Many COS members and alumni have held and continue to hold principal seats in pre-college classes of major metropolitan music schools. Many have won honors and awards, including the Avery Fisher Prize, Naumburg Chamber Music Award, the Shostakovich Gold Medal, the Heckscher Foundation Scholarship, and the Young Musicians Concert Series coached by the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Players. COS students have also received local recognition by the Queens Symphony Young Soloists Awards, the Queen Teen Awards sponsored by New York Newsday, and the Queens Council on the Arts. COS' diverse population reflects the ethnic composition of its location. COS children attend public, private, and parochial schools.
Most children remain at COS for a period of years.
Whether or not they go on to careers in music, ensemble playing is an experience that helps them develop the habit of working hard while maintaining a balance of team spirit and pride in personal achievement, enhancing all aspects of their lives and enriching the lives of their families and communities. Alumni frequently return to visit the COS family, and inspire students with their energy, ambition, and generous spirit. Last Modified on 1999 Children's Orchestra Society. All rights reserved.