Summer Symphony 2024

Hertz Concert Hall

UC Berkeley

Friday and Saturday, August 9-10, 8pm$20 Suggested DonationShostakovich – Symphony No. 5

Thomas Green, Noam Elisha, and Jennifer Liu, Conductors


Sponsored by the Department of Music, the UC Berkeley Summer Symphony is a fully student-run ensemble that rehearses June through August each summer, and gives public performances in July and August in Hertz Hall.

The UC Berkeley Summer Symphony started in 1978 by Michael Senturia as a small chamber orchestra comprised of students from the university and members of the Berkeley community. Since then, it has grown into a full-sized orchestra, performing major works from the standard classical repertoire. Currently, the UC Berkeley Summer Symphony draws its players from the University, Cal State East Bay, San Francisco Conservatory, and the Oakland and San Francisco Youth Orchestras.

The UC Berkeley Summer Symphony is led by student conductors under the tutelage of UCBSO Music Director David Milnes. The experience provides a valuable learning opportunity for the student conductors, giving them first-hand experience in preparing a concert program and rehearsing an orchestra, in addition to administration and production. In turn, the orchestra members have a chance to provide feedback while learning how to adapt to different conductors and styles.

Past conductors include: Jean Ahn, Ankush Bahl, Tom Busse, Gene Chang, Hoh Chen, Richard Cheetham, Andrew Chung, Brian Current, Stefano Flavoni, Alexander Kahn, Jane Kim, Nicholas Koo, Mei-Gang Li, Melissa Panlasigui, Henry Shin, Kumiko Takahashi, Reynold Tharp, Dmitiri Tymoczko, Linda Wang and Garrett Wellenstein.

Please send any audition inquiries to Thomas Green greent(at)berkeley.edu