The majority of UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra members do not intend to pursue a professional career in music. Many of them are students who are working towards degrees in fields like science, engineering, or business. Even the few who are majoring in music often have double or even triple majors.
Surprisingly, when you observe the orchestra's ambitious repertoire, you wouldn't guess their diverse academic pursuits. The orchestra regularly takes on the challenge of performing Gustav Mahler's famously long symphonies alongside contemporary pieces. (Even professional orchestras typically choose to focus solely on Mahler when performing his work.)
The UCBSO has a history that goes back nearly a century. It started as a community orchestra in Berkeley and later transitioned into a semi-professional orchestra in the 1940s, with the involvement of several San Francisco Symphony members. The completion of UC Berkeley's Hertz Hall in 1958 provided the orchestra with a permanent home, further formalizing its structure.
In 2020, the pandemic forced the orchestra to shift from in-person rehearsals to virtual Zoom guest lectures and "studio classes." During this time, students played for their sectionmates, despite the challenges of laggy internet connections, and exchanged feedback. As COVID-19 cases decreased, the musicians gradually returned to the stage, starting with performances at the outdoor Greek Theater and later at Hertz Hall. In the summer of 2022, the orchestra embarked on a European tour, culminating in a sold-out performance at Vienna's Musikverein, which raised funds for Ukrainian refugees.
UCBSO director David Milnes is uncertain about the exact founding date of the orchestra. After delving into archives, he found programs dating back to 1926 that mentioned the orchestra's founding three years earlier, in 1923. In any case, the UCBSO is commemorating its (likely) 100th anniversary with a special program this weekend, featuring Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" (narrated by UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ), Bela Bartók's "Dance Suite," and Ludwig van Beethoven's Seventh Symphony.
