By Evan Pasternak, violin The 2023-24 San Diego Symphony season has concluded, and it was certainly one to remember. The orchestra traveled to New York City and Tijuana within a single month, and we performed at venues ranging from our
By Kevin Gobetz John Degnan, second horn What makes music special to you? Music brings people together. It introduces us to new places, people, and stories! What is the most exciting/thrilling musical experience you’ve had and what made it so?
by Julia Pautz Every musician in the San Diego Symphony is uniquely talented. In addition to her position in the SDSO, Kate Hatmaker is also the co-founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Art of Elan, a San Diego-based arts organization that
America’s Finest City Makes a Statement in the Big Apple by Rodion Belousov, second oboe In October 2023, the San Diego Symphony, under the guidance of its esteemed music director, Rafael Payare, embarked on a journey to New York –
By Lily Josefsberg, third flute/piccolo For the past few years, my colleagues and I at the San Diego Symphony have been performing outdoors at the Rady Shell and various other venues across Southern California while we await the reopening of
As we approach the three year mark of the last show we performed inside the Jacobs Music Center, I want to share a few thoughts and observations on the current renovation. I have a front row seat to the transformation
The San Diego Cello Foundation was conceived by Yao Zhao in 2019. Its goal is to improve access to music education through instrument loans, masterclasses, competitions, and festivals. I briefly spoke about the Foundation with President Yao Zhao and Artistic
By John Stubbs In the spring of 2020, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. Amy Taylor had a question about the piccolo part in my arrangement of “The Nutcracker.” Having access to a Russian web
By Hanah Stuart Composer, violinist, and Pittsburgh native, Tommy Dougherty, was commissioned to write a piece for the Laurel Arts Exhibit in Somerset, PA, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The piece, titled “Blue Steel Cranes” and scored for
Every time the San Diego Symphony steps onstage at The Rady Shell there are so many people working behind the scenes. Like an anthill, where you only see a percentage of the colony, backstage at The Shell is alive with
By Julia Pautz This summer we will welcome audiences into our much anticipated permanent outdoor home. These days, to say the orchestra is excited understates the emotional tenor among the musicians onstage. Collectively we have been transformed, reawakening from the
by Julia Pautz Tell us about your profession – you’re a teacher correct? Yes, I teach classroom music to grades K – 4. For many years, I was a fulltime professional musician, performing solo and with my band throughout the
