The orchestra consists of 40-50 amateur players. We all get together in Cambridge with a view to playing music as a group in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
As a registered charity, the orchestra is funded primarily by subscriptions from its members, supplemented by donations from supporters and grants from the Cambridge City Council.
The ethos for concerts is to perform to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to hear live music in venues such as residential homes for the elderly, primary schools and local hospitals. We occasionally give public concerts in larger venues.
In past concerts, we have performed music from a wide range of genres including popular classical (such as Elgar, Saint-Saens), jazz (Ellington), light music (Binge, Coates), TV and radio themes (Blue Peter, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Blackadder), and shows (Bernstein and Rodgers) as well as contemporary composers such as Malcolm Arnold and William Walton. Most importantly, the orchestra has never lost sight of its original objective - that the joy of music is to entertain and to be entertained.
Guest soloists have performed at the CCO's concerts over the years, including the opera singer Ian Wallace, for many years the orchestra's President.
Our Musical Director is Suzanne Dexter-Mills. She joined us full time at the end of 2001.