Historical Timeline - 1960s – Canton Symphony Orchestra

History of Canton Symphony Orchestra

Enjoy this collected archive of past events of our great organization. It spans every decade since we were founded, and we will continue to add to it as we organize our physical archives.

If you have something to contribute, please email nmaslyk@cantonsymphony.org

1930s

1960s

1961

Tea and Symphony

The CSO’s Women’s Committee of over 100 members gathered one Tuesday afternoon for tea to support the symphony.

1961

The Canton Youth Symphony is founded

The Canton Youth Symphony was founded to give young students the experience of playing in a full orchestra.

As a graduate of the Peabody Institute Conservatory of Music, the assistant conductor of the Canton Symphony, and a viola player, Margery Henke was named its first conductor.

1961

Michael Charry is named Music Director

Born in New York City, Charry studied piano and oboe at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and received Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in orchestral conducting from the Juilliard School of Music in the class of Jean Morel. His other conducting teachers were Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt in Germany and Pierre Monteux at his school for conductors in Maine. For nine years, Charry was assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell, whose biography he has written (published by the University of Illinois Press in 2011).

May 2, 1962

CSO’s 25th Anniversary photo

1963

The Symphony League of Canton is founded to support education and outreach

A Women’s Committee was founded in 1963 to provide service and fund-raising support for the orchestra. It is known today as the Symphony League of Canton. The League provides docents for the orchestra’s educational programs, ushers for its concerts, and fundraising for
the orchestra.

January 22, 1964

Famed Pianist,Vera Franceschi, performs for the CSO

Originally from San Francisco, the American pianist Vera Franceschi graduated from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. Franceschi went on to perform as a soloist for some of the world’s most prominent orchestras including the New York philharmonic, Paris National Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfonica of Madrid.

1967

Young People’s Concerts begin

Young People’s Concerts were initiated in 1967 as part of the orchestra’s educational program, bringing classical music to children in grades 3-5. The pilot concert became a success for over 2,200 students.

December 9, 1968

Symphony Ball

The CSO’s Women’s committee hosted a Ball and Dejeuner Royale at the Onesto Hotel to raise funds for the Orchestra.

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Canton, Ohio 44708

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