1955:  A symphony is born

In 1955, a group of eight high school friends founded the Suburban Symphony Orchestra (SSO) to continue to develop as musicians and to share their passion with the surrounding community. By inviting friends to join them, SSO grew to 35 members by the end of the first season. Leo Esral, a classmate of the founding members, conducted for the first season in 1955. The first concerts were held in multiple locations throughout the Cleveland area, and after the tenth season, SSO found its current home at Beachwood High School

Year to date, SSO has only had three Music Directors:

1956-1979:  The Early Years and Robert Weiskopf 

In 1956, Robert Weiskopf was chosen to lead the orchestra. “Bob”, as the orchestra members knew him, was a graduate of Eastman School of Music and studied at Tanglewood. His marriage to an internationally famous pianist, Eunice Podis, coupled with his musical education, allowed Weiskopf to bring high musical standards and established strong connections to the professional musical world. In 1965, Bob instituted SSO’s Young Soloist Concerts, an opportunity for gifted high school students to perform their concerti with a symphony orchestra.. Bob was SSO’s Music Director until his untimely passing in early 1979.

1980-2018: The Middle Years and Martin Kessler

The 1979-1980 season featured four conductors who auditioned for the role of music director. In 1980, Martin Kessler was selected to lead the orchestra. Marty, who is a graduate of Harvard, expanded the orchestra’s repertoire and programmed adventurous concerts over the years . Programs ranged from full operas such as Bizet’s Carmen to Klezmer Folk Music to great orchestral/choral works including Mendelsohn’s Elijah to Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis  Dvorak’s Stabat Mater. In 1987, Marty initiated SSO’s “Operation Springboard” concerts to showcase emerging professionals such as Classical Guitarist Jason Vieaux. Martin Kessler retired from SSO in May 2018, after 38 years as Music Director, by celebrating the music of Leonard Bernstein with SSO and longtime musical friends, Soprano Marian Vogel and Choral Arts Cleveland at the historic Maltz Performing Arts Center.

2018 – Present: Today’s Orchestra and Domenico Boyagian

In the Fall of 2018, Domenico Boyagian, a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and several music institutions in Italy, became the third Music Director of SSO  after an extensive search. Domenico and the orchestra have performed many notable concerts since 2018, including the Faure Requiem, The Composer is Dead, student/artist collaborations with the Rainey Institute, and an uplifting Gospel Concert with the Cleveland Chorale. Since 2018, Domenico and SSO have performed the complete Beethoven Symphony cycle which culminated in a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Severance Music Center. Domenico initiated SSO’s annual summer concerts beginning in 2021, and continues to innovate and modernize the orchestra and its programming.