.

Chastain Park Amphitheatre - Better than Ever
Last winter Chastain Park Amphitheatre underwent a $2+ million renovation, including improvements to the entrance gateways, upgrades to sound, lighting and video systems, an increase in the number of restrooms and improvements to the concessions areas. "With the renovations and improvements to the venue, patrons will discover a new and improved Chastain experience," said Rudi Schlegel, Vice President of Presentations, Chastain Park Amphitheatre. "For 29 years we have produced quality concerts at Chastain and the popularity of our offerings continues to grow. The renovation is tailored to our patron's needs, such as
better audience-traffic flow and shorter lines for the restrooms, without compromising the charm of Atlanta's favorite venue."

Wide Variety of Musical Genres
ASO's Classic Chastain offers something for everyone - jazz, rock, folk, rhythm & blues, country and pop music. Returning favorites are Nancy Wilson (June 22), Trisha Yearwood (June 28), Al Green (June 29), Keb' Mo' (July 13), Wynonna (July 20), Gerald Albright (July 24), Peter, Paul and Mary (August 2), Bruce Hornsby (August 3), George Benson (August 10), Natalie Cole (August 10), Vince Gill (August 21), and B.B. King (August 23 and 24).

Debuting in the Classic Chastain series are Indigo Girls (June 14 and 15), Ramsey Lewis (June 22), Daniel Rodriguez, Tenor - New York City Police Officer (July 3), Down From the Mountain Tour (July 17), Patti Austin (July 24), Teddy Pendergrass (August 7), Stephanie Mills (August 7), Kenny Rogers (August 14), The Irish Tenors (August 17), George Thorogood and the Destroyers (August 23 and 24), The Fabulous Thunderbirds (August 23 and 24) and John Tesh (August 28). Appearing with the ASO are Mannheim Steamroller (June 21), Daniel Rodriguez, Tenor - New York City Police Officer (July 3), The Temptations and The Four Tops (July 26 and 27) and The Irish Tenors (August 17).

An Atlanta Favorite… again and again
Chastain continues to be Atlanta's favorite concert experience. Last year Creative Loafing readers voted Chastain Park Amphitheatre as the "Best Outdoor Music Venue" and "Best Concert Venue." Pollstar Magazine named Chastain Park Amphitheatre one of the "Top 40 Venues" and named the ASO as one of the "Top 50 Promoters" for 2001. CitySearch named Chastain "Best Performing Arts Group or Venue" for 2001. For the 7th consecutive year Chastain was nominated for Pollstar's prestigious industry award - the "Red Rocks Award for Best Small Outdoor Venue."

Amenities
For the last 28 years, Atlantans have packed their picnic baskets to enjoy an evening of music and dining under the stars at Chastain. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra prides itself in providing the highest caliber hospitality for its patrons with outstanding food service for all concerts through its in-house caterers - Proof of the Pudding and Glorious Events. On-site concessions also offer an impressive array of food and beverage for patrons to enjoy while toasting the evening's concerts. Again this year,
convenient porter service is available for patrons needing assistance with their picnic items. Catering information will be mailed to patrons with concert tickets.

Smoking Policy
Shows produced by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Chastain this season will continue to be smoke-free, with the exception of smoking in designated non-seating areas. This policy conforms to municipal regulations and is in response to requests from concert patrons.

Parking
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is again pleased to offer our subscribers the opportunity to purchase nearby reserved parking. The cost to reserve parking is $48/car for the 8-concert Friday or Saturday Series, $36/car for the 6-Concert Wednesday Series and $24/car for a 4-concert Classic Chastain or Country Chastain Series. Limited parking is available for "Take 5" packages. We encourage patrons to reserve parking when purchasing subscriptions, as these requests are filled on a first-come, first served basis. Parking coupons will be mailed in May with concert tickets.

Single Tickets
Single tickets go on sale on May 18 at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office (1280 Peachtree Street at 15th St) and through all Ticketmaster outlets (including area Publix Supermarkets). For single ticket information, call 404-733-5000 or Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, or visit the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chastain website at www.classicchastain.org.

