Oh for sure, that's a legit question. Lots of groups use "world renowned", or "international caliber" as a marketing tool. In the case of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, it's legit - they are known around the world and often tour abroad. The Utah Symphony? well, they're good, but not exactly of the caliber of "best in the world"

Cleveland, on the other hand, is another matter.

Cleveland was part of the original "Big Five". Unlike some of its original compatriots - Such as Philiadelphia, which went bankrupt back in 2011 and is currently in a downward economic spiral - the CO actually balances their budget, which in the Orchestra world is a pretty big deal. Most large orchestras operate at a loss of some sort. AND Cleveland does it in Cleveland,in the heart of the Rust Belt, a changing city with not a lot of money.

Not just that, the audience for the orchestra is SUPER young by comparison. 20% of its attendees are under 25.

And to top it all off, they're actually world class. Having seen them live and comparing them with other orchestra's I've seen and heard, they're killer, especially their string section. They're also on Gramophone's list of {20 best orchestras](http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editorial/the-world’s-greatest-orchestras) at number 7.

So all that to say - You're right, a lot of ensembles use that language as a marketing tool. Cleveland deserves it, however.