American orchestra founded in 1918, with Nicolai Sokoloff as conductor. Its home is Severance Hall (1931, cap. 2000) and it gives a summer season at Blossom Music Center (opened 1968), Cuyahoga Falls. Under George Szell (1946-70) the orchestra was enlarged, its season was expanded and it achieved international acclaim. Lorin Maazel has been music director (1972-82) and Christoph von Dohn?ínyi (1984-). Cleveland Orchestra Chorus was established in 1955; a children's chorus was formed in 1967.
