ALIAS formed in the fall of 2002 when a group of Nashville musicians, already well-known as professional orchestra players and teachers, set out to perform chamber music on their own terms. With a new artistic identity, they quickly won praise by performing outstanding repertoire, and donating their time and proceeds to carefully selected local charities.

• In 2003, ALIAS found sponsors and began a critically-acclaimed concert series at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. The audience doubled with innovative programming and PR, and funds donated to charity grew.
• In 2004, ALIAS became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ALIAS Education and Community Programs reached out to bring chamber music to W. O. Smith Music School, Nashville School for the Blind, Outlook Nashville, and a program for Nashvillians in substance abuse recovery.
• In 2005, ALIAS launched a website, doubled the donor base, and created partnerships with the Blair School of Music and Vanderbilt University.
• In 2006, ALIAS became PENCIL Partners with Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School, doubling its reach yet again through school-wide performances and Master Classes for band and orchestra students. This year ALIAS also launched its Double Take series, a collaboration with the Nashville Symphony.
• In 2007, ALIAS began interactive video-conferencing with classrooms from Texas to Florida via The Virtual School at Vanderbilt.
• By 2008, ALIAS had raised thousands for local groups like Better Decisions, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, CASA, Dismas House, Second Harvest Food Bank Kids’ Cafe, Oasis Center, W.O. Smith Music School, and Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker Program.
• In 2009, ALIAS received its third Best of Nashville award from the Nashville SCENE: “Best Socially Conscious Classical Programming: ALIAS Chamber Ensemble’s Emerging Voices Series.”
• In 2010, ALIAS announces a major new project featuring Guggenheim Fellowship- and Latin Grammy-winning composer Gabriela Lena Frank. The project includes the first-ever ALIAS recording, featuring Ms. Frank’s chamber works for NAXOS, on its American Classics label.