Contemporary Youth Orchestra


The Contemporary Youth Orchestra is the only youth orchestra in the United States dedicated to the study and performance of contemporary orchestral literature. The orchestra is in residence at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founding Music Director Liza Grossman and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra are the recipients of awards including the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, the Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement and the Sunshine Award from Young Audiences for excellence in arts education.
Since their founding in 1995, they have performed over 1000 world premieres, all with the composers present.
Each season, CYO commissions several new works, including a concerto that is performed by a local or nationally recognized soloist.
They have included well-known artists including the award winning Pacifica Quartet, Cleveland Orchestra members Richard King, Mark-Kay Fink, Richard Weiss, Jack Sutte, Steve Witser, Max Dimoff, Lynne Ramsey, Daniel Gilbert, Mike Garson, Valerie Naranjo, and Donna Lee.
CYO has collaborated with many composers including Joan Tower, Steve and Julie Bernstein, Jaz Coleman, Bernard Rands, Dmitri Tymoczko, Mark Mothersbaugh.

Music & Its Industry

Contemporary Youth Orchestra's annual series, 'Music And Its Industry' has been adding installments since 2007. The goal of this series is to expose the members to professional music industry experiences. CYO also performs educational outreach workshops as part of this program in which thousands of area children participate.
YearIndustryTitle
2007CartoonsTunes for Toons
2008FilmMovie Night
2009Live PerformanceBroadway!
2010TelevisionDon't Touch That Dial!
2011Children's MusicBrush Your Teeth
2012AnimationCartunestra
2013Singer/SongwriterMy Gift is My Song
2014BrandingThe Sound of Imagination
2015Movie ScoringThe Sound of Fear
2016Video Game SoundtracksPower Up!
2017Pee-wee's Big HolidayFull Feature Film
2018BroadwayCYO Loves Broadway

Rock the Orchestra

They are well known for their collaboration with rock artists. The orchestra's annual series 'Rock the Orchestra' features a different performer or band every year.
YearGuest ArtistShow Title
2003Graham NashClassical Nash
2004Jon AndersonSymphonic Song Cycle
2005Pat BenatarFire Away
2006StyxOne With Everything
2007VariousKashmir
2008VariousFarandole
2009Donnie Iris & The CruisersRock Fantastique
2010Jon AndersonState of Independence
2011Jefferson StarshipJefferson Starship & CYO
2012Blame SallyPass The Buddha
2013Bootsy CollinsPsychoticBumpSchool
2014Ben FoldsBen Folds & CYO
2015Graham NashGNASH
2016Tommy ShawSing for the Day!
2017Melissa EtheridgePulse
2018Kenny LogginsKenny Loggins & CYO
2019Jason MrazEverything is Sound

Their concerts have been recorded and televised on AXS TV, PBS, VH-1 Classic and Palladia. They can be heard on iTunes and seen on DVD and Blu-ray.

Alternative Press Music Awards

In 2014, CYO became the official orchestra of the Alternative Press Music Awards. The orchestra performed entrance and exit music for award winners and presenters, as well as performed with twenty one pilots, Machine Gun Kelly, Brendon Urie, and others.
In 2015, the group performed at the award ceremony taking place at Quicken Loans Arena and have added an 8-day education workshop called APeak in partnership with Alternative Press.