Columbus Symphony Orchestra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
Ohio Theatre, home of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Former name	Columbus Little Symphony,
Founded	1951
Principal conductor	Rossen Milanov

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is a famous music group from Columbus, Ohio. It's the oldest performing arts group in the city. Their main home is the beautiful Ohio Theatre.

The orchestra performs many concerts each year. They have classical music shows and fun "pops" concerts. They also put on special "Concerts for Kids." In the summer, you can enjoy their outdoor shows like "Picnic with the Pops." The Columbus Symphony also plays music for Opera Columbus and BalletMet performances.

History of the Symphony

How it All Began

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra started in 1951. It was first called the Columbus Little Symphony. This happened after the city's earlier orchestra stopped performing. The first music director was Claude Monteux, a flutist and conductor.

In its first year, the Little Symphony played five concerts. They had 28 musicians. Their first full season was in 1952 at Central High School. This building is now COSI Columbus. In 1955, the group officially became the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. For its first ten years, only women managed the Symphony. These women had been part of the previous orchestra's association.

Growing and Moving Homes

Evan Whallon was the longest-serving music director. He led the orchestra for 26 seasons, from 1956 to 1982. From 1956 to 1970, the orchestra performed at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Since 1970, the Ohio Theatre has been their home. This old movie theater was saved from being torn down. It was fixed up to be a great concert hall for the orchestra.

Adding Opera and More

In the 1970s, the Columbus Symphony started performing operas. This was because Columbus didn't have its own opera company. Around this time, the orchestra also hired its first full-time musicians. This helped make their performances even better. By 1980, they were putting on three full opera shows each year.

By 1981, the Symphony was 30 years old. It had grown a lot! They went from three concerts to many more. This included nine symphony concerts and three pops concerts. They also had chamber music and over 200 educational programs. In 1983, the "Picnic with the Pops" summer concert series began. It's now a popular tradition in central Ohio.

Expanding and Facing Challenges

Through the 1980s and 1990s, the orchestra grew even more. It had up to 53 full-time musicians. They offered many classical and pops concerts with famous guest artists. They also started playing with Opera Columbus and Ballet Met. Their educational programs expanded too, including a Youth Orchestra.

In 2001, the Symphony celebrated its 50th anniversary. They performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This was a very special event.

In 2008, the orchestra went through a tough financial period. Some summer concerts had to be canceled. The musicians even put on their own shows to keep playing. This situation got attention from newspapers across the country. After a lot of discussion, a new agreement was reached. It allowed the orchestra to continue performing. The musicians kept their jobs, and the budget was adjusted. This helped save the orchestra.

New Beginnings

After this challenging time, the Columbus Symphony started fresh. They resumed a full season of concerts. Jean-Marie Zeitouni was the music director from 2010 to 2014.

The current music director is Rossen Milanov. He started in 2014 and took on his full duties in 2015. The orchestra continues to have exciting performances. In 2016, rapper Nelly performed with them. In 2019, the Ohio State University Marching Band also joined them for a "Picnic with the Pops" event.

Music Directors

• Claude Monteux (1953–1956)
• Evan Whallon (1956–1982)
• Christian Badea (1983–1991)
• Alessandro Siciliani (1991–2003)
• Gunther Herbig (2003–2006; and 2009–2011; music adviser)
• Junichi Hirokami (June 1, 2006 – 2008)
• Jean-Marie Zeitouni (2010–2014)
• Rossen Milanov (2015–present)

Youth Orchestra Program

The Columbus Symphony also has a Youth Orchestra program. It's led by Andrés Lopera. This program helps young musicians grow their skills. It has four different orchestras. Each group is for different ages and skill levels.

• Junior Strings - for grades 3-6
• Chamber Strings - for grades 6-9
• Cadet Orchestra - for grades 7-10
• Youth Orchestra - for grades 9-12

Cool Moments in History

• 1951 - The Columbus Little Symphony plays its first concert.
• 1960 - The Columbus Symphony Chorus is formed. It's a group of over 100 volunteer singers.
• 1970 - The orchestra moves to its new home, the Ohio Theatre.
• 1974 - The Symphony starts producing operas like The Barber of Seville.
• 1978 - The orchestra hires more full-time musicians. This makes their performances even better.
• 1999 - The CSO performs with the famous singer Luciano Pavarotti. The concert is sold out!
• 2001 - The Symphony and Chorus perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This is part of their 50th anniversary.
• 2008 - The orchestra faces financial challenges. Some summer concerts are canceled.
• 2008 - Cellist Yo Yo Ma performs with the Symphony. He also speaks to the audience to support the orchestra.
• 2009 - The Columbus Symphony returns with a shorter spring season. They also bring back "Picnic with the Pops."
• 2009 - The Columbus Symphony announces a full concert schedule for the next season.