Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Launches New CSO Resident Fellowship Program

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Launches New CSO Resident Fellowship Program for Early-Career Musicians

Cellist Osheen Manukyan Appointed Inaugural Fellow

CINCINNATI, OH (March 11, 2026) The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) today announced the launch of the Orchestra’s new CSO Resident Fellowship Program, a rigorous, excellence-driven training program designed with the dual goal of increasing representation on the stage and preparing exceptional early-career musicians for success in national auditions for major orchestral positions. Cellist Osheen Manukyan has been appointed the inaugural CSO Resident Fellow.

“We’re proud to launch our new CSO Resident Fellowship Program as it reflects our long-standing commitment to artistic excellence while expanding access to high-level professional development opportunities for talented early-career musicians,” said Robert McGrath, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. “Like athletes training for the Olympics, our Fellows will have the opportunity to fully commit to their craft through the CSO Resident Fellowship Program because it removes barriers to focused training while simultaneously providing one of the most immersive experiences in the industry today. We’re thrilled to welcome Osheen Manukyan as our inaugural Fellow.”

The CSO Resident Fellowship program spans the course of an orchestral season, up to 37 weeks from September through May, and provides Fellows with hands-on experiences alongside CSO musicians in rehearsals and performances. Fellows also receive comprehensive financial support, an individualized career development plan and valuable skills beyond the stage through opportunities to mentor and coach student musicians enrolled in CSO learning programs as well as direct experiences in community engagement.

Inaugural CSO Resident Fellow

Following a competitive national audition process, cellist Osheen Manukyan has been selected as the inaugural CSO Resident Fellow and will begin performing full-time with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the 2026–27 season.

An Armenian-American cellist based in Los Angeles, Manukyan graduated from the Juilliard School in New York where he was a scholarship student of Timothy Eddy. Prior to his collegiate training, he studied with Richard Naill at the Colburn School in California. A passionate ensemble musician, Manukyan has served as principal cellist under renowned conductors Marin Alsop, Stéphane Denève and JoAnn Falletta and has appeared at leading U.S. festivals, including the Music Academy of the West Summer Festival in California, Sarasota Music Festival in Florida and Aspen Music Festival in Colorado where he was a fellowship recipient. He was also the winner of the Colburn Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2017 and appeared on NPR’s From the Top at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

In addition to performing, Manukyan is a dedicated pedagogue who maintains a private cello studio and mentors young cellists at the Hollywood Youth Orchestra, a program of Harmony Project. He also serves as the Artistic Director of Kontrapunktus Baroque in Los Angeles.

“It’s a great honor and privilege to have the chance to work with this incredible orchestra,” said Manukyan. “I see the CSO Resident Fellowship as a wonderful opportunity for both professional and personal growth, and I’m very much looking forward to connecting meaningfully with the Cincinnati community.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Connect with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Latest News

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra gratefully acknowledges support from: 

CSO Resident Fellowship Program Sponsors

Anonymous, Charles & Dolores Bartley, Irwin & Melinda Simon 

Dr. Charla Weiss & Scott Weiss

Rick and Vicky Reynolds

Annual Support



###