The Concert Orchestra has been training tomorrow’s classical musicians since 1965, and consists of musicians from 7th – 12th grade. These committed young people comprise the organization’s most advanced string, woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians, performing the most difficult repertoire of the ensembles.
Concert Orchestra has toured Europe, British Columbia, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Chicago, Illinois, and Alaska. In addition to Youth Symphony, Concert Orchestra musicians are given the opportunity to perform in competitions, solo, and chamber music recitals. Tuition is not refundable.
Meet the Conductor
Al Streder grew up in the Chicago area and earned his Bachelor of Music at Roosevelt University in Chicago in 1977, and he taught general music and band for a year in the Chicago area, before moving to California (the Bay area). He taught music in the Campbell School district for three years, before joining the staff of a Christian music ministry in southern California. Al and his wife, Tanya, also a musician and violin teacher, moved to SLO in 1992 to join the staff at Grace Central Coast, a local church. Since moving to SLO, Al has played with various musical groups, including the San Luis Symphony, Santa Maria Philharmonic, PCPA and others. He served for several years as brass coach for the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony.
Meet the Conductor
Emily Lanzone earned a Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Nevada, Reno. She holds a professional studies diploma in violin performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is concertmaster of the San Luis Obispo Symphony, and a member of the Santa Cruz Symphony, Santa Maria Philharmonic and Oregon Coast Music Festival. Lanzone is a past member of the Eugene Symphony, San Francisco Conservatory Baroque Ensemble and Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. She also teaches violin at Cuesta College, and coaches for Central Coast orchestra camps. In 2020, Emily was named Concertmaster for the San Luis Obispo Symphony.