Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: Inspiring Chattanooga Through Music Since 1933
The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera (CSO) is dedicated to inspiring, engaging, and enriching the Chattanooga community through exceptional music and education programs. Since 1933, the CSO has delivered professional performances of symphonies, operas, chamber music, and pops concerts to diverse audiences across Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Housed in the historic and stunning Tivoli Theatre, every CSO performance offers an unforgettable experience.
History
The Chattanooga Symphony began with a group of ambitious young musicians from Chattanooga High School, led by Melvin Margolin, who performed its inaugural concert on November 5, 1933, alongside local adult players.
In 1985, the Chattanooga Symphony and Chattanooga Opera merged to form the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Association (CSOA)—the first such combined organization in the U.S. and one of the few remaining today.
Read the full history of the CSO here.
Featured Musicians
Kayoko Dan, Music Director & Conductor
The 2011-2012 season introduced CSO’s Music Director Kayoko Dan, the youngest and first female conductor in its history.
Holly Mulcahy, Concertmaster
Inspired by Scheherazade as a child, Holly Mulcahy has secured tenured positions in orchestras from Richmond to Phoenix and toured extensively domestically and internationally.
Kristin Holritz, Principal Flute
Renowned for her “beautiful tone and vibrato,” Kristin Holritz is a versatile flutist who shines on stage.
Josh Holritz, Associate Concertmaster
Josh has performed as a soloist, orchestral, and chamber musician across Canada, England, Austria, South Africa, Japan, and over 20 U.S. states.
Did You Know?
- The CSO employs approximately 190 musicians per season.
- The CSO reaches over 100,000 people annually through concerts, community engagement, and education.
- 30 contract musicians hold Master’s degrees; nine have Doctorates.
- CSO musicians teach at nearly every college within 100 miles of Chattanooga.
- Three CSO musicians serve on the faculty of the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.
- CSO musicians instruct over 1,000 students via classroom and private lessons beyond ensemble programs.
- Graduates hail from top programs like Johns Hopkins, Yale, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and Indiana University.
2016/2017 Season Highlights
The 2016/17 season showcased the Barnett & Company Masterworks Series with timeless and contemporary works, including pieces by four living composers. The First Tennessee Foundation Pops Series featured Latin jazz with the Mambo Kings, Home for the Holidays, Big Band Fever!, Irish fiddler Eileen Ivers, and scores from sci-fi and superhero favorites.
The expanded Chamber Series included Mozart, Prokofiev, Bottesini, Mendelssohn, and the world premiere of Doug Hedwig’s String Quintet.
Special events: fully staged Madame Butterfly over two nights and family-friendly Cirque de la Symphonie.
Subscriptions started at $90, available at www.chattanoogasymphony.org, the box office at 701 Broad Street, or by calling 423.267.8583. Benefits included priority seating, free exchanges, no fees, payment plans, discounts, and pre-sales. Click here for series and subscriber details.
Download the 2016/2017 brochure here. View the 2016/2017 concert schedule here.
