HomeOur Vision

Our Mission

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra League, Inc. (CSOL®) inspires the love of live music by providing major financial support for the Charleston Symphony, investing in talented musicians of all ages and advocating music appreciation throughout the Charleston community.

Our Vision

Inspire the love of music for generations to come
Keep the love of music alive with all ages and generations
Support musicians in all stages of their educational journey
Create awareness of and advocate for classical music in our community

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Who we are

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Current Members

CSOL Members as of June 30, 2026

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra League, Inc. (CSOL) is a committed group of volunteers who advocate for music education in the Lowcountry.

The CSOL is a multi-talented group of more than 300 dedicated volunteers whose purpose is to support the Charleston Symphony (CSO), encourage talented young musicians and inspire classical music lovers for generations to come. The CSOL has consistently been the largest institutional donor to the CSO and has contributed more than $6 million to the Symphony and $700,000 in scholarships in the last 20 years. The CSOL has actively advocated for music education and funding for the arts in the Lowcountry for over half a century.

The following is an excerpt from Notable Beginnings written by H. Greene for Charleston Magazine in 2012. It describes the history of orchestral music in Charleston, and how the orchestra and the CSOL has evolved over the centuries.

To know the history of our League, it helps to know a little history of orchestral music in Charleston. Charleston’s musical history goes back to times prior to the American Revolution, and the city had a 30- member orchestra as early as 1819. However, the Civil War silenced the music, and it wasn’t until 1919 that orchestral music returned to Charleston. Four dedicated women, Maude Winthrop Gibbon, Martha Laurens Patterson, Marie Baker, and Mary V. McBee formed the Charleston Musical Society. In 1925, a second voluntary orchestral organization was founded by Theodore Wichmann, who also served as music director of the public schools and recruited his graduates.

Both groups ultimately floundered due to the Great Depression and then the start of World War II (Wichmann’s volunteer musicians were called to active service). But they planted the seeds of our current Charleston Symphony. And in 1936, Maude Gibbon and Martha Patterson once again brought orchestral music to Charleston with the founding of a string symphony. That became a full orchestra by 1942 and gave its first concert on December 7th, 1942. The all-volunteer orchestra performed initially in the Dock St. Theatre, then Memminger Auditorium, and finally the Gaillard Auditorium. The 1960s saw the transformation to an orchestra of fully professional musicians who were conservatory-trained and paid for their services. The orchestra that began in 1919 in the dreams of a small group of visionary women and local talented volunteers had achieved full professional status.

From the beginning not all the volunteers were musicians in the orchestra. At least as far back as the early Dock Street Theatre concerts in the 1940s, there were volunteers behind the scenes. Usually wives, sisters, girlfriends, and mothers of the musicians, a strong group of ladies prepared post-concert receptions. They baked the dishes, arranged the flowers, and coaxed local retailers to provide liquor. They served as the indispensable hostesses of each concert.

Particularly successful at coaxing support from local retailers, they expanded their efforts to raise funds for the Symphony. As told by Anna Demos Latto, a veteran of those early days, the ladies would drop in on the specialty dress and shoe shops along King Street, seeking support. If they were met with resistance, they would very politely but primly remind the shop owner of the purchasing power they possessed. And according to Anna, it worked like magic. In 1964, as the Symphony transitioned to the fully professional and funding became even more important, this small group of women became a more official “Women’s Association” of the Symphony. The volunteers were ensuring that the music played on!

Changing our name, expanding our membership, heightening our impact. In 1983 the name was changed to the Charleston Symphony Orchestra league (CSOL®). This marked much more than a name change, however. The Women’s Association leaders had recognized that there were so many more volunteer supporters of the Symphony who would love to be involved, who had the energy and the talent to expand the voluntary services in many directions.

Since that time, the CSOL has grown to become a diverse membership of men and women, from all of the different neighborhoods that make up Greater Charleston. This expanded membership brings “newcomers” to Charleston together with “old timers” in pursuit of a cause that they cherish, making symphonic music accessible to all and educating talented youth through music scholarships. Over the years, League members have shared their talents and expertise by contributing thousands of hours in planning and producing a wide variety of special projects.

What we do

See the CSOL in action!

Keynotes Newsletter January 2026

Keynotes Newsletter July 2025

Keynotes Newsletter January 2025

Policies

CSOL CODE OF CONDUCT

Members of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League, Inc. (CSOL®) will abide by the Bylaws and Standing Rules of the Organization. They will uphold the reputation and good standing of the CSOL and will act with integrity, dignity, and respect towards others in their actions, including verbal, email, social media, and written communications. If at any time a member violates this Code of Conduct the President and Executive Board of Directors of the CSOL will have sole discretion to take action, including the termination of membership.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

The CSOL collects mailing and email address information primarily to inform its constituents about upcoming CSOL events and activities. We may also use our mailing and emailing lists, and phone numbers to solicit volunteers for events and financial support for the Charleston Symphony and CSOL music scholarship programs. We do not rent, share or sell mailing or email addresses, or phone numbers with any other organization.

CSOL PRIVACY POLICY

The CSOL is committed to protecting the privacy of our constituent and donor information regardless of where it resides.

CSOL 990 Tax Return (Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025)
990 Tax Form
CSOL bylaws
2026 CSOL Bylaws and Standing Rules Updated May 2026

CSOL 2025-2026 Budget Summary
2025-2026 Budget Summary

Inspiring the love of music
for generations to come