Santa Rosa Symphony

Creative Sonoma Grantee ; Education : Youth Arts Education ; Kids/Family ; Music ; Nonprofit ; Performing Arts

Santa Rosa Symphony’s mission is to inspire and engage the residents of our region through exceptional musical performances and educational programs, guided by the core values of organizational strength, innovative programming, community service, and fiscal responsibility.

Now in its 99th season, the Santa Rosa Symphony (SRS) is the third-oldest professional orchestra in California and one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the western United States. The resident orchestra at Sonoma State University’s Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, SRS performs seven Classical Series concert sets in the acoustically acclaimed 1,400-seat Weill Hall, along with Snoopy Family Concert Series, Discovery Rehearsal Series, and Winterlude… Also performed are the summer series Symphony Uncorked all over wine country, the Symphony Pops at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, and a series of intimate chamber performances at the Brannan Center.

Led by Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong since 2018, the orchestra is recognized for artistic excellence, innovative programming, and a commitment to presenting both established masterworks and new music. SRS has earned national recognition for its adventurous programming and community engagement, including an ASCAP award for adventurous programming and an American Symphony Orchestra League MetLife Award for Community Engagement.

Through the Santa Rosa Symphony Institute for Music Education, SRS reaches more than 20,000 young people annually through five youth ensembles, a beginning strings program, Simply Strings, inspired by El Sistema, in-school programs, summer music education, and Free Concerts for Youth. Its broad community offerings also include free, family-friendly chamber music performances across all twelve Sonoma County Library regional branches, as well as other community programs throughout the region.

In 2022, SRS released its first commercial recording, Cello Concerto & Other Works, featuring music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. The Santa Rosa Symphony is led by J. Andrew Bradford who joined SRS as President and CEO in 2023. It is supported by a 15-person full-time administrative staff and is a member of the League of American Orchestras and the Association of California Symphony Orchestras.