Clinton Symphony Orchestra of the Mohawk Valley, Inc.

The Mohawk Valley of Central New York has seen a recent decline in professional, classical, symphonic music programming. Our region is on the cusp of change and growth. The Clinton Symphony Orchestra of the Mohawk Valley, Inc. (aka the Clinton Symphony Orchestra, or CSO) seeks to be a part of a vibrant cultural community every growing area needs and deserves. Since the fall of 2011, there had not been a local professional symphony presenting concerts of classical music. Consequently, on June 3, 2014, local resident Dr. Roger Moore and Maestro Charles Schneider, Music Director for the Catskill Symphony and the Schenectady Symphony Orchestras, gathered a group of community leaders to engage in a conversation about forming a new professional symphony to serve the Mohawk Valley. The atmosphere at the meeting was positive and cautiously optimistic.

Shortly thereafter, a smaller group formed as a board of directors and organized a premier concert presented at the Clinton Central Schools Performing Arts Complex in Clinton, NY on December 14, 2014. It was then also decided that the orchestra would take its name from this state-of-the-art theatre and region the CSO serves. The concert attracted an enthusiastic audience of nearly 200. Charles Schneider, the group’s music director, served as conductor to a group of 44 local, professional musicians. The concert featured composer Ben Moore and pianist David Kim (both originally from Clinton).

Encouraged by this initial success, we added members to our core board of directors and presented two more highly successful concerts on April 10, 2015, and our most recent Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with soloists and chorus at the Clinton Central Schools Performing Arts Complex, on December 19, 2016. Plans are in the works for a spring or summer 2016 program.

Given the success these concerts and our continued growth, the board plans to continue with two-concert seasons until finances enable us to move on to a three-or-four-concert season. We plan to spend 100% of our time on programming, fundraising and education. The board is dedicated to financial prudence and in the future intends to move ahead with a strong fundraising program through grants, as well as through corporate and individual gifts. The CSO plans to engage, encourage and interest the youth of our community through education, performance opportunity and scholarships.