Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra

The Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra (LADSO) is a distinguished community orchestra with a unique medical heritage, making it one of the oldest medically oriented community orchestras in the United States. Established in 1953 by Dr. Reuben Strauss, the orchestra initially consisted of 35 members from various medical professions including doctors, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, and allied health care professionals. The ensemble has grown since its inception, and by the time it held its first concert in 1954 at the Philharmonic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, the orchestra had expanded to 70 members. Despite its name, the LADSO is not exclusively composed of individuals from the medical field. Over the years, it has widened its membership to include musicians from diverse professional backgrounds such as law, science, education, and other committed amateur musicians, thereby embodying the spirit of a true community orchestra. The LADSO also collaborates with emerging professional musicians, providing them with a platform to demonstrate their skills, inspire the orchestra's serious amateur players, and enhance the overall quality of performances. The mission of the LADSO is multifaceted. It aims to deliver high-quality, affordable concerts to the varied communities of Southern California and to support significant medical causes. Additionally, the orchestra is committed to the musical education of young musicians and to fostering musical development and camaraderie among its members. Throughout its history, the LADSO has worked with an impressive roster of conductors and guest soloists, including Henri Temianka, Mehli Mehta, Felix Slatkin, Jeffrey Kahane, David Weiss, Lynn Harrell, Stephen Prutsman, Tamaki Kawakubo, Elizabeth Pitcairn, Sam Fischer, Mitchell Newman, Rufus Choi, Vijay Gupta, Paul Wianko, and Armen Ksajikian. The orchestra is also a proponent of contemporary music, having premiered works by local composers such as Adrienne Albert, David Avshalomov, Andrew Feazelle, and Karim Elmahmoudi, the latter being a former composer-in-residence whose piece "Orbit" is featured at the space shuttle Endeavour exhibit at the California Science Center. The LADSO maintains a strong connection with the medical community, often dedicating performances to raise funds for medical causes. These philanthropic efforts have supported various initiatives, including relief for tsunami victims in Japan, autism research at UCLA, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the American Cancer Society, and Operation Smile. In summary, the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of music and medicine, enriching the cultural landscape of Southern California while supporting meaningful causes through its artistic endeavors.