The organization

In its 41st year, the critically acclaimed, community-based Camellia Symphony Orchestra has won nine ASCAP awards for adventuresome programming. The Orchestra often performs world, national and Sacramento premieres. The artistic mission of the organization is to present concerts and programs of high artistic merit, integrating new works of diverse composers, unique classical compositions that are too rarely performed, and selections from the standard repertoire in a way which reaches the broadest possible audience.

The Orchestra has received high critical praise from the media in Sacramento for its programming and dynamic performances. The organization has been awarded grants from the California Arts Council, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, the Sacramento Bee Performing Arts Fund, the Sacramento Symphony Foudation, the Sacramento Regional Foundation, and the Amerian Composers Forum with funding from the Natinal Endowment for the Arts and the Hewlett Foundation. The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission recently ranked the Camellia Symphony Orchestra number one of 53 arts organizations in Sacramento and gave the Camellia Symphony Orchestra an "Arts Excellence Award".

The Camellia Symphony Orchestra is presented by the camellia Symphony Association, a non-profit organization.

The conductor

The 2003-2004 season marks the sixth with the Orchestra's dynamic, young music director and conductor, Eugene Castillo, the first Filipino-American to be appointed music director in a major American metropolitan ciy. Mr. Castillo is also the Assistant Conductor of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, where in 1996 he came to wide attention with critical acclaim from both the public and the orchestra, stepping in on short notice from Music Director JoAnn Falletta.

The orchestra

The orchestra is comprised of 55-65 dedicated musicians from Sacramento and surrounding communities. Although many of hte players play professionally, nearly all of them donate their services to perform with the Orchestra. Many members have been part of the orchestra for over ten years. The members are representative of a wide variety of professions, including school teachers, doctors, lawyers, and state and federal employees.

Other activities

The Camellia Symphony Association also brings an understanding of orchestral music directly to the community through education programs conducted at local schools and community centers.

The mission

The Camellia Symphony Association embodies a unique musical presence in the Sacramento community through a broad range of adventuresome programming of high artistic merit, involving commitments to education and outreach activities.