CIVIC ORCHESTRA OF TUCSON ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1975, the Civic Orchestra of Tucson is a 75-piece community orchestra presenting free concerts to residents of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Our accessible concerts enrich the cultural life of the greater Tucson area. Soloists are well-known musicians from Tucson and across the country as well as winners of our Young Artists’ Competition. Each year we partner with Dancing in the Streets Arizona by providing live orchestral music for one of their productions. In December 2019 we once again collaborated with them in two performances of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet. COT is dedicated to encouraging young musicians through innovative educational programs. At our Instrument Petting Zoos, children enjoy a hands-on musical experience as they hold and play a variety of instruments. COT also plays a critical role in cultivating local and statewide musical talent by sponsoring an annual Young Artists’ Competition. Now in its 36th year, the competition has expanded to four categories: winds and percussion, piano, strings, and ensembles. Each category is judged separately with both a junior and a senior division. The competition offers students a good introduction to the audition process and some winners are featured soloists in a COT concert.