One of my most appreciated identities is the one created for American Studio Orchestra. It couldn't be another cliché treble clef, violin scroll, or a bunch of notes on a staff—it had to transcend modern orchestra branding.
Since ASO presents a multitude of concerts with different themes, the logo elements had to be visually strong enough to serve as motifs to reinforce the brand in any advertising elements.
Anything to complement a logo can often compete with it. If the logo is solid enough, it'll hold up under most day-to-day abuse.
There has been plenty of interplay between the ASO logo and evocative typography—effective elements alongside each other have created a seamless branding opportunity.