Classical Saturday Series Package
Including six concerts, this series combines beloved music, world-renowned performers, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra — plus a Resident Artist Chamber Music Series that offers a rare chance to hear CSO musicians featured in the more intimate setting of Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall.
Into the Music Series Package
A series of five concerts performed without an intermission where the conductor offers insights and musings before each piece.
Russian Festival Package
Embrace the best of Russian music with this three-concert Russian Festival from the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
Chautauqua Institution is pleased to announce the selection of Rossen Milanov as the ninth music director of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. As music director, Milanov will serve as the principal conductor and artistic director of the CSO and as an advocate for the orchestra and the classical arts within and beyond the CHQ community.
The 49-year-old Bulgarian-born conductor will begin his responsibilities immediately in preparation for his inaugural summer of residency in 2015. His public debut will take place at the CSO’s season-opening performance on Thursday, July 2, 2015, and he will conduct 10 concerts in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons. “I am very excited and honored to be collaborating with the musicians of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, to catalyze the artistic growth, introduce new ideas, diversify the programming and connect with all of the CHQ community in a meaningful and inspiring way!” Milanov said.
The CSO is a professional orchestra that draws its membership from around the nation and around the world. It has grown from its original complement of 52 musicians to the current roster of 74 active members.
First Violins
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Brian Reagin, Mischakoff Taylor Concertmaster Chair |
Vahn Armstrong | Cheryl Bintz | Adrienne Finet |
![]() Ming Gao |
![]() Amanda Gates |
![]() David Hult |
![]() Olga D. Kaler |
![]() Liana Kirvan |
![]() Lenelle Morse |
![]() Erica Robinson |
![]() Anton Shelepov |
![]() Marian Tanau |
Second Violins
![]() Diane Bruce |
![]() Simon Lapointe |
![]() Barbara Berg |
![]() Margaret Cooper |
![]() Karen Lord-Powell |
![]() Gabriel Pegis |
![]() Jonathan Richards |
![]() Lara Sipols |
Violas
![]() Chris Fischer |
![]() Cynthia Frank |
![]() Connie Lorber |
![]() Kayleigh Miller |
![]() Karl Pedersen |
![]() Jennifer Stahl |
![]() Eva Stern |
Celli
![]() Jolyon Pegis |
![]() Lars Kirvan |
![]() Peter Anderegg |
![]() Daryl Goldberg |
![]() Igor Gefter |
![]() Jeffrey Szabo |
Bassi
![]() Owen Lee |
![]() David Rosi |
![]() Caitlyn Kamminga |
![]() Bernard Lieberman |
Flutes
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Richard Sherman, Rita and Dunbar VanDerveer Symphony Principal Chair for Flute |
Kathryn Levy (piccolo) |
Oboes
![]() Jan Eberle |
Clarinets
![]() Eli Eban |
![]() Dan Spitzer |
Bassoons
![]() Jeffrey Robinson |
![]() Ben Atherholt |
![]() Sean Gordon |
French Horns
![]() Roger Kaza |
![]() William Bernatis |
![]() Donna Dolson |
![]() Charles Waddell |
![]() Mark Robbins |
Trumpets
![]() Peter Lindblom |
![]() Leslie Linn |
Trombones
![]() John Marcellus |
![]() Eric Lindblom (bass) |
![]() Chris Wolf |
Tuba
![]() Frederick Boyd |
Percussion
![]() Brian Kushmaul |
![]() Thomas Blanchard |
![]() Pedro Fernandez |
Timpani
![]() Stuart Chafetz |
Harp
![]() Beth Robinson |
Enhance your symphony experience by becoming a member of Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra League.
Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra League
Music is such a big part of Chautauqua. Increase your fun and pleasure by being a member of Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra League. Only at Chautauqua can an audience member immerse themselves in the process of music making and all that goes with it. Have you ever had a question about an instrument, how a piece comes together as it does, why a musician chose their particular instrument, what the conductor’s intent was in their interpretation? At Chautauqua, you can find this out and more.
We welcome you, so come and enjoy the members-only picnic with the orchestra and Open Rehearsal at Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, meet the musicians, and have fun.
To join, please send your check payable to Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra League for $30 Family or $15 individual to P.O. Box 751, Chautauqua, NY 14722.
If you are interested in volunteering, please so indicate with your check. Volunteers are always welcome for membership, to assist at events, hospitality or as needed.
1874–1903
1874–1903
While Chautauqua Institution began in 1874 as a summer educational assembly for Sunday School teachers, it was intended from the start to include in due time scientific and broadly cultural subjects. But the rate of expansion surprised everyone. A home-reading program, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), launched in 1878, enrolled readers throughout the country. Schools of Languages and Music were set up in 1879 along with courses for public school teachers.
A School of Theology, almost totally a correspondence school, was chartered in 1881 to be followed by Chautauqua University in 1883, and a School of Liberal Arts in 1885. These were just some of the 19th century accomplishments of this popular mass educational movement, called The Chautauqua Movement.
Since the basic emphasis at Chautauqua was and is educational, the arts, including music, have been pursued in the context of education. Professional performances are presented by resident and guest artists, some of whom are also involved with teaching or master classes. Performances by younger professionals and by even younger talented students in the various schools (Dance, Music, Theater) give another expression of the educational work, while the overall music programming for Amphitheater concerts is designed not only to be balanced for the sake of the resident audience, but sufficiently expanded to offer new listening experiences. Thus, there develops naturally at Chautauqua a creative arts climate in which students find enhanced study conditions and the audiences find added selective enjoyment of the arts.