Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the world’s great orchestras. Riccardo Muti, the orchestra’s distinguished tenth music director from 2010 until 2023, became Music Director Emeritus for Life at the beginning of the 2023–24 Season.

The history of the ensemble began in 1889, when Theodore Thomas, the leading conductor in America and a recognized music pioneer, was invited by Chicago businessman Charles Norman Fay to establish a symphony orchestra. Thomas’ aim to build a permanent orchestra of the highest quality was realized at the first concerts in October 1891 in the Auditorium Theatre. Thomas served as music director until his death in January 1905, just three weeks after the dedication of Orchestra Hall, the orchestra’s permanent home designed by Daniel Burnham.

The CSO’s other distinguished music directors include Frederick Stock, Désiré Defauw, Artur Rodzinski, Rafael Kubelík, Fritz Reiner, Jean Martinon, Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, and Riccardo Muti. In April 2024, Klaus Mäkelä was named the orchestra’s eleventh music director, and he will begin an initial five-year tenure as Zell Music Director with the 2027–28 Season. Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato is the CSO Artist-in-Residence for the 2025–26 Season.

The musicians of the CSO command a vast repertoire and annually perform more than 150 concerts, most at Symphony Center in Chicago, and, since 1936, at the Ravinia Festival in the summer. The CSO also tours nationally and internationally. Since its first tour to Canada in 1892, the orchestra has performed in 30 countries on five continents in 65 international tours.

Patrons around the globe enjoy weekly radio broadcasts of CSO concerts and recordings via the WFMT Radio Network and online at cso.org/radio. Launched in 2007, CSO Resound is the ensemble’s Grammy Award-winning independent record label, featuring live performances with world-class conductors and guest artists. Since 1916, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus have amassed an extensive discography that has earned 65 Grammy awards from the Recording Academy.

The CSO is part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, which includes the following entities. The Chicago Symphony Chorus, founded in 1957, is the country’s largest professional chorus. Founded during the 1919–20 season, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago is a training ensemble for emerging professionals with Ken-David Masur serving as its principal conductor. Symphony Center Presents features guest artists and ensembles across an expansive array of genres, including classical, jazz, world, and contemporary. The Negaunee Music Institute offers community and educational programs that annually engage more than 200,000 people of diverse ages and backgrounds throughout the Chicagoland area.

Thousands of patrons, volunteers, and donors—corporations, foundations, government agencies, and individuals—support the CSOA each year. The CSO’s music director position is endowed in perpetuity by a generous gift from Zell Family Foundation. The Negaunee Foundation provides generous support in perpetuity for the work of the Negaunee Music Institute.