Symphony Orchestra
The Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra is comprised of the finest string, wind, brass, and percussion students at Sonoma State and of musicians from the broader Sonoma County community. Under the direction of Dr. Alexander Kahn, the Symphony Orchestra performs a diverse array of orchestral literature, ranging from the Baroque period to world premieres and from classical repertoire to film, opera, and educational works. Student compositions are chosen through an annual composition competition. Soloists are regularly featured, including guest artists, faculty soloists, and student soloists chosen through the annual concerto competition. In addition to performing four concerts each year in the beautiful confines of Weill Hall, the Symphony Orchestra performs regularly on tour throughout California and beyond.
Events
Information about our competitions and concert seasons can be found on our Events page:
Faculty
Course Information
MUS 328 Symphony Orchestra, 1 unit of credit
Meeting Dates
Monday and Wednesday, 4:00-6:00 pm in Weill Hall
Participation
Membership in the Orchestra is by audition, and is open to all students, regardless of major, and members of the community. String majors focusing on classical performance and/or instrumental music education are required to participate in the Orchestra every semester while in residence at SSU. Wind, brass, and percussion majors focusing on classical performance and/or instrumental music education are required to participate in either the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, or Symphony Orchestra every semester while in residence at SSU. Students may participate in more than one ensemble.
Auditions
Membership is through audition only and is open to all SSU students, regardless of major, as well as community members. Auditions are held during the first week of each semester. Auditions consist of major and minor scales and orchestral excerpts. Audition information can be found on our ensemble auditions page.
Instruments
A limited number of university-owned instruments are available to students free of charge. To request an instrument, please contact the Music Librarian(link sends e-mail).
Concert dates
Please visit our 2025-26 Concert Season page and our Past Concert Seasons page for information on our current and past seasons.
(All dates and repertoire subject to change)
Saturday Sept 27 7:30pm: Season Opener: New American Classics
- Valerie Coleman 7 O’clock Shout
- Lowell Liebermann Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
- Sungdu Bae, soloist and 2025 Concerto Competition winner
- Samuel Barber, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
- Samuel Strong, soloist and 2025 Concerto Competition winner
- Leonard Bernstein, Candide Suite
Saturday Oct 25 7:30pm: Masterworks for String Orchestra (Joint concert w/SWE chamber winds)
- SWE Chamber Winds rep TBD
- Jessie Montgomery, Strum
- Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings
Friday November 21 7:30pm: All that Jazz (joint concert with SSU Rock Collegium & Jazz Orchestra)
- Ellington, Far East Suite (SSU Jazz Orchestra, Doug Leibinger, Director)
- Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto (SSU Orchestra, Quinn Han, soloist and 2025 concerto competition winner)
- Selections from Wynton Marsalis Swing Symphony (Side-by-side with SSU Jazz Orchestra)
- Led Zeppelin, “Kashmir”
- ELO: “Telephone Line, “Standin’ in the Rain,” and “Mr. Blue Sky”
- (Side-by-side with SSU Jazz Orchestra and SSU Rock Collegium, John Palmer, director)
Sunday March 8, 3pm: Side-by-side w/SSU Wind Ensemble
- First half SSU Wind Ensemble (rep TBD)
- “Picture This” Composition contest winner TBD
- Mussorgsky (arr. Ravel), Pictures at an Exhibition
SSU Band and Orchestra Festival March 11, 12, 13
- “Picture This” Composition contest winner TBD
- Mussorgsky (arr. Ravel), Pictures at an Exhibition
Saturday April 25: Season Finale: Galaxies Near and Far
- Diablo Valley Symphony Orchestra, Owen Lee, Music Director and Conductor:
- Haydn, Il mondo de la luna Overture
Richard Strauss, Sunrise from Also Sprach Zarathustra
Johann Strauss, Blue Danube Waltz - Host, The Planets (Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra)
- John Williams (arr. Bulla), Star Wars Through the Years (Side-by-side performance)
Support us: The Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra is generously funded through the Department of Music at Sonoma State University. However, donations are gratefully received to support our various initiatives, including our annual Concerto Competition, Composition Competition, Family Concert series, and our Lesson Scholarship Fund for Non-Majors. Please consider making a gift to support us! For more information please contact Alexander Kahn.
