Welcome
The City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra (CCSO), formerly known as the Cambridge String Players, performs about six orchestral concerts a year, usually at the University Concert Hall in West Road, Cambridge.
The repertoire is based on music from the 18th Century to the present day, with occasional works for strings only and others for winds and percussion. The orchestra has a policy of supporting young and highly talented musicians by offering them the opportunity of appearing as a soloist with the orchestra. Tom Poster, Guy Johnston and Clare Hammond have all played recently with the CCSO.
History of CCSO
The City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra started life in 1973 as the Harston String Orchestra. Later, as a result of a change in venue, it became the Barton String Orchestra. In 2000 Leon Lovett took over as conductor and shortly afterwards, the orchestra changed its name to the Cambridge String Players. Under his baton, the orchestra has appeared regularly in West Road Concert Hall and in other venues around Cambridge. In addition to playing works for strings, the orchestra increasingly invited wind players to join it to perform works from the symphonic repertoire. Recognising this change of emphasis, the musicians decided that the orchestra needed a new name and in September 2008, it became the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra.
