Community Engagement

Our award winning Community Engagement programme delivers a wide range of exciting opportunities and experiences for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to engage with the CSO and enjoy live orchestral music.

In 2018, we will present more than 100 Community Engagement activities to more than 20,000 people throughout the South Island, including:

  • Lively interactive instrument demonstrations by ensembles of CSO musicians at pre, primary and high schools in and around Christchurch and throughout the South Island.
  • The CSO's acclaimed Karawhiua! Let's Play! residency programme.
  • CSO ensemble performances at retirement villages, libraries, and for community groups.
  • Interactive, lively performances of Compose Yourself for primary school students, encouraging student participation. 
  • Working with inmates at local prisons on music projects.

  • 2018 Secondary Schools Orchestra Festival +

    Information about the 2018 Secondary Schools Orchestra Festival will be available soon. 

  • CSO In Residence +

    Through our Karawhiua! Let's Play! residency programme we work intensively within a school, introducing music to the students and assisting them to create, develop and perform their own work in a public concert within their community. Each programme is designed specifically for the school to meet their individual needs and expectations. During the year this programme will take place in various schools around the Greater Christchurch area.

  • Ambassador Programme +

    Twenty-seven top young students from nine Christchurch high schools, selected by their Heads of Music, can attend CSO concerts for free. They will also receive a lesson from a principal player in the orchestra on their chosen instrument and have the opportunity to meet soloists and conductors. The aim is to expose young people to orchestral music, form relationships with them and develop their leadership potential. In addition Ambassadors select concerts they wish to promote within their school. They are able to invite fellow students to attend rehearsals as well as take part in exclusive behind the scenes tours and workshops for different aspects of the business such as production, sound and lighting.

  • Touring Programme +

    Our regional touring programme involves ensembles from the orchestra visiting kindergartens, primary, intermediate and high schools. They also present recitals in hospitals and rest homes as well as taking workshops and sectionals for local music groups including brass bands, jazz bands and orchestras. In addition to this our musicians also provide masterclasses and individual lessons. These week long tours usually culminate in a community concert featuring CSO musicians performing alongside local groups and musicians.

  • Educational resources +

    Kaleidoscope Colours - Taonga puoro resource