About the Symphony

The San Luis Obispo Symphony is the premiere symphony orchestra of California’s Central Coast. Founded in 1954, we are a cultural cornerstone for San Luis Obispo and the surrounding communities.

In addition to our concert hall performances which bring world-class guest artists and thrilling music to SLO, we are also dedicated to enriching music education throughout the region. Our wide variety of music education programs engage children from Monterey to Santa Barbara and enable them to develop and foster a lifelong love of music.

Your support makes it possible for the San Luis Obispo Symphony to bring exciting music and one-of-a-kind experiences to the Central Coast. By sponsoring a musician, you make a lasting impact to the vital cultural scene in our community. Please email [email protected] to sponsor a musician today! 

VIOLIN I
Emily Lanzone | Concertmaster
Sponsored by Fred and Carol Astaire and Dr. Susan Minker

Sharon Holland
Sponsored by Nancy Webber and Roger Vogler

Carol Kersten*

Kristine Pacheco

Ginette Reitz

Grace Seng
Sponsored by Mary and Thomas Tanner

Philip Shanks*

Eva Werner

VIOLIN II
Timothy Shanks | Principal

Barbara Blanke
Sponsored by Melinda and Jim Avila 

Valarie Koos

Ingrid Kovacs
Sponsored by Eric and Karen Warren

Sonya Lanzen-Castellanos

Leanna Marchell
Sponsored by John and Becky Baer

Tanya Streder
Sponsored by Garrett Foulke and Dorothy Correa

VIOLA
David Hennessee | Principal
Sponsored by Dr. Susan Minker

Peter Liepman
Sponsored by Rosemary and Kathleen Thorne

Karen Loewi Jones
Sponsored by Francie Levy and Larry Akey

Jack Marzano
Sponsored by Anne Tiber Jayden Perez

Dorothy Rose

Margaret Whitson
Sponsored by Ursula Fitzgerald

Kim Wilkins
Sponsored by John and Mary Frey

CELLO
Hilary Clark | Principal
Sponsored by Peggy Lance Little and Miki Gillman and Larry Batcheldor

Nan Hamilton
Sponsored by Jerry Boots and Cricket Handler

Min Lee

Titus Shanks

Lyubov Solovyova
Sponsored by Martha Michalojko Kettelkamp

Drew Van Duren

Bradley Taylor*

BASS

Ken Hustad | Principal
Jay and Yolanda Waddell

David George

Ed Harris

FLUTE

Marley Eder | Principal
Sponsored by Rosemary and Kathleen Thorne

Bonnie Richan
Sponsored by Cindy Marie Absey

PICCOLO
Nancy Smee

OBOE
Jessica Hoffman | Principal
Sponsored by Garrett Foulke and Dorothy Correa

Bom An

ENGLISH HORN

Heidi Butterfield-Yi

CLARINET
Richard Dobeck | Principal
Sponsored by Kathrine Coull

Ian Murton
Sponsored by George and Judy Shepard

BASS CLARINET
Shannon McNeely
Sponsored by John Dilworth and Carole Maurer

Learn more about opportunities to perform with the San Luis Obispo Symphony.

Looking for musicians for your event? Check our directory for referrals.