Education and Community Engagement
The Charleston Symphony takes pride in presenting transformative educational programs tailored for both students and teachers. We aim to ignite inspiration, stimulate growth, and foster learning through the captivating world of music.
Our diverse CSO programs cater to a wide spectrum, starting from those magical first encounters with music for children, to providing dedicated guidance for the accomplished young instrumentalists of the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra. Rooted in the belief that education through music is a powerful force, we dedicate over $500,000 annually to our educational endeavors, enabling CSO musicians to interact with and impact the lives of numerous students across the Lowcountry.
As we embark on this season’s journey, the CSO remains committed to enhancing our community’s connection with music through robust educational initiatives. Our unwavering goal is to kindle the flames of curiosity, creativity, and passion within young minds, leaving an indelible mark of inspiration through the medium of music.
Young People’s Concert
The Charleston Symphony & the Gaillard Center presents LINK UP: The Orchestra Sings!
April 21 & 22, 2026 at 11:00am
Charleston Gaillard Center
$5 ticket / Free for Title I
In partnership with Carnegie Hall and the Gaillard Center, the Charleston Symphony presents Link Up: The Orchestra Sings! a music education program and concert for students in grades 3-5 on April 21 & 22, 2026 at the Gaillard Center. The nearly 3,000 Lowcountry students participating in this program will study the curriculum in class and then attend a highly engaging culminating concert where they sing and play recorders with the orchestra from their seats. This concert sells out each season with students from 25 schools attending this rich musical experience. All registered teachers participate in a district-accredited professional development workshop to dive into the Orchestra Sings curriculum!
Friday, October 10, 2025, 6-7pm at the Gaillard Center
The Orchestra Sings! program includes:
- LINK UP resources for students
- LINK UP curriculum guide for teachers, featuring lessons on singing, playing the recording, reading and annotating music, and composing and improvising
- Professional development session for participating teachers
- Access to Carnegie Hall’s online resource center with additional lessons & resources
- Cabaniss: Come to Play
- Dvorak: New World Symphony
- Beethoven: Ode to Joy
- Papoulis: Oye
- Stravinsky: Finale from The Firebird Suite
- Esmail: Ram Tori Maya
- Traditional arr. Joachim: We Shall Not Be Moved
To explore the Link Up curriculum and resources, click the link below!
SIGN UP FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT TODAY!
Popular with both teachers and students, our performances:
- Eliminate all barriers of access, affordability, and transportation.
- Foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of instrumental music.
- Teach students about the mechanics of individual instruments.
- Introduce students to select pieces of classical music.
- Teach students musical and instrument terminology.
- Provide a more intimate setting for students to meet CSO musicians.
- Support music educators by bringing professional musicians into their schools.
Music in Schools
When CSO Musicians are not on stage, they are regularly performing for students in schools throughout the tri-county region. From chamber ensemble concerts to instrumental demonstrations, there are so many ways to bring music to your school!
Each year from September to April, small ensembles of CSO musicians travel to schools across the Lowcountry to perform FREE, 35 to 40-minute concerts for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
These performances relate to the following South Carolina Visual & Performing Arts College and Career-Ready artistic processes and standards for Instrumental Music:
- Artistic Processes: Responding– I can respond to musical ideas as a performer and listener.
- Anchor Standard 6: I can analyze music.
- Anchor Standard 7: I can evaluate music.
- Artistic Processes: Connecting– I can relate musical ideas to personal experiences, culture, history, and other disciplines.
- Anchor Standard 8: I can relate musical ideas to personal experiences, culture, and history.
- Anchor Standard 9: I can relate music to other arts disciplines, other content areas, and career path choices.
Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestras
The Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestras (CSYO) is one of the leading youth orchestra programs in the state of South Carolina. Affiliated with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO), the youth orchestra program currently holds two orchestras: the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO) and the Charleston Symphony Youth Sinfonietta (CSYS). We serve young musicians from throughout the Lowcountry which include Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.
For more information, please contact Education and Community Engagement Coordinator, RJ Grant at rjgrant@charlestonsymphony.org
Charleston Symphony Fellowship
The Charleston Symphony Fellowship is a program for graduate and/or post-graduate musicians and administrators designed to support and promote the future of orchestral musicians and arts administrators. The two-year fellowship consists of two Executive Fellows and five Orchestral fellows who are selected to work with the symphony’s administrative staff and perform as part of the CSO.
Since the fellowship’s founding in August 2021, it has been the Charleston Symphony’s avenue of pursuit in directly addressing institutional barriers and issues of representation, by building a direct career pipeline. Throughout the program, fellows participate in a variety of enrichment workshops, mock auditions, and educational projects. These activities provide them with valuable professional development opportunities and help them gain in-depth experience. For more information, please contact Mitsuko Flynn at mflynn@charlestonsymphony.org
Student Discounts
Students/Children ages 6-22 may take advantage of special discounts:
- $10 Student Rush tickets are available on the night of the concert! For just $10 you’ll have access to the best remaining seats in the house. Only valid through in-person purchases by visiting the Gaillard Center Ticket Office on concert nights.
- Half-Price tickets when purchased in advance. Contact the Charleston Symphony’s Director of Patron Services at (843) 723-7528. Call during regular business hours weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
- College students must show their valid college ID card.
*All discounts are subject to availability. Some concerts may be excluded.
With Appreciation
Special Thanks to Our Lead Education Funders
Renee and Andy Anderson
Anonymous
Mary Jo and Fred Armbrust
Mrs. Anne Bergan
The Bihun Family Foundation
BlueCross BlueShield Foundation of South Carolina
Charleston County
Charleston Symphony Orchestra League
Steve and Kathleen Coffman
Daniel Island Community Fund
Dr. Miriam DeAntonio
Dr. Gordon Dehler and Dr. Ann Welsh
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Mrs. Judith Green and Dr. Michael Fritz
David and Patricia Hannemann
Bruce J Heim Foundation
Tracy Jakobson
Kennard Kennedy Family Fund
Kite Foundation Fund and Nancye B. Starnes
The Loyola Foundation
Ms. Janine Luke
Mr. and Mrs. James C. Mabry
Mark Elliott Motley Foundation
Donald and Johanna Miller
Edward and Sonja Moran
Northern Lowcountry Regional Grants of the Coastal Community Foundation
Brian and Marie Olasov
Anne and Jon Olson
Amy Hattler Page
Gail E. Peeler and Henry Sawyer
Patrick Family Foundation
Publix Charities
Mr. and Mrs. G. Richard Query
Mindelle Seltzer and Robert Lovinger
Debra and Mitch Sonkin
South Carolina Arts Commission
The Speedwell Foundation
Town of Mount Pleasant
Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation