Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus Cultural Orchestra — Frequently Asked Questions
About the Program
What is Columbus Cultural Orchestra?
Columbus Cultural Orchestra (CCO) is a string orchestra program for violin, viola, cello, and bass students. We help musicians turn their talent into a real skill through ensemble rehearsals, concerts, and paid performance opportunities.
Who can join?
CCO is open to string orchestra students with at least one year of playing experience on violin, viola, cello, or bass.
Do students need to audition?
We do Assessments for new students. It’s not as stressful as an audition. Each new student needs to show us 1 solo and 1 scale.
Registration
When can we register?
Registration is open all season! New registrants can join at several points throughout the year. You'll simply attend the rehearsal tied to the registration window you sign up under.
What are the registration deadlines?
🍂 Fall: Registration closes 09/26/26 — attend the 10/19 rehearsal
❄️ Winter: Registration closes 11/7/26 — attend the 11/7 rehearsal
🌨️ Late Winter: Registration closes 1/9/27 — attend the 1/9 rehearsal
🌸 Spring: Registration closes 3/6/27 — attend the 3/6 rehearsal
What happens after I register?
Your student will attend their first rehearsal on the date tied to their registration window and join the ensemble from there.
Tuition & Payment
How much does it cost?
Tuition is $150 per semester.
Can I pay for the whole season at once?
Yes — a one-time payment of $450 covers the full season and can be paid via the website, cash, or check.
Can I set up automatic payments?
Yes, autopay is available through PayPal. Go to Settings → Payments → Automatic Payments, select Columbus Cultural Orchestra as the merchant, and follow the prompts to complete setup.
Are we charged during the summer?
No. CCO does not hold rehearsals or charge tuition in July and August. If you're on PayPal autopay, you'll need to manually pause payments for those two months using the same Settings → Payments → Automatic Payments path, then turn it back on when the season resumes.
Rehearsals, Pay & Gigs
Do students get paid?
Yes! Students are paid for every rehearsal, concert, and gig they attend.
How much do students earn?
$10 per rehearsal attended
Seasonal concerts pay $50 per student
Pay for the Black History Month Tour and other special gigs varies by venue
What if my student misses a rehearsal?
Students are only paid for rehearsals and concerts they attend. No worries if you miss a rehearsal, just give us a heads up. More than 1 missed rehearsal in a month means your student can do Practice Videos and still play in the concert. We understand busy schedules and balancing sports.
How do make-up videos work?
Email make-up videos to Robyn@ccomusic.org. For each missed rehearsal, submit 3 individual videos, each showing a 4–12 measure excerpt from a different song.
How are gigs assigned?
Gigs are offered based on rehearsal attendance — the more consistently a student attends, the more often they're considered for outside performance opportunities.
What if we need to cancel a confirmed gig?
Please give us at least 24 hours' notice. Backing out of a confirmed gig without notice may result in fewer gig opportunities in the future.
Practice Expectations
Do students need to practice at home?
Yes. Students are expected to practice their assigned music at home to stay prepared for rehearsals and perform confidently as a section.
