The Kennett Symphony in Chester County, Pennsylvania, has a new name: the Brandywine Valley Symphony. Leaders of Chester County’s professional orchestra said the change had been long considered and was made to signal that the orchestra’s reach goes beyond Kennett Square.

“We serve, in terms of a cultural footprint, an area much larger — to northern Delaware and the surrounding counties,” said Timothy Blair, the orchestra’s board president. The new name also promises to resonate more widely, he said.

Founded in 1940 as a community orchestra, the ensemble is now fully professional. Music Director Michael Hall is in his 9th season with the Kennett Symphony and 5th with the Prince George Symphony in British Columbia, and also serves as Principal Guest Conductor of Florida’s Space Coast Symphony. Known for his dynamic performances and inventive programming, he is committed to making concerts more accessible to new audiences.