The Cornell Symphony Orchestra, comprised of approximately 100 musicians, is dedicated to performing symphonic repertoire from the baroque through the twentieth century, as well as contemporary works of our time. The Symphony Orchestra is directed by Chris Younghoon Kim and presents 4 to 6 concerts per year including the annual Concerto Concert, at which the winner of the School's Annual Concerto Competition perform with the orchestra. Guest conductors have included Leon Fleisher, Johannes Schlaefli (Zurich Hochschule), and Larry Rachleff (Rice University) among others, and the orchestra has collaborated with many of today's most prominent composers including Steven Stucky, Roberto Sierra, etc. Guest soloists who have appeared with the CSO in recent seasons include Xak Bjerken (piano), Tim Feeney (percussion) and Inbal Segev (cello). The CSO has been distinguished with six awards in seven years with the ASCAP prizes for Adventurous Programming in the Collegiate Division by the League of American Orchestras: first prize in the 2011-2012 ASCAP Awards and second prize in 2013-14. 2013-2014 performances have been recognized by the American Prize in the following three categories; Finalist in Orchestral Programming - the Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award, Finalist in The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (college/university division) for performance of Barber's Symphony No. 1, Finalist in The American Prize in Conducting (College/University Orchestra Division) for performance of Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony.

Membership in the Cornell Symphony Orchestra/Chamber Orchestra is open to all Cornell students by audition. Audition repertoire and excerpts are available online in August 1 of each summer. Auditions take place during orientation week, and must show a mastery of the material and an awareness of the musical context from which the excerpts are taken.

Find out more about the orchestra from the member perspective by reading our most recent newsletter [click on the link]

CSO was honored to join the ranks of the 20 most impressive College Orchestras in America.

Link to article

Local Media coverage of our tour to Argentina in the city of Neuquen

Cornell Chronicle article about the tour to Argentina.

2021 - 2022 Season

Cornell Orchestras

2021 Cornell Orchestras Statement on BLM

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