The Carroll Symphony Orchestra was established in 2002 through a grant, secured by State House Representative Tracy Stallings, from the State of Georgia General Appropriations budget.  The Carroll County Board of Commissioners officially formed the Carroll Symphony Orchestra under the Carroll Tomorrow umbrella and gave Terry Lowry the task of forming the Board of Directors, selecting players and organizing the first performance, which took place on October 19, 2002, at the newly constructed Carrollton Cultural Arts Center. In the spring of 2003 the CSO Foundation Board of Directors convened and began its fundraising and marketing efforts.  In due time the CSO adopted by-laws, elected officers and successfully completed the process of becoming an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Since that time the CSO has performed regular masterwork series and family pops concerts and has developed an extensive Music Education Outreach program, which reaches thousands of students in the West Georgia area each school year.  
 
Since 2002, the CSO has presented over 300 performances.  The Carroll Symphony Orchestra season includes the Fourth of July Sounds of Liberty Concert with fireworks on the grounds of the Carrollton City School System, Discover Music Concerts for students, and Christmas with the CSO. It also includes performances by the Carroll Community Wind Ensemble at veteran’s events, schools, churches and nursing homes, and performances by the CSO sponsored chamber ensemble Atlanta by Six and by the Carrollton Jazz Orchestra. The Symphony also has performed with the Choirs of First Baptist Church, Carrollton Presbyterian Church, Carrollton First United Methodist Church,  the UWG Choral Program, the UWG Opera Workshop, Collegium Vocale of Decatur, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Griffin Choral Arts, and the Thomas A. Dorsey Festival and other community events.  
 
The CSO Symphony Guild, comprised of over one hundred individual donors and dozens of corporate sponsors. The CSO has also received grants from Alice H. Richards Fund, The Community Foundation of West Georgia, The Community Foundation of Atlanta, Carroll EMC, The Cole Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and the Warren and Ava Sewell Foundation. The CSO has also been the recipient of several generous anonymous donations.
 

The CSO has a three-part mission statement:

1    To enrich the lives of children through great music, education outreach programs, instrument instruction and the CSO Young Composer Competition

2.     To enhance the quality of life for all residents of West Georgia by serving as a cultural asses as well as an economic asset

3.    To promote the creation and performance of new music

In fulfillment of this mission, the Carroll Symphony Orchestra performs concerts and operates educational outreach programs throughout the year.
 

 

The Carroll Symphony Orchestra sponsors four performing ensembles: the Carroll Symphony Orchestra, the Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, the Carroll Community Wind Ensemble, and the chamber ensemble, Atlanta by Six.  The CSO also fulfills its mission through the CSO Music Academy, music education outreach programs in 52 schools, and the state-wide CSO Young Composer Competition.