Chattanooga Symphony and Opera facts for kids

The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, often called the CSO, is a special group that combines a symphony orchestra and an opera company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. When these two groups joined together in 1985, it was the only organization like it in the entire United States. This means they perform both beautiful orchestral music and exciting opera shows!

Discovering the CSO's Journey

How the Chattanooga Symphony Began

The story of the Chattanooga Symphony started way back in 1896. A small group of musicians formed the Chattanooga Music Club. Their goal was to share the "beauties of art" in Chattanooga. This club helped create many musical groups over the years.

In 1930, a member named Stella Weitzel helped get money for a group of talented young musicians at the University of Chattanooga. This small donation eventually led to the start of the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra.

The Chattanooga Symphony was officially formed by young people who loved playing music together. Melvin Margolin, the director, brought together students and recent graduates from Chattanooga High School with some adult musicians. They practiced hard and gave their very first concert on November 5, 1933. People in Chattanooga loved the talent of these young musicians!

For the first four years, Melvin Margolin and Borden Jones led the group. Because of their success, Dr. Arthur Plettner was hired in 1937 to lead the orchestra professionally. He became the conductor in 1938 and led the symphony for 11 years.

Later, in 1956, Julius Hegyi, another talented conductor, took over. He led the orchestra until 1966. After him, Richard Cornier was the conductor until 1984.

New Leaders and Growth

In 1985, Vakhtang Jordania became the conductor and artistic director. He helped the group grow a lot. The orchestra, now called the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra Artist (CSOA), became very good at playing many types of music. This included classical, romantic, and modern pieces.

The CSOA also hosted many famous guest artists. These included amazing musicians like Itzhak Perlman and Jean-Pierre Rampal.

Vakhtang Jordania was followed by Maestro Robert Bernhardt in 1992. Maestro Bernhardt led the CSO for 19 seasons! He helped the orchestra connect more with the community. He also made the music quality even better, which meant more people came to the concerts.

Under Maestro Bernhardt, the CSO performed many shows each season. This included three operas like Madame Butterfly and Carmen. They also had four pop concerts. Famous guests like Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Ricky Scaggs performed with them.

In 2008–2009, the CSO celebrated its 75th anniversary! Many people attended, including current and former orchestra members, friends, and government officials.

In 2009, Maestro Bernhardt became the first Music Director Emeritus. He then helped find the next music director. After interviewing nine candidates, Kayoko Dan was chosen.

Kayoko Dan: A New Era

Kayoko Dan made history as the first female conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony. She was also the youngest! Ms. Dan started her music training in Japan when she was just three years old.

She moved to the United States and continued her education. She earned degrees in music from the University of Texas and Arizona State University. Before coming to Chattanooga, she worked with the Phoenix Symphony and the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. Ms. Dan is also a strong supporter of music education. She works with universities, high schools, and youth orchestras across the country.

The Chattanooga Opera Company's Start

Around the same time the Symphony began, a talented couple, Dr. Werner Wolff and his wife Emmy Land Wolff, came to Tennessee. They were escaping Nazi Germany and brought their musical skills with them.

The Chattanooga Opera Company was founded in 1942 by Dr. Werner Wolff and his wife. They were important members of the German Opera House. Another person involved was Dorothy Hackett Ward, who became the makeup artist for the company.

Madame Wolff was the stage director. She taught the singers how to move, bow, and use props on stage. Kent Boyd was the first president of the Chattanooga Opera.

The company gave its first performance in February 1943. It was a production of Il Trovatore. Most of the singers were local. However, the Wolffs knew many famous opera performers. They invited stars like Beverly Sills and Jon Vickers to perform in Chattanooga.

Madame Wolff passed away in 1955, which was a sad loss for the music community. Dr. Werner Wolff tried to continue but eventually resigned in 1959. He moved to Switzerland and passed away in 1960.

The Combined Organization

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera became the first combined professional symphony and opera company in the United States when they merged in 1985. This was a big step!

Vakhtang Jordania was the first conductor and artistic director of the merged group. He was followed by Robert Bernhardt in 1992. Maestro Bernhardt left the directorship in April 2011. His successor, Kayoko Dan, made her first performance with the CSO in September 2011. Maestro Bernhardt still lives in Chattanooga and is the music director emeritus.

Chattanooga Youth Symphony (CYS)

The CSO also has great programs for young musicians called the Chattanooga Youth Symphony (CYS). It used to be known as the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Youth Orchestra (CSOYO).

The CYS has four different groups: Prelude, Etude, Philharmonic, and Symphony.

• The Prelude and Etude groups are for string instruments only. They are for beginners in elementary and middle school. Cellist Amy Shannon conducts these groups.
• The Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras are full orchestras. They include strings, winds, and percussion. These groups are for older middle school and high school students.
• The Philharmonic orchestra is conducted by flutist Dr. Sandy Morris.
• The highest orchestra, the Symphony, is conducted by Ismael Sandoval. He studied at the University of Florida and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He also worked as an understudy conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.