Charleston Symphony Orchestra
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1918 but did not perform publically until 1936. Early conductors included J. Albert Frecht, Tony Hadgi, Don Mills, and Lucien DeGroote. In the late 1970's the Orchestra emerged as a professional organization with the employment of a small core of full-time, conservatory-trained first chair players, and it achieved "Metropolitan" status in the American Symphony Orchestra League, being the only orchestra in the state at that time to do so.
The orchestra has continued to serve its community with its home at the Gaillard Auditorium for its annual season, but the CSO also performs throughout the community, in schools, with Pops concerts in parks, on the USS Yorktown, and at the U.S. Custom House. David Stahl was chosen as Music Director in 1984 and since that time has built the Orchestra into one of the leading arts organizations in the Southeast. Over his tenure, Maestro Stahl has brought world-famous guest artists, extended the subscription series to include Masterworks, Chamber Orchestra, Light & Lively, Downtown Pops and the First Union Sunday Family Series.
To visit the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Web Page click on: http://www.charlestonsymphony.com/