Believing the marketplace was ready to embrace a higher quality of cultural entertainment and performance opportunities, a small group of fine music lovers came together in early 2005 to create a new organization christened the Golden Valley Music Society.

Like so many who have moved here, the founders have been impressed with the natural beauty of the area and all it is offering. It’s truly a golden valley, one that is being blessed daily as it continues to mature. Cultural offerings have been growing as well, and the Society is adding yet another dimension to life in this golden valley.

The Society looks to serve the greater valley, one that reaches from the Fallbrook area at the southerly end, up the interstate corridors through Temecula and Murrieta, and northerly to Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake along I-15 to Sun City, Menifee, Hemet and San Jacinto along I-215.

The Society’s Vision

In organizing, the Society’s founders laid out a multi-faceted vision that embraces performance, education and opportunity. That vision focuses on these elements:

• Promoting an appreciation of orchestral and chamber music through public concerts, festivals and educational forums.
• Fostering a greater awareness and appreciation of classical music in our youth, through education and performance in schools and other educational venues.
• Offering performance opportunities for professional-level musicians from the greater Southwest California region.
• Providing social opportunities for music lovers to meet and enjoy the fellowship of others with similar interests.

To meet this vision, the Society maintains its professional resident ensemble, the California Chamber Orchestra, and several smaller groups, such as string, brass and wind ensembles.  For more information about these groups and their performance schedules, visit the Ensembles and the Tickets and Events sections of this site.

Focus on Youth

A number of exciting programs are in the works to introduce young people to fine music, and a very aggressive outreach program seeks to involve them in rehearsals, classroom performances and, in the future, a local area youth orchestra.

The orchestra is taking dress rehearsals to area schools, providing students an opportunity to observe a professional ensemble preparing for a performance. This is especially beneficial to students in school band programs as they watch the interaction between conductor, ensemble and soloist.

The Society also works with art classes at schools, introducing students to the music and composers planned for a future concert and then inviting the youngsters to illustrate their feelings from the music through a medium of their choice.  Their works are then presented on screen behind the orchestra as the music is played.

The Society also plans to hold a series of master classes given by nationally and internationally recognized musicians. These classes broaden the knowledge of performing musicians, students and concert audiences. A small number of musicians of all ages and accomplishment are selected to “perform” for the guest artist, who critiques the musician’s playing and offers suggestions to increase their technique. Master classes inspire young musicians by providing guidance and practical advice. They expose local musicians to great artists, and enhance the local audience’s appreciation and understanding of fine music.

In the Longer Term

Future plans call for the Society to expand its presentations by lengthening the concert season and enlarge the size of the orchestra to accommodate even greater repertoire.  Ultimately, it’s envisioned that as many as 35 musicians will be performing with the orchestra.

As a presenter, the Society also plans to collaborate with vocal ensembles, choirs, dance companies and other musical groups to bring to Golden Valley audiences interesting repertoire featuring a variety of the performing arts.

A local youth symphony is among the Society’s long-term goals. At present, talented and accomplished young musicians must travel outside the valley for the experience of rehearsing and performing with youth orchestras. This opportunity needs to be local, which will nurture the desire to participate in music as young, talented musicians discover orchestra literature and experience the learning of great masterpieces in their own community.

Additional outreach programs contemplated include small ensemble performances at nursing homes and retirement centers and special performances for low income and disadvantaged youth in cooperation with other organizations.

Society Management

The Society is managed by a board of directors made up of volunteers enthused by fine music and the opportunities for bringing it to a growing audience.

The board includes….

Greg Prudhomme President		Warren Gref Artistic Director		Hattie Hedrick
Al Ball Vice President		Bonnie Boekeloo/ Maurice Boekeloo		Ann Vazzana
Luanne Ferrer Treasurer

Advisory Board

Ken Dickson Legal affairs		Doug McAllister Civic affairs		Beverly Stephenson Fine Arts Network
Eduardo Ferrer Information services		Jimmy Moore Community relations		Kris Thomasian Educational Outreach
Mark Margolin Educational outreach		John O'Donnell Youth programs		Al Vollbrecht Marketing   Chuck Washington Civic affairs