Culver City Symphony Orchestra

The Culver City Symphony Orchestra, also known as the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, is a distinguished musical ensemble with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1963 by George Berres. Initially established in the Los Angeles suburb of Westchester as a string orchestra, it evolved into a full symphony orchestra known as the Westchester Symphony. The orchestra operates under the SoCal Symphony Society, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to fostering musical arts in the Southern California region. Throughout its existence, the orchestra has undergone several name changes to broaden its appeal and geographic reach. It became the Marina del Rey-Westchester Symphony to cater to the music enthusiasts of Marina del Rey. In 2000, upon being invited to perform in Culver City, the ensemble adopted the name The Culver City-Marina-Westchester Symphony, which prompted the Los Angeles Times to refer to it as "the orchestra with the long name." In 2005, it was officially renamed The Culver City Symphony Orchestra, reflecting its strong connection to the local community. Despite the change in location to Culver City, the orchestra has retained a loyal following from across Southern California, including a growing number of Culver City residents. The ensemble also performs as the Marina del Rey Symphony at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey, thanks to the support of the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, offering concerts in one of the region's most picturesque settings. Under the baton of Conductor and Music Director Frank Fetta, the Culver City Symphony Orchestra has maintained a commitment to artistic excellence. The orchestra is comprised of local musicians, teachers, freelance artists, and studio musicians, many of whom have remained with the group through its various transformations, providing stability and continuity. The orchestra's performances have been featured in arts festivals, live music broadcasts from the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, and television, including a short film created by Michael J. Fox for The David Letterman Show. It has presented concerts highlighting the works of Black American, Latin American, and American Women composers, and has initiated the American Beat series, focusing on music from the Americas. The Culver City Symphony Orchestra also organizes the annual Parness Concerto Competition, attracting young musical talents from Los Angeles and the greater Southern California area. Winners of the competition are given the chance to perform with the orchestra, often marking their debut as soloists with a symphony orchestra. The orchestra's size has varied over the years, sometimes performing as a chamber orchestra or reverting to its roots as a string orchestra, in response to cost-saving measures. Regardless of its size, the dedication of its musicians, board of directors, officers, elected officials, community leaders, and volunteers has enabled the Culver City Symphony Orchestra to present masterworks and contemporary pieces, opera performances, and showcase the talents of young musicians through the Parness Young Artists Concerto Competition.