Peninsula Symphony

Infobox musical artist
Name = Peninsula Symphony
Background = classical_ensemble
Origin = flagicon|USA Redwood City, California, USA
Genre = Classical
Occupation = Symphony Orchestra
Years_active = 1949–"present"

Associated_acts =
Peninsula Youth Orchestra
URL = [http://peninsulasymphony.org/ peninsulasymphony.org]
Current_members = Music Director
Mitchell Sardou Klein
Assistant Conductor
Geoffrey Gallegos
Past_members = Founder
Aaron StenThe Peninsula Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in the San Francisco Peninsula, California [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20050524/ai_n15830403 Peninsula Symphony simply shines] , Oakland Tribune, 24 May 2005] [ [http://www.sfcv.org/arts_revs/peninsula_10_27_98.php A Musical Virtuoso And A Vision of London: The Peninsula Symphony] , San Francisco Classical Voice, 24 October, 1998, by James H. Carr] . The orchestra consists of over 90 community musicians [ [http://peninsulasymphony.org/about.html About the Peninsula Symphony] ] . In 1995, the Peninsula Symphony was featured in a PBS broadcast [Making Music: A Joyful Vocation, September 1995. KCSM, channel 60] .

Since its beginning, the symphony has performed had a season with four pairs of concerts in October, January, March, and May . It also performs a jazz series and a free outdoor summer concert.

The symphony also hosts competitions, presents awards for young artists, and organizes outreach programs in local schools.

Mitchell Sardou Klein has been Music Director and Conductor of the Peninsula Symphony since 1985, and also directs the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. Geoffrey Gallegos is Assistant Conductor.

History

The Peninsula Symphony was founded by Russian-born violinist/conductor Aaron Sten. In 1949, Aaron Sten became conductor of a small Redwood City group of musicians that he met while buying a house. Shortly after, a group of about 32 San Mateo musicians under the name The Peninsula Symphony disbanded and joined Aaron Sten's group. The resulting group of about 60 musicians formed an orchestra under the name Sequoia Symphony Orchestra and performed their first season. By the end of the second season, the name had changed to the Peninsula Symphony and in 1951, the non-profit Peninsula Symphony Association was incorporated. Aaron Sten founded the California Youth Symphony in 1952. The symphony grew in 1956 with the creation of the Women's Auxiliary, which supported the symphony through volunteer efforts. In 1985, the symphony opened an office with executive director to manage its growthThe Peninsula Symphony: The First Fifty Years by Dorothy and George Lunn, 1998] . The business office moved to Los Altos in 2001 [ [http://www.latc.com/2001/05/16/community/communit2.print.html Peninsula Symphony fan base strong in Los Altos - new office opened here] , Los Altos Town Crier, 16 May 2001] .

Guests

The Peninsula Symphony has a tradition of bringing in a guest artist for its concerts. Some notable examples are Larry Adler, Chris Brubeck, Jiebing Chen, Eroica Trio, Grant Johannesen, Jerome Lowenthal, Jon Nakamatsu, Marni Nixon, Christopher O'Riley, Richard Woodhams, and Nicanor Zabaleta .

The symphony also has a tradition of incorporating outstanding young musicians, such as the winners of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition, into its performances. Some notable examples are Cathy Basrak, Frank Huang, Jennifer Koh, and Robert deMaine. The symphony seeks out permieres and commissioned works. For its 50th season, the Peninsula Symphony commissioned notable composer Melissa Hui to create Always, a work for taiko, chorus, and orchestra [ [http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~mhui/catalog.html Catalog] of Melissa Hui] . The symphony has also commissioned a work by the Chinese-American composer Gang Situ.

Music Directors

* Aaron Sten (1949-1985)
* Mitchell Sardou Klein (1985-present)

References

External links

* [http://peninsulasymphony.org/ Official site]