Participation in the Civic Orchestra is a part-time commitment, which allows ensemble Members to pursue additional educational and professional opportunities on their own outside of the program. Each year, Civic Regular Members receive a stipend that is paid bi-weekly and intended to offset living expenses.

Recordings by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus have earned sixty-five Grammy Awards from the Recording Academy. These include several Classical Album of the Year awards, awards in Best Classical Performance in vocal soloist, choral, instrumental, engineering and orchestral categories.