Diablo Symphony Orchestra

The Diablo Symphony Orchestra is a distinguished musical institution and the oldest orchestra in Contra Costa County, California. The origins of the orchestra can be traced back to 1962 when two residents of Martinez, Jim Arnold, the coordinator of music for the Mt. Diablo School District, and Thelma Compton, an accomplished viola player, joined forces to establish an orchestra composed of community-based musicians. With Arnold's influential position and Compton's unwavering promotion, they successfully convinced the school board to authorize the recruitment of musicians, provide rehearsal facilities, and remunerate the conductor.\n\nThe school board also contributed to the orchestra's identity by naming it, thereby creating the \"Diablo\" connection. Jim Arnold enlisted the help of Bill Burke, a fellow member of the district music faculty, who was a talented trombonist and an advocate for music and art in schools. Burke played a pivotal role in the orchestra's promotional leadership and served multiple terms as president and treasurer while also performing in the trombone section.\n\nIn 1966, the Diablo Symphony Association was established as a non-profit organization by William Donaldson and other residents of Rossmoor to separate the orchestra from the school district. This move garnered support from the Walnut Creek Civic Arts Association and the community at large. The orchestra initially performed at the Nut House, which later evolved into the Lesher Center for the Arts, the orchestra's home since 1990. The retirement community of Rossmoor has been a significant supporter, providing venues for concerts and rehearsals.\n\nNow celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Diablo Symphony Orchestra remains a vital cultural asset in the region. The orchestra consists of professionally trained volunteer musicians who perform a repertoire that spans symphonic classics to popular Broadway and movie music. They offer performances at affordable prices to audiences of all ages.\n\nThe mission of the Diablo Symphony Orchestra is to perform classical music, provide educational programs, and offer performing opportunities to local musicians, thereby enhancing the cultural life of the community. Over the years, the orchestra has been led by various musical directors, including Kris Gippo, William Jackson, Earl Murray, Jack Pereira, and Joyce Johnson Hamilton, who had a long tenure from 1980 to 2011. Since 2012, the orchestra has been under the baton of Matilda Hofman.\n\nThe Diablo Symphony Orchestra also focuses on education and outreach programs, including the Yen Liang Young Artist Competition, which fosters the development of young musicians. Their concert season is filled with a variety of performances, such as the \"Celebration\" at the Lesher Center for the Arts and the \"Holiday Concert: Home for the Holidays\" at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church.\n\nIn summary, the Diablo Symphony Orchestra is a cornerstone of the musical arts in Contra Costa County, dedicated to presenting high-quality musical performances and contributing to the educational and cultural enrichment of the community it serves.