UPDATE MARCH 20, 2020 | 3:44 PM
With government mandates regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus interrupting events across the state, the San Luis Obispo Symphony has postponed its May 2 performance of “Russian Romance” to August 15, 2020. The program remains unchanged.
SHCHEDRIN The Little Humpbacked Horse
RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 2, “Little Russian”
CONDUCTOR Andrew Sewell
PIANO Ilya Yakushev
If you have tickets to the May 2 performance, rest assured – they will be honored at the August 15 concert. For more information about ticket exchanges or refunds, please contact [email protected] or call 805-548-1586.
Your health and safety is our primary concern. So many of you have reached out to us here at the San Luis Obispo Symphony, and we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled performance, please consider donating the value of your tickets back to the Symphony.
UPDATE MARCH 17, 2020 | 2:11 PM
As of today, the San Luis Obispo Symphony staff will be working remotely as much as possible as we follow guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19. You will still be able to reach staff members by phone and email, and we thank you for your patience as we work out the kinks over the coming days.
Please check the directory below for Symphony staff direct contact information:
Paul Severtson, Interim Executive Director
[email protected]
805-548-1582
805-459-9003
Leslie A. McKinkley, Director of Resource Development
[email protected]
805-548-1584
Jenny Beddy, Office Manager
[email protected]
805-548-1586
Kristen Hintz, Marketing and Communications Manager
[email protected]
805-548-1585
Richard Dobeck, Orchestra Manager
[email protected]
805-548-1588
Emelia Banninger, Interim Music Education Director
[email protected]
805-548-1583
UPDATE MARCH 13, 2020 | 4:13 PM
As you have probably already heard, this afternoon San Luis Coastal Unified School District made the decision to close all schools, beginning next week. Due to this mandated closure, there will be no Youth Symphony rehearsal on Monday, March 16.
We will let you know next week about the possibility for alternate rehearsals moving forward. In the meantime, students are encouraged to continue practicing at home!
UPDATE MARCH 12, 2020 | 5:04 PM
We have been in communication with the team at Disney Performing Arts. Due to the temporary closure of Disneyland, we will be rescheduling the studio session for Youth Symphony participants. Thank you for your patience. Things have been evolving rapidly, and we are making effort to ensure that students are able to continue having fun, fulfilling, and healthy experiences through Youth Symphony.
UPDATE MARCH 12, 2020 | 4:05 PM
A Message from SLO Symphony Leadership:
San Luis Obispo Symphony Patron Alert Concerning Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The primary concern of the San Luis Obispo Symphony is the health and well-being of our patrons, staff, musicians and community. In an effort to keep you informed, we are sending you this communication concerning the recent world-wide outbreak of COVID-19-related infection.
COVID-19 causes a respiratory illness that may range from mild to severe to even fatal. There is much about COVID-19 that is still unknown and the full picture of this pandemic continues to evolve. What is known is that older people and people with underlying health conditions are at greatest risk. One method to slow the spread of disease is to increase social distancing (reduce close contact).
The Symphony Board and leadership recognize our responsibility for the protection of our Symphony family, as well as the larger local community. We would like to reassure our patrons that the SLO Symphony is an active partner with other community authorities monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it pertains to community-wide gatherings and events.
Fortunately, at the time of this writing, there are no reported cases in San Luis Obispo County. We will remain vigilant in monitoring recommendations from the California Department of Public Health, and we will notify our patrons as soon as we become aware of the need to change or adjust any public events. We will make every effort to act with an abundance of caution. In the event that a concert or event requires cancellation, every effort will be made to provide the earliest notification to patrons and to offer feasible alternatives.
At this time, we have cancelled the Sunday, March 15th Youth Symphony concert. Further updates will be forthcoming.
We thank you for your continued support of your San Luis Obispo Symphony.
Paul Severtson
Interim Executive Director
Mark Sherman
Board President
UPDATE MARCH 12, 2020 | 1:07 PM
New guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have issued by the California state government which recommend the suspension of public events and gatherings of more than 250 people. Our next scheduled concert is on May 2, and we are optimistic that any restrictions on public events will be lifted by that time. For now, we plan to move forward with “Russian Romance” as scheduled. We are closely monitoring updates and recommendations from the state health department and will keep you informed if things change.
The March 15 Youth Symphony spring concert has been cancelled. This decision has been made following intensive review and discussion between YS coaches and conductors, symphony staff administration and members of the SLO Symphony Board of Directors.
We thank you for your continued support of the San Luis Obispo Symphony as we all work together to navigate these changes. On behalf of the board of directors, musicians, and staff, we send our best wishes for health and happiness to you and your family.