The Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra was founded in 1949 so that area string, wind, and percussion students could have the opportunity to perform in a full orchestra. At that time, there were just five or six area schools that offered any type of string instrumental music education. A group of Chattanooga Symphony musicians and teachers decided to combine string students from those schools, as well as some wind and percussion players, and form the Chattanooga Civic Training Orchestra. Over the next decade, the popularity of the Training Orchestra grew and it was known as one of the area’s top ensembles.

Since its founding, the Orchestra has gone through tremendous change, both thriving and waning under different boards of directors and conductors. In fact, at one point the Orchestra temporarily folded due to lack of interest and any substantial sponsorship. But in 1985, the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra decided to appoint a new Board of Directors for the Training Orchestra and to become actively involved in the promotion and sponsorship of this group. The name was then changed to the Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra to represent the fact that the Chattanooga Symphony was the official sponsor of this group. With these changes, community leaders and public arts councils recognized the importance of this ensemble, and once again, area music educators, patrons, and students began to support this orchestra. The CSOYO is now known as the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Youth Orchestras and has grown to four groups -- the Symphony, the Philharmonic, the Etude, and the Prelude Orchestras. Significant sponsors are the Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga and the Tennessee Arts Commission as well as Chattanooga area individuals, businesses and corporations.