Group Tickets
Priority seating and discounted tickets are available for groups of 15 or more. Also, Club Chastain, a special pre-concert area is available for rent for before and even during concerts. Featuring private air-conditioned bathrooms, a private cash bar, and tents in case of inclement weather, Club Chastain can accommodate private parties from 20 to 250, and group discounts are available. Club Chastain is located to the left of the concert stage, next to the in-house catering pick-up areas. Call the ASO Group Sales Office at 404-733-4848 for more details.

Subscription Packages
Classic Chastain subscriptions are now available. Subscribers save up to 20% off the single ticket price and receive priority seating. Packages of four, six and eight-concert individual subscriptions are available, as is the opportunity for patrons to create their own "Take Five," series of 5 or more concerts offering flexible scheduling. For subscription tickets, stop by the Woodruff Arts Center Box
Office (1280 Peachtree Street at 15th St. Free short-term parking is located in the driveway). The Box Office is opened Weekdays: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Weekends: Noon to 8:00 PM. Call the Subscriber Hotline at 404-733-4800, or visit the ASO website at www.classicchastain.org.

Wednesday Series - 6 Concerts
Plaza Table $1,776
Terrace Table $1,572
Side Terrace Table $1,368
Seats $117 - $246

Friday Series - 8 Concerts
Plaza Table $2,544
Terrace Table $2,406
Side Terrace Table $2,016
Seats $168 - $352
4 Concert Half Series $84 - $180

Saturday Series - 8 Concerts
Plaza Table $2,544
Terrace Table $2,406
Side Terrace Table $2,016
Seats $168 - $352
4 Concert Half Series $84 - $180

Country Series - 4 Concerts
Plaza Table $1,392
Terrace Table $1,248
Side Terrace Table $1,152
Seats $96 - $203

Tables seat six and are available for Classic Chastain Wednesday, Friday or Saturday series and the Country Chastain series.

Take Five Subscription
5-concert package……………….$92 and up

CLASSIC CHASTAIN CONCERT SCHEDULE - 2002
The Summer Concert Series of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Friday, June 14
Saturday June 15
Indigo Girls

Friday, June 21
Mannheim Steamroller with the ASO

Saturday, June 22
Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson plus the ASO

Friday, June 28
Trisha Yearwood

Saturday, June 29
Al Green

Wednesday, July 3
Stars and Stripes Spectacular
Danny Rodriguez, Tenor - New York City Police Officer - with the ASO

Wednesday, July 10
TBD

Friday, July 12
TBD

Saturday, July 13
Keb' Mo'

Wednesday, July 17, 7 PM
Down From The Mountain
Featuring musicians and artists from "O Brother Where Art Thou"
Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jerry Douglas, Dan
Tyminski, Ralph Stanley, Patty Loveless, Del McCoury Band, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Norman & Nancy Blake, The Whites

Friday, July 19
TBD

Saturday, July 20
Wynonna
Wednesday, July 24
Will Downing, Patti Austin, Gerald Albright

Friday, July 26
Saturday July 27
The Temptations & The Four Tops with the ASO

Friday, August 2
Peter, Paul and Mary

Saturday, August 3
Bruce Hornsby

Wednesday, August 7
Teddy Pendergrass and Stephanie Mills

Friday, August 9
TBD

Saturday, August 10
George Benson and Natalie Cole

Wednesday, August 14
Kenny Rogers

Friday, August 16
TBD

Saturday, August 17
The Irish Tenors with the ASO

Wednesday, August 21
Vince Gill

Friday, August 23,
Saturday, August 24
B.B. King Music Festival
B.B. King, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Wednesday, August 28
John Tesh

All artists subject to change - log on to www.classicchastain.org for schedule and ticket info

Single tickets - $23 to $77
Tickets can be purchased through the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office 404-733-5000,
all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.classicchastain.org

Presenting sponsors - BellSouth, Coca-Cola, Wachovia & Worldspan. Starbucks is the official coffee of Classic Chastain.
Media sponsors - The Atlanta Journal Constitution and WSB-TV Channel 2.