about us.

Founded in 1871 as the “University Orchestra,” the Cornell Orchestras is one of the oldest organizations on campus. Composed today of the Cornell Symphony Orchestra and the Cornell Chamber Orchestra, it was created by a community of students who sought to perform music for the enjoyment of the community. The ensembles are made of approximately 100 young musicians dedicated to performing a variety of repertoire that encompasses works from the baroque to the 21st century. The orchestras present seven to eight concerts a season, which include world premieres, performances with concerto competition winners, and the Annual Young Person’s concert.

The Cornell Orchestras tour domestically and internationally. These tours provide an opportunity for members to perform in world-class venues with top professional organizations and to engage with different communities. Recent international destinations include Taiwan, Argentina, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and Germany.

The orchestras have collaborated with world-class artists including Wynton Marsalis, Dawn Upshaw, Roberto Sierra, Leon Fleisher, Johannes Schlaefli, Larry Rachleff, and Steven Stucky, among others. The Cornell Orchestras have received multiple awards including the ASCAP prize in the Collegiate Division by the League of American Orchestras, and the 2023 American Prize in Orchestral Performance.