Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra

About

The Champaign-Urbana Symphony is the professional orchestra in residence at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mission

The mission of the CUSO is to enhance the quality of life in the community by providing symphonic music of the highest caliber through live performances and music education in the schools, the concert hall, and the community.

History

The Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra (CUSO) was conceived in 1959 by three people: two Unit 4 School District music teachers, Mrs. Martha Wendt, a violinist, and Gilbert Papp, a clarinetist, and popular TV weatherman, W. J. Roberts.

After careful planning—and much hard work—the “Champaign-Urbana Civic Symphony Orchestra” was founded on February 13, 1960 by its Board of Directors. The board was composed of the founders: Wendt, Papp (who served as treasurer) and Roberts (vice-president). They were joined by Joe Armstrong, John Dimond (president), Doris Dodds, H. I. Gelvin, Stanley Rahn (secretary), Donald Richmond, Verrollton Shaul, Audrey Stewart, Hugh Wales and Ruth Youngerman. Bernard Goodman, well-known as a member of the Walden String Quartet and as conductor of the University of Illinois student orchestra, accepted the position of conductor and the charge to assemble a local orchestra.