At CSM, a junior string player's first experience of an orchestra is likely to be Simply Strings.  The first full Symphony orchestra is the Junior Symphony Orchestra.  After typically a couple of years, players may advance to the Intermediate Symphony Orchestra and then Sinfonia.  All these orchestras rehearse on a Saturday morning.

The most advanced CSM orchestra for the most experienced players aged 16 to 25 is the Christchurch Youth Orchestra, which rehearses on a Tuesday evening and maintains a high profile on the Christchurch concert scene.