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.

Next Concert

    Saturday 17 October 2009, 7:30pm, West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge

    Wagner Overture Die Meistersinger
    Rachmaninov Lohengrin Elsa’s Dream
    Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
    Dvorak Rusalka Song to the Moon
    Dvorak Symphony No 7 in D minor

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.