Charleston Symphony Orchestra

THE CHARLESTON SYMPHONY'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

IN FY22, THE CHARLESTON SYMPHONY CONTINUED TO SERVE ITS COMMUNITY AND FULFILL ITS MISSION. THE CSO WASIMMENSELY PROUD TO LAUNCH, "A TRIUMPHANT RETURN" FOLLOWING THE IMMENSE CHALLENGES OF THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN. THECSO ENJOYED A ROBUST PERFORMANCE SEASON OF OVER 100 MASTERWORKS, POPS, CHAMBER MUSIC, EDUCATIONAL, ANDCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERFORMANCES. THE CSO ALSO COMPLETED ITS TWO-YEAR CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OFLUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN'S BIRTH WITH TWO SELL-OUT PERFORMANCES OF THE FAMED COMPOSER'S NINTH SYMPHONY, "AN ODE TOJOY" THE CSO'S HIGHEST GROSSING AND HIGHEST ATTENDANCE OF MASTERWORKS PERFORMANCES TO DATE. THE CSO WAS ONE OF AHANDFUL OF ORCHESTRAS NATIONWIDE THAT DELIVERED LIVE PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, AND THE LOWCOUNTRY'SENCOURAGEMENT EMBOLDENED US TO DO MORE AND BE MORE AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION DURING THE 2021-2022SEASON. THE CSO LAUNCHED ITS FIRST YEAR OF THE CHARLESTON SYMPHONY INCLUSION FELLOWSHIP. THE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP IS APARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON'S ARTS & CULTURAL ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM. TWO GRADUATE STUDENTS WEREAWARDED POSITIONS ON THE CSO STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN A 24-MONTH CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL ROTATION TO RECEIVE ROBUSTEXPERIENCE WORKING CLOSELY IN AREAS OF MARKETING, ADVANCEMENT, OPERATIONS, AND MORE.

THE CSO REMAINS COMMITTED TO PRESENTING THE HIGHEST-QUALITY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES AND DIRECT ACCESS TO THEARTS TO OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN, THEREBY NARROWING THE GAP OF EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY FOR OVER 20,000 STUDENTS ACROSSTHE LOWCOUNTRY EACH SEASON. THE CSO IS PROUD TO OFFER MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, AND THESYMPHONY PLACES SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING FREE OR LOW-COST PROGRAMMING TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TOINSPIRATIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC. EACH YEAR, SMALL ENSEMBLES OF CSO MUSICIANS TRAVEL DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THETRI-COUNTY AREA TO PRESENT CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS AND INSTRUMENTAL DEMONSTRATIONS FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH THE "MUSICIN SCHOOLS" PROGRAM. DURING THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND "YOUNG PEOPLE'SCONCERTS" AT THE GAILLARD CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARNEGIE HALL FOR A HIGHLY ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE PROGRAM OF FULLSCALESYMPHONIC MUSIC. IN ADDITION TO THESE PROGRAMS, THE CHARLESTON SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA (CSYO) OPERATES YEARROUNDAS ONE OF THE CSO'S MOST DEEPLY IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG MUSICIANS, AND THIS ESTEEMEDENSEMBLE PROVIDED MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH RICH MUSICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH INTERACTIONS AND INTENSIVECOACHING WITH CSO MUSICIANS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. THROUGH THE "MUSIC IN SCHOOLS" PROGRAM, "YOUNG PEOPLE'SCONCERTS, AND THE "CHARLESTON SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA," THE CSO WILL BRING WORLD-CLASS MUSIC INTO STUDENTS' LIVES ATREDUCED OR NO COST TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ARTS ACCESS WHILE SERVING AS A RESOURCE TO AMPLIFY CLASSROOM LEARNING.