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Musician Spotlight: Sarah Skuster, Principal Oboe
Thursday, January 11, 2024
If you’ve ever been to a classical music performance, whether at the San Diego Symphony or any other orchestra in the world, you will have noticed that before the concert begins, there is a ritualistic tuning process onstage. It starts with a high-pitched note to which all the other instruments tune to in order to ensure the most harmonious sound. That instrument responsible for that tuning note and for the intonation of the entire orchestra is the oboe. To read more about why oboes are chosen for this role, read more here on Classicfm.com.
San Diego Symphony's Music Connects Program: Bringing Music to All
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Music Connects is San Diego Symphony’s program dedicated to the accessibility of classical music. From free tickets to performances for San Diego’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to special events for active and veteran military members and their family, we understand the value of inclusion and connection in supporting a thriving arts community.
Donor Spotlight: The Power of Friendship in Philanthropy
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Earlier this month, The San Diego Symphony performed a free concert in Tijuana, Mexico, at CECUT, the country’s second largest cultural center. Orchestrating this concert took a lot of work and cooperation between the city government of Tijuana, the San Diego Symphony, and its supporters. Three friends in particular, Monica Fimbres (left), Sandra den Ujil (left center) and Elisa Jaime (far right) with San Diego Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer (center), went above and beyond to help raise money for this program. The three women met through their work with the Ronald McDonald Foundation and have since become avid supporters of the San Diego Symphony and a formidable unit of philanthropy. “Together we are a pretty strong force,” said Sandra, “that’s for sure.”
Musician Spotlight: Aaron Blick, Bass
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Aaron Blick began his musical studies on the piano at age 5. By age 11, Aaron's musical interests had shifted to the double bass, and he began formal study at age 14 in both classical and jazz. Aaron then earned his Bachelor of Music in 2018 from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music studying with Andrew Raciti, Associate Principal Bass of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Consequently, he returned to his hometown of Los Angeles to study with Los Angeles Philharmonic bassist David Allen Moore at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, earning his Master’s Degree in Music Performance in 2020. He continued his studies with Mr. Moore at USC as part of the Graduate Certificate program until Spring of 2022.
Notes of Gratitude: Music for our Military
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
“It would be my hope that… MUSIC-loving veterans and active-duty service members will find a welcome home here with the San Diego Symphony.”
California Festival Family & Community Day at The Rady Shell At Jacobs Park™
Monday, October 30, 2023
The musical community is ripe with anticipation for the launch of the California Festival which begins celebrations next month. Over the course of two weeks, musical organizations up and down the 650-mile expanse of the state will be performing and presenting bold new works from the past five years that exemplify California’s unique history of leadership and innovativeness. From orchestras to chamber music groups, jazz ensembles to choirs, there will be a large number of offerings to choose from. Originally conceived by LA Phil Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare and San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, the idea was to create a way to promote the interconnectedness of the state’s arts organizations by celebrating the diverse collective of communities that make up the state. Some of the statistics are impressive - over 24 nationalities and spanning ages from 27 to 97.
October 2023 Donor Spotlight - David and Lesley Cohn
Thursday, October 26, 2023
What could be better than getting together with family to share in the things you love? Whether it’s music, movies, fine dining, or sporting events, enjoying something together makes it even more meaningful. “If we’re not working, we’re pretty much spending time with family,” said David Cohn. David and his wife Lesley have two kids and five grandchildren, and they own and operate Cohn Restaurant Group — which they describe as something of a family itself —including local names like The Prado, Corvette Diner, and Island Prime. “Our one diversion is our love of music,” said David, “and we couldn’t be happier with The Rady Shell.” Lesley and David are also members of the San Diego Symphony’s family of donors and provide great support for the programming at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.
San Diego Symphony Returns to Carnegie Hall for the first Time in a decade
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Tomorrow evening the San Diego Symphony is making its return to Carnegie Hall for the first time in ten years! To mark this momentous event, the Symphony will be performing an exciting program consisting of a new San Diego Symphony commission, Wake Up by Carlos Simon, Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B Minor with soloist Alisa Weilerstein, and Shostokovich's iconic Symphony No. 5. For many of the musicians, this will the second time on the Carnegie Hall stage with the San Diego Symphony, for others it will be the first time inside the venue.
Musician Spotlight: Leyla Zamora, Bassoon
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Leyla Zamora has been a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra since 2005. Before coming to San Diego, Leyla held for 10 years, the position of principal bassoon with the Memphis Symphony. We caught up with Leyla as she was finishing up her Summer Vacation gallivanting around Europe and asked her about her time with the Orchestra and what she has her sights set on in this upcoming season.