Get to Know Your CSO

Mission

The mission of the Canton Symphony Orchestra is to perform and present orchestral music at the highest possible artistic level to enrich, entertain, educate, and challenge diverse audiences in a variety of settings. In doing so, we will serve our community, manage our resources responsibly, and be accountable to our donors, audiences, employees, and volunteers.

In carrying out the Association’s mission to perform and present live orchestral music at the highest possible artistic level, the orchestra will perform both standard and contemporary repertoire,  with a continued focus on presenting artists of diverse backgrounds. It will continue to commission new music and showcase established guest soloists and new young talent. It will provide service to American orchestras by offering its musicians experience in performing a wide range of repertoire, under the direction of conductors of high quality.

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Classical music is a rich, vibrant genre that spans centuries, continents, and cultures. There is so much to appreciate and to discover. The MasterWorks series is the main reason why the Canton Symphony Orchestra exists as a nonprofit performing arts organization. We offer seven MasterWorks concerts every year to our community, exploring the vast orchestral music canon.

The CSO performs traditional favorites, contemporary and new works, and showcase composers previously undiscovered or under-appreciated throughout history. 

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Every year, Canton Symphony Orchestra strives to reach new audiences. Classical music is an art form that is enjoyed by too few, often dismissed due to it not being front and center in our everyday lives. The Pops series exists to introduce audiences to orchestral programming with music that may be more familiar to them. Whether the full orchestra accompanies a rock band for nostalgic classics, or to feature an amazing local band, you are sure to experience the full power of a symphony in a way that will keep you coming back for more. 

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The Canton Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to bringing supplemental music education to Stark county and beyond. We offer three education based concerts, Young People’s Concert, SymphonyLand, and Kinder Concert, in addition to a variety of community education programs.

Ready to join the music? Led by Music Director, Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz, the Canton Youth Symphony has grown to include three ensembles and is made up of students from nine counties in the Northeast Ohio area. Elementary through high school students occupy the three ensembles of the program. and enjoy the challenging and joyful educational experience that CYS creates. 

Whether you are 3 or 103, the Canton Symphony Orchestra wants you to learn more about music and how to bring it into your life.

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Discover the new sound when two different musical genres are combined into one unique concert experience. Hear Canton Symphony Orchestra musicians perform with some of the region’s most popular artists. Explore genres from Hip Hop, Alternative, Rock, to Bubble Grunge!

Find your niche, and discover new music that will crush the old idea of what going to an orchestra concert means.

History

Formed in 1937, the CSO gave its first concert on February 16, 1938 under the direction of Richard Oppenheim. Louis Lane, Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, became its second Music Director in 1949. His tenure initiated a period of several decades while George Szell was Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra, when the Cleveland Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor would systematically be appointed Music Director of the Canton Symphony. After George Szell’s death in 1971, Robert Marcellus was appointed Music Director, to be followed by Thomas Michalak, Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony, in 1976.  Gerhardt Zimmermann, then Associate Conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony, succeeded Michalak in 1980. On June 10, 2023, Gerhardt Zimmermann passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness. Following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, Zimmermann will be named music director laureate and Matthew Jenkins Jaroszewicz will succeed him as music director of the CSO.

The Canton Youth Symphony was founded in 1961, followed by the formation of The Symphony League of Canton in 1963 and the Canton Symphony Chorus in 1983. Now in its 86th Season, the Canton Symphony is a fully professional ensemble, and all of its members are members of the American Federation of Musicians. Their wages and working conditions are governed by a contract negotiated with Local 111 of the American Federation of Musicians. 

In fulfillment of its mission, the Orchestra has provided educational programs to the Greater Stark County region since 1971. Supported by a larger education staff than any other Stark County arts organization, all programs are aligned with national and state curriculum standards, including the in English, language arts, math, science, social studies, visual arts and music.