Our Mission
Our mission: We seek to foster a culturally vibrant community through collaborative, educational, and representative orchestral music-making.
What is “Collaborative”?
Collaborative music-making brings us together with those who have skills, perspectives, and experiences that we don’t have - it means challenging genre, telling untold stories, and working with non-orchestral musicians and even non-musicians altogether to make powerful experiences for our audience.
Our production of Blind Injustice involved partnering with Opera Theatre of the Rockies and the Korey Wise Innocence Project, to tell the true story of six people who were incarcerated for crimes they did not commit, before being freed by the Ohio Innocence Project.
What is “Educational”?
Educational music-making ensures that the next generation of music-makers have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. That means partnering with schools to offer educational programming, creating competitions for young students to push themselves, and providing discounts for students, children, and teachers.
We host annual educational events like Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza, as well as instrument petting zoos where students can make their first sounds on a wide variety of instruments. To learn more about our youth competitions, click here, and to see more of our educational programming, click here.
What is “Representative”?
Representative music-making means that the art we create and the people we create it with should be a good representation of our entire community - that means pursuing diversity on our stage, seeking out stories that matter to Colorado Springs, and trying to reach and welcome as many people as we can through our art.
Glory Denied was an opera telling the story of Col. Jim Thompson - America’s longest-held prisoner of war. We pursued project, in collaboration with the US Air Force Academy, not just because it is incredible art, but also because of what we knew that story would mean to the widespread veterans’ community in Colorado Springs.
Our History. And Our Future.
In 1981, a group of retired professional and amateur musicians in the Pikes Peak region founded the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs - and in 1983, they performed their first concert. For the first decade, the group was primarily dedicated to its musician-members. Concerts focused on the musical explorations of the players and the enjoyment of families and friends. From the beginning, the orchestra embodied out-of-the-box repertoire and creative programming. As the community embraced the niche being carved by the COS, members looked to the future, creating by-laws and gaining 501(c)(3) status in 1997. The first Board of Trustees was formed solely of orchestra members, the budget was small but grew, and the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs found itself an integral part of life for local musicians and the community.
In 1996, the COS hired Thomas Wilson as its Music Director. Under his experienced guidance, the organization began performing even more interesting and challenging works, continuing the advancement of the ensemble’s ability and quality. Simultaneously, the Board of Trustees turned to the Colorado Springs community for new members, looking to draw experience and expertise in fields beyond the musical realm onto the orchestra’s governing body. Step by step, the COS has evolved from a member-owned and governed ensemble into what it is today: The premiere chamber ensemble serving the region through innovative, educational and collaborative concerts.
Today, the COS offers a six-concert subscriber series, in multiple locations around Colorado Springs. As part of its focus on community, COS concerts frequently showcase local soloists and composers; and, to further its mission of supporting new music, the COS regularly premieres new works. In addition, the COS engages in collaborative performances with various community arts organizations, such as the Colorado Springs Conservatory, Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble, Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Ormao Dance Company, Pikes Peak Library, Taylor Memorial Series, and more.