The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, also known as CSO, is a combined symphony orchestra and opera company in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Chattanooga Symphony was established when students from Chattanooga High School, led by Melvin Margolin, gave a concert on November 5, 1933, with a few adult musicians from around town.

The Symphony and Opera merged in 1985, becoming the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association.

In later years he was the music director and conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony, the Toledo Symphony and the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra in Minnesota.

In September 2010, Wilson opened the 2010/2011 season for the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera with a concert of Schubert's and Shostakovich's 5th symphonies.

One of his early directing engagements was Carmen at Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, which was his first collaboration with Vakhtang Jordania.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he composed works for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the Chattanooga Symphony.

He also held conducting posts with the Chattanooga Symphony, the Duluth Superior Symphony, the National Orchestral Association, and the Orchestra of the American Composers Forum.

Babidge has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Intermountain Opera and the Utah Festival Opera.

The opera company they founded (now part of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera) is still active.