Support CBSO and Win:

Please help the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra WIN $10,000! The Great Canadian Giving Challenge, hosted by CanadaHelps, allows CBSO to win $10,000 from June 1st to June 30th. Every dollar donated enters CBSO for a chance to win—$1 equals one chance to win. The more we raise, the more chances our charity has to win on July 1st when one randomly selected ballot wins the $10,000 prize.

For every $10 donation, donors receive a chance to win prizes. For every donation to Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, we could win one of 2 prizes of $10,000.

Your support is vital to continue our impactful work. Donations to CBSO help us maintain our high artistic standards, provide opportunities for young and emerging musicians, and ensure that our performances remain accessible to all members of our community. Together, we can create a vibrant, inclusive, and musically enriched community. Thank you for considering a donation to the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.

Impact Statement for Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra

At Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), our mission is to provide an accessible, high-quality performance environment where committed volunteer musicians can shine under the direction of a professional conductor. Our mandate reflects our dedication to youth engagement, community integration, family inclusion, accessibility, and community building through music.

Youth Engagement: We offer young emerging musicians the chance to perform as soloists with a symphony orchestra, fostering a lifelong love of music. Our concerto competitions with the North York Music Festival and CCC Toronto International Music Festival spotlight these young talents, nurturing their artistic growth.

Community Integration: CBSO collaborates with local choirs, ballet, and dance groups, providing them with the unique opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra. Our partnerships with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s CANOO program, Guild Festival Theatre, Opera 5, and the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto help bring first-time orchestral experiences to diverse audiences, including New Canadians.

Family Inclusion: By offering free admission to children under 12, we promote symphony concerts as a family outing, making high-quality music accessible to the next generation.

Accessibility: We ensure our concerts are affordable and presented in local communities, allowing area residents to enjoy world-class performances close to home.

Community Building: Our performances aim to unite the community, delivering great music at a high artistic standard in an engaging and accessible forum for musicians and audience members.

Recent Highlights:

• Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Martin MacDonald, appointed in 2022, we have expanded our audience base and attracted diverse soloists.
• In 2023, we hosted a special concert for frontline healthcare workers, commemorating their tireless efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Our post-pandemic growth in 2023-2024 saw record attendance, with concerts focusing on Truth and Reconciliation, featuring Indigenous artists.
• A community open house and concert in March 2024, attended by over 800 people, partnered with local arts organizations, multicultural orchestras, and charities, enhancing community engagement.

Commitment to Inclusion: We acknowledge the crucial role of leading arts organizations in advocating for the arts and fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals can freely express themselves and their cultural identities.