By L. Roberts
Southern California is a great place to live, not only because of its great weather but also because of its sheer number of musical groups. Aside from popular musicians and recording artists, Southern California is also home to dozens of symphony orchestras, chamber music groups, community bands and orchestras, and groups for young musicians. Whether you're a musician or a music lover, there are tons of musical activities and performances going on throughout the year in Southern California.
Symphony Orchestras
When it comes to symphony orchestras, Southern California's got you covered. From the California Philharmonic Orchestra, with its popular concerts, to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which performs more traditional classical pieces, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles is a hub for great orchestral performances. Free concerts are always offered by the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, for those on a budget, and the Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony and Long beach Symphony Orchestra traditionally mix high classical and pop offerings to keep a variety of audiences entertained.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-7211
Chamber Music
If the intimacy of chamber music is more your style, check out the Mozart Classical Orchestra, Southwest Chamber Music and San Diego Chamber Orchestra for your small-group performance fix. By way of differentiating between these groups, the Mozart Classical Orchestra mixes Wolfgang Amadeus with works by his contemporaries: Beethoven, Haydn, Bach, and even Puccini and Tchaikovsky. Meanwhile, the Southwest Chamber Music group performs a variety of pieces, concentrating on more contemporary works and striving for accessibility for all listeners. The San Diego Chamber Orchestra is a local favorite, traditionally performing Handel's "Messiah" in December as "the only authentic 18th-century re-creation of Messiah by a professional chorus and orchestra in the area."
Community Orchestras
Looking to get involved in a group yourself? There are lots of community bands and orchestras located throughout Southern California, and many of them are open to amateur musicians of all ages. Offering four free concerts per year, and performing regularly since 1949, the Beach Cities Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Barry Brisk and holds open rehearsals every Wednesday. Talented musicians are also encouraged to join the Long Beach Community Band, which rehearses Thursday evenings. Rehearsing Tuesday evenings is the City of Orange Symphonic Band, a volunteer organization that practices at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills. If you play the bagpipes or drums, you might want to consider joining the 42nd Highlanders Regimental Pipes & Drums, which practices aboard the RMS Queen Mary on Tuesday evenings. Even if you've never played before, you can get involved with the band, which definitely offers a unique musical experience.
Youth Organizations
For young people looking for a band or an orchestra they can join as an extracurricular activity, check out the excellent American Youth Symphony at the University of California, Los Angeles. To participate, you must be between the ages of 15 and 27 and successfully complete an audition, but the program is one of the nation's most prestigious and provides excellent preprofessional musical training. A slightly less competitive organization is the Peter Meremblum Youth Orchestra, which is part of the California Junior Symphony Association. Membership is open to all elementary, middle school and high school students who study with private instructors.
About the Author:
Laura Roberts is the editor-in-chief of Black Heart Magazine and author of the weekly sex column, "V for Vixen," at Hour.ca. She is currently working on her first book, a guide to the sexy side of Montreal.
