Cayuga Chamber Orchestra

The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, through its professional excellence, vibrant performances, community education, and passion for transformation through music, is devoted to fostering artistic life in the Ithaca and Finger Lakes regions of New York State. Founded in 1976, the CCO was designated as the “Official Orchestra of the City of Ithaca” and is honored to serve the community through our Orchestral Series, Chamber Music Series, special holiday and community events, an award-winning educational program in partnership with area schools, and a family series presented with the Tompkins County Public Library. Current Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth began her tenure with the 2016-17 Season. The CCO has been led by a number of esteemed conductors including Lanfranco Marcelletti, Kimbo Ishii, Carl St. Clair, Heichiiro Ohyama, and Pulitzer Prize winner Karel Husa. Guest artists have ranged from local talents to international artists such as Rachel Lampert, Steven Doane, Malcolm Bilson, Simone Dinnerstein, Steven Stull, Janet Galván, Jeffrey Swann, Edgar Meyer and Nathan Gunn. The CCO has worked with a number of composers including a collaboration with Roberto Sierra involving the Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club. A recent Composers Showcase initiative had composers submit scores, with four being chosen to be featured at subscription concerts. Each composer was brought to Ithaca for a short residency as part of this program to support the expansion of repertoire for chamber orchestra. The CCO can be heard on a CD of music by American composer Charles Bestor, which included a world premiere and found on YouTube in a 2018 live performance with bassist Edgar Meyer.