Since 1951, the Columbus Symphony (CSO) has been proud to serve as central Ohio’s flagship music performance organization. The CSO’s musicians, conductors, chorus, and world-renowned guest artists enrich the central Ohio community through extraordinary talent, passion, dedication, and the highest standards of musicianship. Living and working in the community, CSO musicians are interwoven throughout the region’s cultural fabric, accompanying performances by other companies, performing in other local orchestras, and teaching and coaching young musicians.
Guided by the artistic vision of Music Director Rossen Milanov, the CSO offers four programming areas – Masterworks, Pops, Picnic with the Pops, and Education/Community Engagement – that are targeted to appeal to diverse audiences from throughout central Ohio. This segmented approach, innovative within the American orchestra industry, is helping the CSO to reach new, younger, and more diverse audiences.
The CSOs mission of inspiring and building a strong community through music is integral to the community, and plays a central role in Columbus’ vibrant arts scene. Our concerts and programs served over 175,000 central Ohioans in 2019-2020, and the CSO generated over $15 million in economic income for Columbus. Our programming includes classical masterworks, new works by living composers, performances by popular artists from a variety of genres, education programs that enrich and promote children’s learning and development, and community engagement programming designed to make the CSO accessible to all.
