Program areas at CSO
The Charleston Symphony 2022-2023 season, themed "deeply local, boldly global," showcased a remarkable lineup of guest conductors, visiting artists, and diverse programs. Among the roster of internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists, the cso welcomed guests including gerard schwarz, jonathon heyward, vadim gluzman, olga kern, and gil shaham. Along with classical masterpieces, the cso also incorporated works by lesser-known composers and programs unique to the "Charleston sound." The cso launched project aurora, a new initiative designed to showcase Charleston's extraordinary cultural heritage, as we celebrate african american music and arts with deep ties to the lowcountry. Project aurora champions the works of underrepresented artists as it remains programmatically infused through the cso's concert lineup. The cso expanded its holiday pops program to three performances, resulting in record-breaking ticket sales. A historic and milestone season, the cso presented close to 200 exceptional concerts and education performances, which were enjoyed by more than 60,000 adults and children. Additional artistic highlights include the Charleston Symphony's highly anticipated album release "under an indigo sky," which earned the no. 2 spot on billboard's traditional classical album chart. With two works composed by Charleston native, edward hart, the album features grammy-award winning harlem quartet and concertmaster, yuriy bekker. From renowned conductors and guest musicians to initiatives championing minority composers and musicians, the season solidified the Symphony's position as a cultural sanctuary for the entire community."
The cso remains committed to presenting the highest-quality musical experiences and providing direct access to the arts for our community's children, thereby narrowing the gap of educational inequality for over 20,000 students across the lowcountry each season. The cso is proud to offer multiple opportunities for educational engagement, with a special emphasis on providing free or low-cost programming to promote equitable access to inspirational education through music. Each year, small ensembles of cso musicians travel directly to schools across the tri-county area to present chamber music concerts and instrumental demonstrations free of charge through the "music in schools" program. During the 2022-23 school year, students also had the opportunity to attend "young people's concerts" at the gaillard center in partnership with carnegie hall for a highly engaging and interactive program of full-scale symphonic music.in addition to these programs, the Charleston Symphony youth Orchestra (csyo) operates year-round as one of the cso's most impactful initiatives in the development of young musicians. This esteemed ensemble provided middle and high school students with rich musical experiences through interactions and intensive coaching with cso musicians throughout the season. Fy23 marked the first year the csyo shared the stage with the cso in a masterworks performance under the baton of world-renowned conductor jonathon heyward.furthermore, the cso launched its first year of the full Charleston Symphony inclusion fellowship, comprised of two executive fellows and five orchestral fellows, designed to provide high-level experiential learning for young professionals. The two executive fellows were awarded positions on the cso staff to participate in a 24-month cross-departmental rotation, gaining robust experience working closely in areas of marketing, advancement, operations, education, and more. Five orchestral musicians were selected through a competitive audition process to perform with the cso throughout the season and receive mock auditions and masterclasses by guest conductors. All inclusion fellows participate in enrichment workshops throughout the year, work on community projects, and present a fellowship recital. Through these intiatives, the cso brings world-class music and opportunities into student lives at reduced or no cost, removing barriers to arts access while serving as a resource to amplify classroom learning and support local music educators.