Barbara Ozenbaugh-Goniotakis, executive director, on the Gateway Chamber Orchestra as part of the essay series “The Road to 250: Community Spirit in Action,” celebrating the history of unity in Clarksville ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
Since 2008, the Gateway Chamber Orchestra (GCO) has significantly contributed to civic life in Clarksville and the surrounding region. It has enriched the cultural landscape, fostered music education, strengthened community bonds, and pioneered innovative and accessible ways to experience the arts.
History of Gateway Chamber Orchestra
From its earliest days, the GCO has been dedicated to cultivating the next generation of music lovers and musicians through sustained educational outreach. One of its key programs is the Gateway Concert Experience, which brings GCO musicians directly into public school classrooms for hands-on learning. The students also receive free concert tickets to witness a professional performance firsthand, a practice that continues today. When in-person visits became impossible during the 2020-21 pandemic, the GCO adapted by creating “Magical Music & Timeless Tales,” a free video series for remote learning that paired classic children’s stories with music from diverse composers.
The GCO has become a cornerstone of community life by partnering with local organizations and creating programs that are inclusive of Clarksville’s diverse population. For example, in 2018-19, it established the “Sounds of Home Chorus,” a choral ensemble designed to engage active-duty military, veterans, and their families in creative expression, directly serving a critical part of the community that is home to Fort Campbell. The GCO also spotlights local talent, with its Winter Baroque performance in November featuring the Clarksville Children’s Chorus, and its presentation of The Nutcracker featuring dance performances by students from Classic Steps II, a local ballet studio.
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Additionally, the historic 2021-22 presentation of Osvaldo Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos featured local artists, enriching the community’s cultural pride. This innovation continued in 2025 with the release of La Pasión XR on the Steam gaming platform, which showcases volumetric and 360-stereo recordings for a fully immersive concert experience.
Gateway Chamber Orchestra’s current season
Our current concert season is under the direction of new Music Director Jacob Aaron Schnitzer and features our traditional favorites like Winterglow: A Baroque Celebration, along with new family-friendly concerts Homegrown Holidays, featuring the Clarksville Youth Orchestra and dancers from Classic Steps II in December, and Power Up: A Video Game Symphony in the spring. In addition, we will continue to bring music into local elementary schools in the spring, giving young students the opportunity to learn about and become involved in music.
By embracing its roles as an educator, collaborator and innovator, the Gateway Chamber Orchestra has become more than a musical ensemble; it has evolved into a key cultural institution that actively shapes and enhances the civic life of Clarksville and the Middle Tennessee region.
The Gateway Chamber Orchestra is funded completely on grants and donations. For more information, or to get involved, please visit our website at www.gatewaychamberorchestra.com.
Barbara Ozenbaugh-Goniotakis, CAE, CMP
| ROAD TO 250 SERIES:
- Celebration of nation’s 250th kicked off with visit from John Adams, Mercy Otis Warren
- Sons of American Revolution stands behind creation of strong, unified country
- Daughters of American Revolution keeps spirit of independence alive
- NAACP voice of conscience in an American community
- The Austin Peay belt: Generations across region part of APSU family
- Churches have shaped civic life for more than two centuries
- Cumberland Winds brings town and gown together for music, culture
- Journalism in Clarksville has merged competition with collaboration
- Central Civitan’s Lone Oak Picnic keeps cultural, political tradition alive
- Federation of Women’s Clubs pulled together for education, activism
- Community Concert Association brings quality music, education
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