Our Mission
The Civic Symphony of Green Bay is a community of musicians committed to sustaining the wonder and beauty of symphonic music through live performances and artistic collaborations.
Vision: the symphony seeks to:
- Make symphonic music accessible through interactive and innovative experiences.
- Continue and expand educational opportunities.
- Encourage public support and gifts to sustain the goals of the orchestra.
Our History
Volunteer musicians of all ages play in the Civic Symphony of Green Bay. They are professional musicians and amateurs from all walks of life, drawn together by the love of great symphonic music and the desire to share it with others. Members from the Green Bay area are joined in the orchestra by others from many communities of Northeast Wisconsin. Under the baton of Seong-Kyung Graham, the orchestra typically offers a season of four concerts including a “family concert” that is also presented during the day for students from area schools.
The Civic Symphony of Green Bay was founded in 1995 by a committee headed by Gerald Mattern of the St. Norbert College music faculty. Mattern’s band members joined an existing community string ensemble to perform orchestral repertoire. With Mattern’s group as a nucleus and financial support from Green Bay businessman and musician Don Poh, the orchestra was born.
Rehearsals began that fall with a series of guest conductors. The musicians overwhelmingly chose Dr. Patrick Miles, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, as CSGB’s first conductor and artistic director. Under Miles, we presented our first public concert on January 27, 1996, in the Ralph Holter Auditorium of West High School.
Miles continued as conductor for 10 years, retiring after the 2004-05 season. Seong-Kyung Graham was appointed conductor and artistic director of the orchestra in 2005 after guest conducting the previous December. During Graham’s tenure, CSGB has performed a wide variety of repertoire and built a reputation for innovative collaboration with other area arts organizations. Our newest initiatives include presenting concerts in alternative venues such as the iconic Lambeau Field Atrium and an enormous Jet Air Group hangar at the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.
Great Music Green Bay
The Civic Symphony of Green Bay is part of a local arts coalition comprised of three other performing arts ensembles in the Green Bay area. Please follow Great Music Green Bay on Facebook for a calendar of events and other news.
Video Highlights
February 9, 2023 Library Presentation
November 14, 2021 Livestream Performance
2020/2021 Virtual Video Series:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these video series served as alternate programming for the orchestra’s 2020-21 season.
Spring 2021:
Movement I, Member Spotlights
Released March 2021 – See who we are! We’ll give you a glimpse of the diverse backgrounds our members, and they’ll share why they love contributing to the orchestra.
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Our Healthcare Workers |
Our Engineers |
Our Postal Workers |
|---|---|---|
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Our Teachers |
Movement II, Basic Skills
Released April / May 2021 – Learn what we know! Our orchestra members will walk you through some basic skills on their instruments.
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String Basics |
Flute Basics |
Trumpet Basics |
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Clarinet Basics |
Trombone Basics |
Movement III, Soloists & Ensembles
Released May / June 2021 – Enjoy what we do! Soloists and small ensembles comprised of the orchestra’s musicians will perform various works on the virtual stage.
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Horn Concerto |
Soprano Aria |
Organ Concerto |
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Fall 2020:
Movement I, Introduction
Released October 2020 – Meet our string specialists! They’ll explain their roles within the orchestra and perform excerpted material that outlines the skill of these talented local musicians.
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Principal Viola & Principal Cello |
Concertmaster & Principal Second Violin |
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Movement II, Education
Released November 2020 – Learn about the various orchestral instruments as our musicians walk the audience through what makes the varying sections of the orchestra unique.
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Orchestral Instruments & Flute |
Oboe & Bassoon |
Clarinet & French Horn |
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Trombone & Tuba |
Trumpet & Percussion |
Violin & Cello |
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Viola & String Bass |
Movement III, Showcase
Released December 2020 – Small ensembles comprised of the orchestra’s musicians will perform various works on the virtual stage.
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Woodwind Quintet |
Flute Duet |
Horn Quartet |
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Northwinds Quintet (Woodwind Quintet) |
Brass Quintet with Organ |