DR. LISA LINDLEY - CEO
“As Your Community Orchestra, we have a wonderful past and an exciting future. We thank you for being part of it.”
The Coachella Valley Symphony is comprised of an accomplished adult orchestra and two youth programs. The Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony was started in 1995, thanks to a generous gift from movie star and musician, Buddy Rogers, and the Beginning Strings Conservatory was started in 1997 as an after-school program in elementary and middle schools. In 2019 we started the Buddy Rogers String Orchestra as an additional path for young string players who may not be connected to one of our after-school programs.
In 2018, we also held our first Concerto Competition to provide scholarships and performance opportunities to local youth ages 12 – 26. This has become an annual event, and these winners are featured in our spring concert.
We are passionate about continuing the art of live symphonic music and music education, and we are committed to growing and expanding the opportunities for our youth. In addition to the free group instruction, we also provide individual scholarships, as we recognize the importance of private instruction for musician growth. Twenty-four individual scholarships were awarded in our 2018-19 season.
Our adult orchestra stands alone as Your Community Orchestra. It is comprised primarily of volunteer musicians who enjoy performing and mentoring youth, and it is also a critical component of our youth programs. Each year talented middle and high school students are advanced into our adult orchestra. This transition exemplifies our commitment from beginner to accomplished musician and to a life-long love of music.
Thank you for supporting us and the future of live symphonic music. We hope to see you at our concerts!
SANDRA SCHULZ - PRESIDENT
I have been pleased to support the Coachella Valley Symphony for more than twenty years in a variety of roles, including League member, League President, Board member and Board Secretary. We are truly fortunate to have Dr. Lisa Lindley as our CEO, and I am extremely proud to partner with her on the board as President. Why have I been so happy to do any of this? As the desert’s only true community orchestra, the Coachella Valley Symphony is composed of a large number of musicians willing to donate their time and their talent to rehearse every week during our season, creating quality live symphonic presentations for our community. And, if that were not enough, our organization has been uniquely involved in bringing the gift of music education to the children of our desert through the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony, the Buddy Rogers String Orchestra and Beginning Strings Conservatory. As I reflect on my own reasons for being here, I wonder, who wouldn’t want to support such an organization? I am also proud of our all-volunteer board, composed of very capable and generous members, who continue to meet every month and who remain dedicated to the mission of our organization.