Southern California Philharmonic

Southern California Philharmonic -

History

	In March of 2003, an advertisement in a local area newspaper, written by a Yorba Linda woman, announced the first practice for “anyone wanting to start an orchestra.” The original conservatory for this flegling organization was in the basement of the Yorba Linda Public Library. Soon after, however, the “acoustic dynamics” of the Yorba Linda orchestra ran dissonant with the regular operation of the library and the group was requested to find a more suitable venue. That year, 2003, the first concert for the new Yorba Linda Orchestra was performed on June 13 at the Yorba Linda Presbyterian Church under the direction of Conductor John Burdett and Assistant Conductor Phil Felix. Ironically, the woman whose idea gave birth to the YLO moved to the East Coast before the first concert and has never performed with it in public. In just four short years since, the organization has grown in both ambition and physical scope. The size of the original 250 or so patrons of the first concert has more than doubled. The Yorba Linda Orchestra is now officially the Yorba Linda Symphony Orchestra to differentiate itself from other Big Band and non-traditional groups not oriented in the acoustic, classical style. Now, the YLSO performs four regular concerts a year and collaborates in its final one each season with the Orange County North branch of the Music Teachers Association of California. While the OCNMTA season culminates with a regional competition among its students whose teachers are MTAC members, the four winners receive the opportunity to perform in the YLSO's “Rising Stars” concert at the end of the season, performing with the full symphony. The 2006-2007 season welcomed a new maestro to the YLSO. Dr. Robert Frelly brought more than 25 years of his orchestral experience to further the growth of the organization whose members now number 50 to 60 musicians. At the end of the Yorba Linda Symphony Orchestra's 2007-2008 season, he lead the YLSO on a tour of China, and the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an, including, among others, a concert at the base of the Great Wall.