COMMUNITY OUTREACH

At the CSO, we believe that an orchestra should reflect its community, respond to its community, and create community. For that reason, community outreach is an integral part of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra’s mission.

The CSO contributes to the Cambridge community in the following ways:

SPOTLIGHT PARTNERS

To honor the role that many other local nonprofits play in assisting underserved populations, we feature a Spotlight Partner at many of our concerts: a local organization (musically affiliated or not) that is doing good, admirable work in the community.

ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS

The CSO has pursued a number of artistic collaborations over the years in order to joyfully and equitably bring great classical music to Cambridge and beyond. Collaborations include: an annual concert at Perkins School for the Blind (Watertown, MA) and a side-by-side performance with Perkins students at our Holiday Pops concerts; new music commissions; vocal collaborations with the New England Conservatory Preparatory School; and dynamic partnerships with City Ballet of Boston.

FREE CONCERTS

As part of CSO’s community outreach efforts, CSO performs a free Pops on the Lawn concert every June in Cambridge’s Danehy Park, and also hosts a handful of free chamber music concerts each season.

We work with local schools and organizations like Cambridge’s Transition House and Science Club for Girls to provide free tickets to youth and community members in need.

As part of the EBT Card to Culture Program, the CSO also offers discounted admission for Massachusetts EBT cardholders. This discount program is offered in collaboration with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Department of Transitional Assistance.