Last month, KPBS San Diego got a behind the scenes look at the San Diego Symphony's free elementary school program "Sound and Silence" at Sandburg Elementary School in Mira Mesa, part of the San Diego Unified School District. 200 students were treated to a live performance by a San Diego Symphony woodwind quintet and got to participate in a lively and engaging Q&A with the musicians. This year's program culminates on April 19th, when 5,000 students from across the county will attend an interactive performance with the San Diego Symphony at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Read and watch the ..read more

Some people may not think of a dental office as a particularly romantic setting, between the root canals, fillings, and X-rays. For Dr. Robert “Bob” Rubenstein and Marie Raftery, it is where they began their relationship 38 years ago. “He was a patient in the dental office where I was working,” said Marie. “He had a nice sense of humor and beautifully dressed, so when he asked me out, I thought, ‘this could be interesting.’” Bob and Marie come from two very different worlds. She grew up in Boston attending the symphony and the ballet, while he grew up in New Mexico attending the rodeo and ..read more

April is National Volunteer Month. To celebrate, we are turning the spotlight on one of our many wonderful and hardworking volunteers, Suanne Pauley. Suanne has been ushering with the San Diego Symphony since 2014 and finds fulfillment in donating her time to causes that connect her with the outdoors and with people. The San Diego Symphony thanks all of our volunteers who generously donate their time to help us make music possible.  1. Hello Suanne! Tell us about how became a volunteer with the San Diego Symphony. When I retired from the workforce in 2014, I was looking for ..read more

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Ai started the violin at age four in Seattle, Washington, with Mihoko Hirata. Ai later moved to Los Angeles, California, where she studied with Margaret Shimizu, Richard Schwabe and Henry Gronnier at the Colburn School of Performing Arts. Originally starting as a long-term substitute accompanying the Symphony on their China Friendship Tour in 2013, Ai eventually won a permanent spot in 2018. Read more about Ai below: 1. Tell us about your musical journey and how you came to play with the San Diego Symphony.  I started playing the violin when I was 4 years old in ..read more

“There are two things that make San Diego spectacular,” says Steve Tierney. “One is the Pacific Ocean, and the other is the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.” Steve, pictured above with his wife Julie, was born in San Mateo, California and has lived all around the world from Dearborn, Michigan; to London, England; and New Delhi, India. “I have heard a few world class orchestras in my time, and I would say the San Diego Symphony is very competitive!” Steve has had a lifelong connection to classical music. He credits his parents and especially his teacher, Ms. Elizabeth Hagberg for opening his eyes ..read more

Andrea Overturf has served as San Diego Symphony's English Horn since 2009. A Seattle native, Andrea earned her musical degrees from the Eastman School of music as well as The Juilliard School. In addition to performing with the San Diego Symphony, Andrea has also appeared as a guest soloist across the United States and Asia and participated in numerous music festivals including La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest. Andrea will also be featured in San Diego Symphony's presentation of Ned Rorem's Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra as part of the program entitled "Musical Masterpie ..read more

The San Diego Symphony experienced one of the most exciting and historic years in recent history. From its triumphant return to the hallowed stage of Carnegie Hall for the first time in 10 years, to its headlining and instrumental role in the first ever California Festival, the organization had a definitive year to remember. Read more about how the San Diego Symphony set a new precedent for classical music making in the city and beyond: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/classical-music/story/2023-12-23/looking-back-at-classical-music-in-2023-a-year-of-tradition-and-innova ..read more

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.   Here at the San Diego Symphony, you will ..read more

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.   One of the many highlights from the Music Connects programs this past holiday season was the San Diego Symphony’s participation in Rady Children’s Hospital’s annual Light the Way celebration and parade on December 6th. This a ..read more

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 Cali ..read more