The Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra (CVSO) was founded in 1975 by a small group of musicians under the musical direction of Roy Bennet, assistant professor of music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC), along with Dale Young, a music instructor at Central Jr. High, as concertmaster. The orchestra was organized and named the Chippewa Valley (Civic) Symphony of Eau Claire, with William Eisenbarth, a music instructor at North High School, elected as president of the association and chairman of the board. The orchestra was created in the advent of the UWEC symphony becoming an all-student orchestra after moving rehearsal hours to the daytime. The CVSO held their first concert on November 14, 1976 at the Mabel Tainter Theatre in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

In 1978, Music Director Roy Bennet left Eau Claire for a position at Auburn University, Alabama. For the 1978-79 season, guest conductors Ivar Lunde and Donald Patterson, both part of the music department at UWEC, led the orchestra. Following this season, Lunde was elected as musical director of the symphony. With Lunde as the music director, the CVSO grew in membership and number of concerts per season. After nine seasons conducting the orchestra, Lunde stepped down, and in 1988 Dr. Merton Johnson began conducting the orchestra. Dr. Johnson held this position until 1993. In 1993, Nobuyoshi Yasuda became the music director of the CVSO and continues to hold this position as of 2024.

The Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra was headquartered in the State Regional Arts Center from 1988 to 2018. After the closing of the center, they moved their office to Graham Avenue in downtown Eau Claire. The symphony orchestra currently performs at the Pablo Center at the Confluence.