A Message from the President & CEO

Welcome to your CSO!

It is my honor to welcome you to this extraordinary evening of music! It’s a thrill for us to have North Carolina native and acclaimed singer-songwriter, Rhiannon Giddens, back in Charlotte this evening as the featured star of our Annual Gala — our first, in-person, since 2019.

Tonight, you are all our special guests as we celebrate the Charlotte Symphony’s 91st year and our place in the incredible musical ecosystem of Charlotte’s diverse and everburgeoning arts scene. We’re proud to support and feature North Carolinian artists throughout this evening’s festivities.

It is also our privilege to use this night as an opportunity to honor the outstanding contributions of two very special community leaders and long-time advocates for the arts in North Carolina — Charles Bowman and Michael Marsicano — by bestowing upon them the CSO’s Exceptional Service to the Arts Award.

It’s such a joy for all of us at the Charlotte Symphony to be surrounded this evening by our many generous patrons. We simply could not do what we do without your support and we are deeply grateful. Thank you for being a part of this celebration and for being a part of the Charlotte Symphony family.

I hope you enjoy this spectacular evening!

David Fisk, President & CEO

The CSO is…MORE THAN WHAT’S ONSTAGE.

Did you know that the Charlotte Symphony is much more than what you see on the Belk and Knight Theater stages? Beyond the Classical, Pops, Family, and Movie Series in the theaters, we work to uplift, entertain, and educate our community through inclusive education programs and community performances.

• The CSO has three programs for young musicians: the Youth Orchestra, the Youth Philharmonic, and the Youth Ensemble. CSO musicians participate in coaching throughout the year, and even perform with the young musicians!

• Reaching approximately 15,000 students each season, we also have extensive school programs, including Project Harmony, “Music and the Holocaust,” and “One Musical Family” Education Concerts.

• We perform throughout the region, from community parks and schools to breweries, senior care centers, and places of worship all season long.