Rio Hondo Symphony

Home :: Site Map :: Contact Us

Who We Are

The Rio Hondo Symphony performs four admission free classical music concerts each season at the Vic Lopez Auditorium at Whittier High School, Whittier Ave. in Whittier California. The concerts start at 3 PM, have one intermission, and are completed before 5 PM. Two concerts are held in the fall, and two in the spring.

Each concert is preceded by a Concert Preview sponsored by the Rio Hondo Symphony Guild and is held at 10 AM on the Friday before concert. In addition, each concert is followed by a reception hosted by the cities of Whittier and Santa Fe Springs, the Symphony Association, and the Rio Hondo Symphony Guild in a separate location for each reception. Members at the Soloist level ($150) and higher will receive an invitation to the reception in the mail.

Various special events related to the Rio Hondo Symphony are held each year.

Mission Statement

1. To enrich the cultural life of the communities it serves.
2. To expand the musical knowledge of youth and adults.
3. To provide an outlet for the talents of the musicians through the performance of symphony music.

The Association's goals are:
1. To enrich the cultural life of the communities it serves.
For more than 80 years the Symphony Association has been presenting four ADMISSION-FREE concerts for the benefit and enjoyment of the entire community. Today 1,600 or more music lovers attend each concert.

2. To expand the musical knowledge of youth and adults.
• For more than 20 years the Symphony has been sponsoring a Music Education Program which reaches 8,000 children each year. Three professional musicians present 45-minute performance demonstrations to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders throughout the Greater Whittier area.
• Each year the Symphony presents at least one special Children's Concert for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. The concerts are created especially for the young audience. Most of the youngsters enjoy the experience of hearing a live symphony orchestra for the first time. They also learn a bit about proper concert etiquette.
• The Young Artists Competition was established to give young musicians an opportunity to compete against one another and, in doing so, to be motivated towards musical excellence. The winners have the priceless opportunity of appearing as soloists with the orchestra.
• The Symphony Guild sponsors a Concert Preview for adults Friday morning before each concert. An expert in the field of music offers facts and anecdotes about the composers and the works to be performed by the orchestra the following Sunday.

3. To provide an outlet for the talents of the musicians through the performance of symphony music.
When the Conductor and Music Director selects the music for each concert, he must think not only of the audience but also the musicians. The compositions should be challenging to them. The performances give the musicians a chance to display their talents to a live audience; the conductor has an opportunity to inspire the musicians to perform to their full potential.

Once again, the Symphony hopes to achieve those goals. Membership in the Symphony Association and an appreciative audience help to make that possible.

Meet the President

Fred Zermeno - RHSA President