TCS provides music of the highest caliber while upending the traditional hierarchy of the orchestra. Our volunteer musicians rotate as featured soloists, conductors and composers based on an egalitarian system. We strive to provide a better ensemble model for musicians, introduce audiences to and foster the creation of contemporary orchestral music, and to reach out into the community to bring cla
ssical music to those who might not otherwise have access to it, specifically youth, seniors, and those who could not ordinarily afford or feel welcome to attend a professional classical concert. By adopting a suggested-donation approach for our performances TCS ensures that everyone in our vibrant and diverse local community is able, and feels welcome to enjoy our high-quality professional-level programming regardless of their ability to pay. The Chelsea Symphony has helped launch the careers of countless musicians, many of whom now hold positions with leading orchestras, conservatories, and universities across the globe. While providing professional development opportunities for our members, TCS performs inspiring and educational concerts. We also promote TCS to other organizations and venues to create opportunities for paid engagements for our musicians, including serving as the onscreen musicians for Amazon Prime’s critically acclaimed and Golden Globe award-winning show, Mozart in the Jungle. Many of our musician members are experienced or emerging music educators. TCS has created educational programs and formed alliances with the Harmony Program and the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights to inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers. Additionally, TCS has cultivated an ongoing relationship with the Hudson Guild, a neighborhood senior citizen’s agency, to whom we provide complimentary tickets to all our regular season performances. TCS introduces new audiences to obscure but significant works by performing unfamiliar pieces and contemporary works alongside ‘crowd’ and critical favorites. Our annual composition competition encourages the creation of new orchestral music by early career composers living in New York City. http://chelseasymphony.org
