The orchestra is a collection of all sorts of instruments playing together in harmony to create unique sound combinations that touch the heart in different ways. When you hear the combinations of sounds created by the large variety of instruments, you can hear sounds no individual can make on their own.
Composers throughout history have written masterpieces for orchestra that can be truly experienced when a group of skilled musicians works together to create music.
Watch and listen to this recording of us playing Overture to “Hiawatha”!
Musicians
What brings a bunch of musicians together to play music?
It’s hard to explain, but there is an inherent joy that comes from playing together and sharing what we’ve practiced hard to perfect for an audience. This music was made to be heard and experienced together to show how great human potential is.
Not only is there a large variety of different sounds from strings, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments, each of these different instruments is played by different humans full of life experiences that influence the way they play and how they feel about the music. Put that all together and each time you hear a piece, it will still have new life no matter how many times you’ve listened to it before.
Conductor
The conductor has an important role in the orchestra, as they are the ones who lead the orchestra towards a common goal. An effective conductor can help unify the orchestra and bring out the best in each of the orchestra members.
Michael Stanley is our primary conductor and music director. He brings life and excitement to the orchestra with his energy and enthusiasm for music.
Michael Stanley is a multi-talented conductor, French horn player, and music educator who has performed in such world-renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, UCLA’s Royce Hall, and the Soraya Center for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Stanley has guest conducted both nationally and internationally, most recently leading the prestigious YMF Debut Orchestra at the finals of the 2019 Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition.
Mr. Stanley is currently a Doctoral student at Claremont Graduate University, where he studies conducting with Dr. David Rentz. He received his MM in Orchestral Conducting from California State University, Long Beach, under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Rintoul.
We are also privileged to have guest conductors such as Dr. Dan Geeting, Laura Asenas, and others.
Audience
The mixture of sound waves in a concert hall means nothing if there’s no one there to hear it. Whether an orchestra aficionado or someone just learning the name of a violin, the orchestra can be a place to energize the soul.
See how you can become a regular part of the orchestra and help carry on the legacy of this music.
