History

For nearly six decades, the Cobb Symphony Orchestra has engaged audiences through imaginative programming, visionary leadership, and critically acclaimed performances. The standard of musicianship and artistry at every concert continues to be recognized and admired!

The 85 virtuoso musicians of the CSO are dedicated professionals throughout the community! Since the CSO's founding in 1951 accomplished musicians have come here to share their musical gifts with our audiences. The Cobb Symphony Orchestra had its beginnings in the music room of the home of Arthur F. Moor at 383 Church Street in Marietta.  The Marietta Music Club's Mrs. Howard Miller is credited for the promotion of the Marietta Concert Orchestra.  This group later became the Marietta Symphony and is now the Cobb Symphony Orchestra.  One of the members of the Marietta Music Club, Mrs. Elizabeth Moor Tomlinson, so loved the orchestra that upon her death she bequeathed $50,000 to the Cobb Symphony Orchestra.  Her brother, Mr. Ralph C. Moor, continues to support the CSO in his sister's name.

The quality of the Orchestra's performances has steadily increased over the years, due to the dedication and talent of its member musicians and that of Betty Shipman Bennett who served as the CSO’s conductor from 1955 until her retirement in 1989. Ms. Bennett developed a great orchestra that enabled her successor, Steven Byess, to attract other local talented musicians to the CSO. During his ten years as the Music Director, he expanded the number of professional musicians and continued to raise the artistic standards of the orchestra.

July 1, 2004, marked the official beginning of Michael Alexander’s leadership of the Cobb Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Alexander brings with him a whole host of skills as an accomplished conductor, as well as an enthusiastic spirit that enables him to bring out the very best in the CSO musicians. His goal is to break down the barriers to classical music by providing an audience-friendly atmosphere and programming.

The 07-08 CSO seasons plays host to a plethora of musical offerings including the Master Works Series, Tiny Tots Series, Family Concerts, CSO JAZZ!, the CSO Chorus, the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra –a resident youth orchestra with over 200 students from 10 counties – and an In-School Residency project, for which the CSO was recently named a partner in Education at Hickory Hills Elementary.

The Cobb Symphony Orchestra’s objective is to ensure artistic excellence in a diverse community that takes pride in the Orchestra’s artistic success and feels a sense of ownership for the Orchestra. The Cobb Symphony is further dedicated to becoming a catalyst for community collaborations and for lifelong learning, using technology and other means to broaden the musical experience of current and future audiences.