The Contemporary Integrational Orchestra Project

Reaching the Erie Community through Mentorship and Excellence in Music Education in an Orchestral Setting For All

Winner of a 2025-2026 Lydia McCain Fund Next Steps Grant through Erie Arts & Culture

Our Mission Statement:  The Contemporary Integrational Orchestra Project (CIOP) is a nonprofit orchestral community that seeks to provide the enriching experience of playing in a string orchestra to people of all ages, all skill levels, and from all backgrounds.

Our Values:  The traditionally-held orchestral model is competitive, whereas the CIOP seeks to lessen the intimidation associated with playing in an orchestra by providing a uniquely NON-competitive model. We place less experienced players with more experienced players, which allows the less experienced player to safely grow and gain experience while also offering the more experienced player the opportunity to develop the art of mentorship. Instead of competing with other local orchestras, it is the mission of the CIOP to supplement the players with additional opportunity outside of the orchestras they are already involved with, while proactively forming strong relationships with the orchestral community at large and nurturing ALL musical education in Erie, PA. 

Our Story:  The Contemporary Integrational Orchestra Project (CIOP) was founded by violist Sally Santon in October 2016, and obtained 501(c)3 status in 2024. Weary of the competitive nature of other orchestral programs in the Erie community, Sally acted upon her desire to spread her love of music, specifically playing stringed instruments, to all members of the community. She founded this non-competitive, non-political, community-based orchestra, which is comprised of musicians of all playing levels, aged 12-80+. What makes CIOP utterly unique is our mission to help students of all ages, from all walks of life, learn the craft of playing a musical instrument while gaining valuable experience in an orchestral setting. We place professional-level musicians next to inexperienced learners, so the student can learn from a master. The incredible age gap of our membership allows different generations to learn from each other, becoming friends and building community as they work and learn together to make beautiful music. 

Why is CIOP Special?  Most orchestral programs require players to have an above-average skill level and years of playing experience. A player who is just learning their instrument is not likely to make the cut. CIOP is here to fill that gap, serving the community by creating a mentorship opportunity for newer players. We place newer players next to more learned players so they can gain experience in an orchestral setting while learning more about their instruments and developing their playing ability. We believe in the awesome power of music, and we believe that everyone, regardless of prior experience or ability to afford private lessons, should be able to participate in an orchestra. Learning to play an instrument at any age has been proven to stimulate the brain to improve cognitive function and memory, reduce stress while learning discipline, and increase creativity, coordination, and confidence. Playing in an orchestra builds community as players learn teamwork, increases players' skill, reduces loneliness and depression by developing new friendships and honing social skills, and may even reduce cortisol levels, improving the players' physical and mental health!

Please Join Us!  Our next concert will take place on Saturday, October 25, at 7:00 pm at the H.O. Hirt Auditorium in the Blasco Library. This concert, titled “8-bit,” will feature new arrangements of familiar classic video game themes, arranged by a local composer. We hope you will join us, whether as a performer with the orchestra or as an audience member! Please reach out to Sally Santon at 814-373-8227 or email at sallysanton16@gmail.com, for more information. 

How Can Your Donation Help?  CIOP is experiencing a fertile period of growth - but we can't keep up the pace without your help! Your generosity will allow us to create better programs, update the CIOP webpage to keep our audience and members informed, purchase new music, and deploy an advertising campaign to help us recruit new players and increase our concert audience. Thank you for your consideration!