Who We Are...

We are a serious music education program for serious musicians with 2 of the top Chicago youth orchestras and have been in existence for 32 years. Joseph Glymph, Music Director, seeking to offer opportunities to young artists interested in pursuing classical music, founded the orchestra in 1979. During this thirty-two-year period, the organization has grown from one orchestra made up of 17 players to two full symphony orchestras with over 190 musicians. In addition, the organization offers performance opportunities in chamber music, solo competitions, and contemporary music.

As we celebrate our 32nd Anniversary Season, the organization stands strong with two highly successful independent youth training orchestras: The Classical Symphony Orchestra for college-level and young adult musicians, and The Protégé Philharmonic for advanced junior high and high school level musicians.

Why We Exist...

The mission of the organization is to build the future of classical music through the cultivation of young artists, which includes orchestral training opportunities, chamber music ensembles, soloists and composers. The organization targets young artists from the entire Chicago metropolitan area and northwest Indiana ranging from junior high school through college, graduate students and young adults. The long-term value that our program provides includes:

Important training for future musicians;

Opportunity for evaluating career potential;

Development of future audiences;

An improved cultural climate through youth orchestra concerts.

The Conductor...

Joseph Glymph, Founder and Music Director, has a Bachelor's Degree and additional graduate studies in violin performance from Northern Illinois University, has been a member of the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, Concertmaster of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Guest Concertmaster of the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and Concertmaster of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra. With over 40 years of experience as a music educator, Maestro Glymph is nationally renown for his superb orchestra training of music students.

For over a decade, he was a faculty member of the internationally renown Sewanee Summer Music Center in Sewanee, Tennessee. With former students in orchestras around the world, he has long been considered one of the most prominent private teachers of violin, viola, and cello in the Chicago area where he has been on the faculties of The American Conservatory of Music, North Park University and Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.

Joseph Glymph is included in the 2002 Edition of "Who's Who of America's Teachers" and was awarded the 2001-02 Teacher Recognition Certificate from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts in appreciation for encouraging and supporting students who have been recognized for their exceptional artistic achievements.

The Classical Symphony Orchestra and The Protégé Philharmonic announce with great pride that Joseph Glymph, has been chosen to be Northern Illinois University's Outstanding Alumnus for 2007.

Where We Perform Our Concerts...

Classical and Protégé are very active members in the arts community in Chicago! In addition to performing a free concert series in Preston Bradley Hall at The Chicago Cultural Center (five annual concerts), they perform three showcase joint concerts in the Fall,  Spring Summer in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium at Northeastern Illinois University; and outreach concerts that go into the outlying communities. Weekly rehearsals for these concerts are held on Saturdays in Classical Symphony Hall and are open to the public.

Where Our Musicians Come From...

The Classical Symphony Orchestra and The Protégé Philharmonic serve a vast geographical area of 64 schools and 52 communities our members represent. Formal auditions are held twice a year for each Orchestra for the Fall and Summer Seasons.

Where They Go After...

The Classical Symphony Orchestra boasts many alumni playing in professional orchestras throughout the United States and abroad. The Protégé Philharmonic members win top music scholarships and performance awards at major universities throughout the United States.

What If They Don't make Music Their Career...

As Peggy Atkinson, Chairman, Youth Orchestra Division, Executive Committee of The American Symphony Orchestra League, so aptly states: "I truly believe one of the most valuable products of youth orchestras will be thousands of future citizens who will be the informed and interested audiences and patrons of The Orchestras of the future."