OUR STORY
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, distinguished by the designation of the “Official Orchestra of the City of Ithaca,” has been presenting exceptional live classical music to the region since 1976. The Orchestra was founded by Charles McCary when a group of local professional musicians debuted as the Finger Lakes Orchestra. The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has a strong commitment to serving its community in a variety of ways.
Karel Husa
Distinguished conductor and Pulitzer Prize winning composer Karel Husa became Music Director of the orchestra in 1977 and served until 1984. He led the CCO in over 50 performances including ballets, oratorios, commissioned works, premieres, and many of his own works. Husa reunited with the CCO at a Chamber Series concert when his Sonatina for Violin and Piano was featured during the CCO’s 30th Anniversary Season.
Carl St. Clair
From 1984 to 1986, the CCO was led by guest conductors while the organization searched for a new leader. In March 1986, the Board of Directors named Carl St. Clair as Music Director. Under the leadership of St. Clair, the CCO expanded its offerings from six to ten concerts per season. In 1987–88 the Chamber Music Series was added, and a new holiday event, Caroling by Candlelight, was introduced. St. Clair stepped down as Music Director in 1991, but continued on as Artistic Advisor while the search for his successor was launched.
Heiichiro Ohyama
During 1992–93, six finalists led full-orchestra concerts, and in May 1993, Heiichiro Ohyama became the CCO’s third Music Director. As a well-established and respected violinist, he performed in the CCO’s Chamber Music Series and continued to build on the orchestra’s growing success by attracting new musician members from an increasingly wider area. He brought in world-class soloists including Malcolm Bilson, Jeffrey Swann, and Max Levinson. During his five seasons, his efforts allowed the CCO to become an ensemble with a regional reach.
Kimbo Ishii
Music Director, Kimbo Ishii was the next to lead the CCO, and was on the podium to celebrate the CCO’s 25th and 30th anniversary seasons. Ishii was instrumental in working with local groups and artists in collaborative performances, including highly distinguished artists such as Steven Stucky, Rachel Lampert, Steven Doane, and the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble. Ishii’s final performance as Music Director for the CCO was in April of 2007, when he conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Bailey Hall with the Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club.
Lanfranco Marcelletti
In June of 2008, the CCO announced that Lanfranco Marcelletti would be taking the podium for the ’08–’09 Season as the next CCO Music Director. Maestro Marcelletti’s tenure brought a distinct diversification in repertoire and programming, including collaborations with several celebrated artists and distinguished local organizations and talents including Daniel Binelli and Polly Ferman, Eric Himy, the Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club, Roberto Sierra, Rachel Lampert, Janet Galván, UNYC, Steven Stull, Pablo Cohen, Annette Richards, Linda Case and more. In March 2011, Marcelletti conducted Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons to a sold-out house in a landmark production with the Hangar and Kitchen Theatres, Cornell University, and Lindsay Gilmour
Audiences and musicians alike have raved about the vitality he brought to the stage. His commitment to diversity in programming and expanding the CCO’s reach was demonstrated by two recording projects – a commercial CD of works (including a world premiere) by the esteemed American composer, Charles Bestor, and a concerto with acclaimed guitarist Pablo Cohen.
Cornelia Laemmli-Orth
Four finalists were selected to lead the Orchestral Series concerts during the 2015–2016 Season. At the conclusion of the season, Cornelia Laemmli Orth was chosen to be the next Music Director of the CCO, beginning with the 2016–2017 season. Orth’s tenure had a significant impact through the notable soloists she featured and her leadership of collaborative projects with other regional artists and local arts organizations, as an expanded way to serve Ithaca and the surrounding communities. Orth’s numerous community collaborations include a very memorable alliance with Opera Ithaca for a semi-staged production of La Bohème.
In addition to leading stellar masterworks concerts, Orth organized several of her signature Holiday Pops concerts, always including as many local partners as possible in an epic holiday celebration for the whole family. Under her leadership and encouragement, the CCO Youth Orchestra was founded in 2017 and continues to serve over 60 young symphonic musicians in the Ithaca area and beyond. Orth’s passion and enthusiasm elevated the already superb performances and endeared her to musicians and patrons.
Grant Cooper
Grant Cooper served as Interim Music Director for two seasons, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Cooper had collaborated with the CCO a number of times previously, both as guest conductor and commissioned composer. He remains especially passionate about creating works designed to introduce young audiences to the orchestra and has created a substantial body of works for this purpose, including Rumpelstiltzkin, a Cayuga Chamber Orchestra commission.
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Cooper was instrumental in leading the Orchestra through two exciting seasons during the Music Director Search. He was essential both on and off the podium, conducting all concerts in his first season, including a memorable side-by-side concert with the CCO and its Youth Orchestra, and a brilliant Handel's Messiah during his second season.
Cooper created the vision for the Beethoven and Beyond season programming (2023-24), designed to create an equal conducting opportunity for each of the four candidates. He also led key operations behind the scenes, such as holding much needed section string auditions, and overseeing and adjudicating the Youth Concerto Competition. His wry sense of humor and meticulous dedication to detail, together with his considerable experience as music director and conductor, and thoughtful approach to music making, drew in audience members and musicians alike.