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Announcing our 2025-2026 Season!!

 
 

BAROQUE Concert   7:30pm SATURday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2025

Music with select soloists and small ensembles performing a delightful array of music from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries…

First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

ORCH I  7:30pm Saturday, October 18, 2025

Augusta Read Thomas Of Paradise and Light
Vaughan Williams Suite for Viola and Small Orchestra
Jenny Douglass, viola
Brahms Symphony No. 1

Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

FALL CHAMBER Concert 7:30pm SATURday, NOVEMBER 8, 2025

Philharmonic musicians and their friends in wind, string, and brass ensembles...

First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

Orch II 7:30pm Saturday, DECEMBER 13, 2025

Reena Esmail Avartan
Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Geoffrey Burr, clarinet
Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite

Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

ORCH III 7:30pm Saturday, February 21, 2026

Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Debussy Nuages, Fêtes, from Nocturnes
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”)

Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

SPRING CHAMBER Concert 7:30pm SATURday, March 14, 2026

Philharmonic musicians and their friends in wind, string, and brass ensembles...

First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

ORCH IV 7:30pm Saturday, APril 11, 2026

Sibelius Karelia Overture
Britten Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
Dvořák Cello Concerto
Evan Kahn, cello

Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

Family ConcerT   3:00pm SUNday, May 17, 2026

…featuring music for the young and the young-at-heart!

Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

SUMMER Chamber Concert  7:30pm Saturday, June 13, 2026

Philharmonic musicians and their friends in wind, string, and brass ensembles...

First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto $25 General/Senior; $10 Youth/Student

 
 
 
 

A message from Music Director Lara Webber

Welcome back!

Great symphonic music brings us together, stirs the soul, and ignites the imagination.

Join us in the transcendent experience of creating and hearing this extraordinary music live in concert, performed by talented musicians from within your community.

Next season will feature beloved works by Brahms, Debussy, Dvořák, Mozart, Sibelius, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams and spotlights the music of Augusta Read Thomas, Reena Esmail, and Benjamin Britten. You’ll hear remarkable soloists, including violist Jenny Douglass, cellist Evan Kahn, and from our orchestral musicians, clarinetist Geoffrey Burr. We’ll continue our well-received series of Chamber Music concerts (in November, March and June), and we’ll “kick off” our season with our popular Baroque Concert in September. Our final orchestra concert of the season will be our usual May Family Concert, featuring music for the young and the young-at-heart.

Whether reflecting on the past, speaking to the present, or framing the future, these remarkable composers and artists will bring you joy, passion, insight, and excitement.

Join us!
Lara

 
 
“The Palo Alto Philharmonic sent an absolutely delightful 3 piece group that was thoroughly enjoyed by all. We will definitely use them again for events.”
— Jac Siegel, Mayor of Mountain View, California
 
 
 

About the Philharmonic —

In 1988, a group of musicians and lovers of classical music organized a new community-based orchestra in Palo Alto, with the goal of presenting an annual series of orchestral and chamber music concerts performed by local musicians and led by conductor Gideon Grau for a discriminating local audience.

Today, 35 seasons later, the orchestra is led by Music Director Lara Webber, assisted by Composer-in-Residence and Assistant Conductor Lee Actor.

The Palo Alto Philharmonic Association is a registered non-profit organization, governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to presenting musically stimulating concerts at reasonable prices and in venues convenient to many, the Philharmonic is dedicated to encouraging all — young and old — to perform and appreciate serious contemporary and classical music. Our members as well as our audience, come from all over the Bay Area to make and enjoy music together.

In addition to the four Orchestra Concerts that constitute the backbone of the season, there are two Chamber Concerts and a Family Concert. The Chamber Concerts are a mix of small instrumental groups, that include orchestra members and invited guest musicians. Over the years, a loyal following has attended these performances. Our most recent addition is our Baroque Concert, held at the beginning of each concert season in September. This concert, featuring chamber and small-ensemble music from the Baroque period, has been tremendously successful. Our Family Concert, at the close of each season in May, has attracted its own following. These concerts have featured winners of student concerto movement competitions, educational and musical journeys designed to interest and entertain young and old.

Ticket prices cover only a small percentage of our operating costs; a large part of our success is due to your generous donations.

 
 

MUSIC Director LARA WEBBER

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Composer-in-Residence and
Assistant Conductor Lee Actor

 

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