Civic Orchestra of Chicago 2023/24 Season

Join the Civic Orchestra of Chicago — the CSO’s prestigious training ensemble for early-career musicians — for extraordinary performances at Symphony Center and in communities across Chicago.

In one of its most ambitious and creative seasons to date, the Civic Orchestra will present an inspiring blend of contemporary works by diverse composers, pieces written by former CSO Mead Composers-in-Residence and familiar orchestral favorites. Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur leads three programs, and several recent Civic guest conductors make return engagements.

Explore the season below. Free tickets become available two weeks before each Civic Orchestra concert.

Civic at Symphony Center

Led by some of the world’s most renowned conductors, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago performs dynamic programs that explore themes through the pairing of monumental classics with contemporary masterworks.

October 23, 2023 - Symphonic Dances: Gaffigan Conducts Rachmaninov
November 20, 2023 - Natural Wonder: Muñoz Conducts Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony
January 8, 2024 - New World Perspectives: Masur Conducts Dvořák 9
February 12, 2024 - Fantastic Zoology: with Eighth Blackbird & González-Granados
February 24, 2024 - Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition Finals: Dickson Conducts
April 8, 2024 - Courage & Hope: Masur Conducts Prokofiev 5
April 29, 2024 - Chicago Youth in Music Festival Finale: Guerrero Conducts Shostakovich 4
June 3, 2024 - Civic & Ryan Opera Center: Kalb Conducts

Civic in the Community

Hear the Civic Orchestra in your neighborhood at one of these community venues throughout the city of Chicago.

November 19, 2023 - Natural Wonder: Muñoz Conducts Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony (Senn High School)
December 4, 2023 - Bach Marathon Finale: Masur Conducts (Fourth Presbyterian Church)
January 7, 2024 - New World Perspectives: Masur Conducts Dvořák 9 (South Shore Cultural Center)
March 11, 2024 - Celebrating Women Composers: Grams Conducts Montgomery, Brouwer and Price (Location TBA)
April 7, 2024 - Courage & Hope: Masur Conducts Prokofiev 5 (Kenwood Academy)

In addition, Civic Orchestra chamber ensembles will perform more than 16 concerts in neighborhood venues throughout the city. Check here in late fall for series details »

Civic Fellows Chamber Music

Be delighted and inspired by these contemporary chamber music concerts curated and performed by the Civic Fellows.

January 28, 2024 - Civic Fellows Chamber Concert (Buntrock Hall at Symphony Center)
May 10, 2024 - Civic Fellows Chamber Concert (Epiphany Center for the Arts)

Free tickets become available two weeks before each Civic Orchestra concert.

Meet the conductors

Ken-David Masur

Principal Conductor, Civic Orchestra of Chicago

The Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett Principal Conductor Chair

James Gaffigan

Conductor

Tito Muñoz

Conductor

Lina González-Granados

Conductor

Kyle Dickson

Conductor

Andrew Grams

Conductor

Giancarlo Guerrero

Conductor

Roberto Kalb

Conductor

Meet the guest artists

Chicago Symphony Chorus

Eighth Blackbird

Soloists

Members of International Contemporary Ensemble

Guest Artist

Douglas Ewart

Special Guest

Members of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Support Civic

Free tickets become available two weeks before each Civic Orchestra concert, but you can reserve tickets today with a donation! Civic donors receive reserved prime seating at any of the ensemble’s concerts in Orchestra Hall during the 2023/24 Season, as well as opportunities to build closer connections with Civic musicians. A gift to the Civic Orchestra supports the rigorous instruction that musicians receive throughout the season and helps to ensure that Civic performances are available to all audiences for free or at a minimal cost.

Make a gift

Learn more about the Civic Orchestra