A Community of Musicians
Based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the Heights Chamber Orchestra is the musical home of nearly fifty musicians from across Greater Cleveland and beyond. Our members come from all walks of life, from university students and accomplished adult amateurs to professional musicians who make their living through music.
What brings us together is simple: we love to play.
HCO is a place to challenge yourself musically, discover new repertoire, and make music alongside people who share your passion. Whether you are an experienced orchestral player or a student looking for a place to grow, you’ll find a welcoming community of musicians who are excited to play together.
Music That Brings Us Together
Our goal is to celebrate music as rich and diverse as the communities our members call home. Each season, HCO presents five free concerts featuring a wide range of repertoire, from beloved classics to works by new and lesser-known composers.
Our concerts are about more than performing great music. They give our musicians a chance to share that music with the community and audiences a chance to experience live orchestral music close to home.
43 Years of Making Music
The Heights Chamber Orchestra is now in its 43rd season. The orchestra was founded by Cleveland Heights High School orchestra director Robert Bergantino, and six of our original members are still performing with HCO today.
For its first 28 seasons, HCO’s concertmaster was Gino Raffaelli, a member of the renowned Cleveland Orchestra. Over the years, the orchestra has had the privilege of working with conductors of national reputation, including John Ferritto, Kelly Corcoran, Anthony Addison, Mark Allen McCoy, and Carl Topilow.
Our soloists and guest conductors have been equally distinguished, including a top prize winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, members of the Cleveland Orchestra, graduate students affiliated with the Cleveland Institute of Music, and HCO’s own concertmasters and principal players.
Come Play With Us
HCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by grants, advertisers, and the generous donations of our members and supporters.
We rehearse Monday evenings from 7:30–9:30 p.m. in Cleveland Heights, with concerts typically held on Sunday afternoons at venues throughout the Heights area.
Interested in becoming part of the orchestra? We’d love to hear from you.