Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is the largest professional orchestra in the South Island of New Zealand, based in the city of Christchurch. It was established in 1958 as the John Ritchie String Orchestra, due to the vision and encouragement of Christchurch composer John Ritchie. It was renamed the Christchurch Civic Orchestra four years later in 1962, and has used its current name since 1974.[1]

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
Short nameCSO
Former nameJohn Ritchie String Orchestra (1958–1962),
Christchurch Civic Orchestra (1962–1974)
Founded1958
LocationChristchurch, New Zealand
Concert hallChristchurch Town Hall
Principal conductorBenjamin Northey
Websitewww.cso.co.nz

Currently, the CSO has an established core of principal and tenured players with additional contracted casual players. The orchestra performs in over fifty concerts a year including performances for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Southern Opera, Christchurch City Council events, the National Concerto Competition and the Adam International Cello Festival and Competition. The CSO repertoire presents a wide range of classical, pops and contemporary musical styles. The orchestra also works with primary and secondary schools throughout the South Island with its outreach and education programme.[2] The Chief Conductor since 2015 is the Australian conductor Benjamin Northey.[3]

Bic Runga has recorded an album with the CSO, Live in Concert with the Christchurch Symphony.[4]

References
  1. Walls, Peter. "Orchestras – Regional orchestras". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  2. Rogers, Tom; Tipping, Simon (2008). Classical sparks: the story of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Dunmore Publishing. ISBN 9781877399220. OCLC 233177822.
  3. "New CSO chief conductor". The Big Idea. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  4. "Live in Concert: With the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra – Bic Runga". AllMusic. 2004. Retrieved 20 October 2019.


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