FAQs
General questions
While our friends at the Tivoli Theatre Foundation are renovating the Tivoli Theatre, the CSO is making its temporary home at the historic Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium. We are looking forward to returning to the Tivoli upon the completion of the renovations for the 24-25 Season (beginning Fall 2024). This timeline may be adjusted according to the speed of the renovation.
If you have lost your tickets or did not receive them, please contact the CSO Box Office:
423-267-8583 (Tu - Fr, 10 AM - 3 PM)
box.office@chattanoogasymphony.org
The CSO Box Office can verify your purchase and either regenerate your email tickets, or reprint them for pick up at Will Call.
Children are welcome and encouraged to attend all CSO concerts. Concerts typically last for 2 hours, with a 15-20 minute intermission approximately 45 minutes into the concert. Some concerts may be more appropriate for children, such as our CSO Family Concert or Home for the Holidays matinee. For most CSO performances, Student and Child tickets are just $10. For all performances in the First Horizon Foundation Pops Series, Student and Child tickets are 50% off the listed adult price.
Yes! Our major performance venues are ADA compliant. Please let the box office know when ordering tickets if you require special seating or are in a wheelchair so they can make the appropriate seating arrangement. Please see an usher or CSO staff member if you require extra assistance
Meter parking is available on the surrounding streets at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Meters are enforced by the Chattanooga Parking Authority Monday through Saturday between 8am & 6pm.
Please note: citations for parking in unlawful parking areas (bus zones, parking zones, yellow curb, double parking, no parking areas, handicap spaces, etc.) are enforceable 24 hours/7 days.
Republic Parking lots are located conveniently near Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium (McCallie Avenue parking lots).
For concerts at Chattanooga State, park in any campus lot.
For concerts at Volkswagen, there is a free, large parking lot in front of and to the left of the entrance.
Yes, Chattanooga has a progressive downtown public transit system with several options:
CARTA
There are bus stops near Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Take the #4 Bus to/from Downtown/Eastgate/Hamilton Place or take the #15 Bus to/from St. Elmo.
Bike Chattanooga
A station is located near Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium (at the corner of McCallie Ave. and Lindsay St.) To learn more about Bike Chattanooga visit bikechattanooga.com.
- Cadence Coffee Co. (7th Street)
- Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken (MLK Blvd.)
- The Honest Pint (Patten Pkwy.)
- Universal Joint (Georgia Ave.)
- Culture Coffee (Georgia Ave.)
- Shagri-La (7th Street)
- Chattanoogan
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
- Courtyard by Marriott
- DoubleTree by Hilton
- Hampton Inn & Suites
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Holiday Inn Express
- Hotel Bo
- Hotel Indigo Chattanooga
- Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
- Moxy Hotel
- Residence Inn by Marriott
- Read House
- SpringHill Suites on the Riverfront
- The Dwell Hotel
- The Westin Chattanooga
Nearby Bed & Breakfasts: Bluff View Inn, Mayor’s Mansion Inn
CSO performance times vary, but are about two hours long with at least one 20 minute intermission.
After purchasing a ticket and entering the performance hall or lobby, a greeter will give you a program book. Should you require a signature for a class, please ask a volunteer to help you find a CSO staff member who can sign for you after the concert.
Yes! The CSO employs 46 contract musicians and a variety of substitute musicians throughout the area, making the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera the largest provider of arts employment in the region.
Concert Etiquette
The Box Office at the Memorial opens 1 1/2 hours before the concert start time and the Box Office at other venues opens 1 hour before the concert start time. Doors open, typically, one hour prior to concert start time. If you need to buy a ticket, it's best to get there early so you can get the best seat. If you already have your ticket or need to pick it up at Will Call, arriving at least 30 minutes before showtime will give you plenty of time to find parking, avoid any lines, people watch, and browse through the program.
There is not a dress code for the CSO; come in something that makes you comfortable. Masterworks performances generally tend to be the most formal and people typically dress in "Sunday best" or business meeting attire. Pops, Volkswagen, and Chamber performances are a little more relaxed, with attire ranging from jeans to dresses and suits.
The Box Office remains open 30 minutes after the start of the program. If you are not seated by the time the Orchestra begins playing the program, you will have to wait until a break in the music or intermission to take your seat.
CSO musicians LOVE to hear people applauding. But, sometimes at a classical concert, there are times when you don’t applaud. For our Barnett & Company Masterworks concerts, people generally clap after the entire piece is done. There may be three or four “parts” or movements in each piece, but it’s best to wait until after the entire piece is performed and the conductor has dropped the baton. For Pops, Chamber, and Volkswagen concerts, applause depends on what was just played and any soloists. If in doubt, watch for the conductor to completely lower their arms and begin to acknowledge the orchestra. If still in doubt, wait until others are clapping and follow their lead!
Even the smallest sounds are amplified in a performance hall. Before the performance begins, please unwrap candy, turn down hearing aids and turn off all pagers, cell phones, beepers, and watch alarms. Photography and sound recordings are not permitted. While we hope you are excited to discuss the performance post-concert, we ask that you please refrain from holding conversations while a piece is being performed. Avoiding these and other distractions help create an environment in which the music can be heard and enjoyed by all. If you are a student and would like to take notes for your paper, please ask the box office or an usher to seat you close to the stage or towards the back of the hall so you can have some light to write.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, please contact:
box.office@chattanoogasymphony.org
423-267-8583 (Tu – Fr, 10 AM – 3 PM)