About SSO

The Student Symphony Orchestra of USC is a fully student-run orchestra at the University of Southern California. Its purpose is to enrich and enhance its surrounding community by promoting equity, accessibility, and innovation in collaborative music-making. In pursuit of this purpose, the organization keeps concerts free of charge to all audiences, strives to maintain inclusive membership policies, actively diversify its repertoire, and develops novel artistic initiatives.

SSO, formerly the Concerto Chamber Orchestra, comprises more than 100 music and non-music majors who are passionate about making music together. SSO always strives to achieve the highest musicianship possible and is also nowadays pushing the boundaries further in being pioneers of tomorrow. When the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting things worldwide, SSO made the transition from rehearsing at Schoenfeld Hall every Saturday to exploring the limits of creativity via the untapped waters of new media. In the time since, SSO has adjusted to new regulations and worked to return to in-person rehearsals and performances.

Shihan Jin, SSO Music Director (2022-2023): “SSO endows everyone in the USC community with a special opportunity to continue their passion and true love for music regardless of major, skill level, background, gender, race, or ethnicity. Beside promoting new music as SSO has always been doing, we also promote our own musicians by offering them abundant ways to show their talents. We want our musicians to enjoy their musical experience at USC and beyond.”

Adam Karelin, SSO Music Director (2019-2022): "As SSO has developed over the past decade, it has really found its place on campus: affording non-music majors and music majors the opportunity to come together regardless of skill level, and actively diversifying repertoire through innovating collaborative concert productions."

What was once a small chamber orchestra dedicated to featuring soloists and concertos has now grown into a true symphony orchestra. We hope you come join us on our adventure to making music a truly memorable and captivating experience for audiences both in person and via new media.