Cleveland Chamber Symphony

{{short description|American chamber orchestra in Cleveland, Ohio}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox orchestra | name = Cleveland Chamber Symphony | type = [[Orchestra]] | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | short_name = CCS  | image = | caption = | alt = | former_name =  | founded = 1980 | disbanded =  | later_name =  | location =  | concert_hall = Gamble Auditorium, [[Baldwin-Wallace University]] | principal_conductor = | music_director = Steven Smith | concertmaster = | website = {{URL|https://ClevelandChamberSymphony.org|ClevelandChamberSymphony.org}} | logo = }} [[File:Cleveland Chamber Symphony 4-09-2006.jpg|thumb|The Cleveland Chamber Symphony preparing to perform.]]

The '''Cleveland Chamber Symphony''' (CCS) is an American chamber orchestra based in [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]], specializing in the performance of [[contemporary classical music]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Chamber Symphony |url=http://clevelandchambersymphony.org/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Cleveland Chamber Symphony |language=en-US}}</ref> Since its founding, the CCS has premiered more than 200 works. The ensemble is affiliated with the [[Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music]].

== History == The Cleveland Chamber Symphony was founded in 1980<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical |url=https://clevelandchambersymphony.org/cleveland-chamber-symphony-historical#:~:text=The%20Cleveland%20Chamber%20Symphony%20has%20been%20around%20since%201980. |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Cleveland Chamber Symphony |language=en-US}}</ref> by [[composer]] Edwin London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant Segall |first=The Plain Dealer |date=2013-01-31 |title=Edwin W. London created the Cleveland Chamber Symphony |url=https://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/2013/01/edwin_w_london_created_the_cle.html |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://clevelandchambersymphony.org/about#:~:text=under%20the%20founding%20leadership%2C%20Dr.%20Edwin%20London |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Cleveland Chamber Symphony |language=en-US}}</ref> Under his direction, the ensemble performed, recorded, and commissioned contemporary orchestral works, primarily by American composers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Cleveland Chamber Symphony |url=https://clevelandchambersymphony.org/about }}</ref>

Performances by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony have taken place at [[Cleveland State University]], the [[Cleveland Museum of Art]], [[Trinity Cathedral (Cleveland, Ohio)|Trinity Cathedral]], [[Public Hall (Cleveland)|Public Hall]], [[Karamu House]], Liberty Hill Baptist Church, [[Old Stone Church (Cleveland, Ohio)|Old Stone Church]], and [[John Carroll University]]. The ensemble also performed in communities adjacent to [[Cuyahoga County]] and throughout the Midwest.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://coolcleveland.com/2016/02/cleveland-chamber-symphony-spearheads-third-annual-neosonicfest/| title=Neosonic fest}}</ref>

The CCS has commissioned and performed works by national and international composers, who have often been invited to serve as guest conductors and educators. Following a national tour, the CCS performed [[Bernard Rands]]' ''Canti Trilogy'' at [[Harvard University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Fromm Players at Harvard |url=https://frommfoundation.fas.harvard.edu/history-fromm-players-at-harvard |website=Fromm Music Foundation |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=April 6, 2025}}</ref>

In 2007, the group won a [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra)|Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance]] for its recording of [[Olivier Messiaen]]'s ''[[Oiseaux exotiques]],'' conducted by [[John McLaughlin Williams]] with pianist [[Angelin Chang]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=49th Annual GRAMMY Awards {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/awards/49th-annual-grammy-awards |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=grammy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=7 December 2006 |title=49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/49th-annual-grammy-awards-nominee-list/ |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=CBS News}}</ref>

The current [[music director]] of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony is Steven Smith, who has served as the symphony's director since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Director Steven Smith |url=https://clevelandchambersymphony.org/about/music-director-steven-smith |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Cleveland Chamber Symphony |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CLASSES |url=https://www.stevensmithconductor.com/programs-repertoire#:~:text=Cleveland%20Orchestra%20(selected) |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.stevensmithconductor.com}}</ref>

Originally formed at [[Cleveland State University]], the CCS is now based at the Cleveland Music School Settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} The Music Settlement |url=https://www.themusicsettlement.org/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.themusicsettlement.org |language=en}}</ref> The ensemble sponsors an annual concert highlighting student compositions, titled the "Young and Emerging Composers Concert."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Young & Emerging Composers – Cleveland Chamber Symphony |url=https://clevelandchambersymphony.org/emerging |access-date=2024-12-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Select recordings == ''''' Sound Encounters I '''''(GM 2039)

# [[Libby Larsen]]: What the Monster Saw<ref>{{Cite web |last=Out |first=Bust |title=What The Monster Saw |url=https://libbylarsen.com/works/what-the-monster-saw/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Libby Larsen |language=en}}</ref> # [[Salvatore Martirano]]: LON/dons - [[Howie Smith]], saxophone<ref>{{Citation |title=Cleveland Chamber Symphony / Libby Larsen, Salvatore Martirano, Bernard Rands, Roger Reynolds, Edwin London - Sound Encounters |date=1993 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10900406-Cleveland-Chamber-Symphony-Libby-Larsen-Salvatore-Martirano-Bernard-Rands-Roger-Reynolds-Edwin-Londo |access-date=2025-05-28 |language=en}}</ref> # [[Bernard Rands]]: London Serenade # [[Roger Reynolds]]: The Dream of the Infinite Rooms - Regina Mushabac, cello

''''' The New American Scene '''''([[Albany Records]], Troy 298)<ref>{{Citation |title=Cleveland Chamber Symphony / Edwin London , Conductor – Edwin London • John Eaton • Howie Smith • Ronald Perera - The New American Scene |date=1998 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10929214-Cleveland-Chamber-Symphony-Edwin-London-Conductor-Edwin-London-John-Eaton-2-Howie-Smith-Ronald-Perer |access-date=2025-05-28 |language=en}}</ref>

# Ronald Perera: Music for Flute and Orchestra - William Wittig, flute # [[Howie Smith]]: Songs for the Children - Howie Smith, wind controller/alto saxophone # Edwin London: Una Novella Della Sera Primavera - Harry Sargous, oboe # [[John Eaton (pianist)|John Eaton]]: Songs of Desperation & Comfort - Nelda Nelson, mezzo-soprano

'''Cleveland Chamber Symphony Vol 6''' (TNC CD 1515)<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLEVELAND CHAMBER SYMPHONY, VOL. 6 - Classics Today |url=https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13580/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.classicstoday.com}}</ref>

# Danceanu: Chinonic, Op. 67 # Messiaen: Oiseaux Exotiques (Exotic Birds)- [[Angelin Chang]]- piano # [[Ligeti]]: Chamber Concerto for 13 Instrumentalists # [[Shostakovich]]: Concerto no. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 35- Angelin Chang, piano

== See also == * [[CityMusic Cleveland|City Music Cleveland]] * [[Cleveland Orchestra]] * [[Cleveland Philharmonic]] * [[Cleveland Women's Orchestra]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.clevelandchambersymphony.org/ }} * {{Discogs artist|Cleveland Chamber Symphony}} * [http://www.bruceduffie.com/london.html Interview with Edwin London] by Bruce Duffie, January 29, 1989

[[Category:American chamber orchestras]] [[Category:Contemporary classical music ensembles]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1980]] [[Category:Musical groups from Cleveland]] [[Category:1980 establishments in Ohio]] [[Category:Orchestras from Ohio]] [[Category:Albany Records artists]]