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The Culver City Symphony Orchestra was founded by George Berres in 1963 in the Los Angeles suburb of
Westchester as a string orchestra. The string orchestra soon evolved into a full symphony orchestra, the Westchester
Symphony. The Parent Corporation is the SoCal Symphony Society, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Through its history the orchestra has performed under various names in the attempts to attract a larger audience base
through a larger geographic range. After the Westchester Symphony, the orchestra became The Marina del Rey-
Westchester Symphony for the burgeoning music devotees in nearby Marina del Rey. After the orchestra was invited
by Culver City to perform there in 2000, the name became The Culver City-Marina-Westchester Symphony, prompting
the Los Angeles Times to call it "the orchestra with the long name." We became The Culver City Symphony Orchestra
in 2005.
Even with the change in locale to Culver City, long time audience members from throughout Southern California
continue to attend concerts. Moreover, over the years our audience has included a growing number of Culver City
residents attesting to our establishing an audience base there.
The same as our move the Culver City, we were invited to perform at Burton Chace Park, Marina del Rey as the
Marina del Rey Symphony-same orchestra with Frank Fetta Conductor, but a different name. We thank Los Angelels
County Department of Beaches and Harbors for producing these concerts in one of the most beautiful settings in SoCal
to hear Classical Music.
Many of the musicians have remained with the orchestra through the years and through the name changes, giving
stability to an orchestra comprised of local musicians, teachers, freelance artists and studio musicians.
Under the direction of Conductor and Music Director Frank Fetta, the orchestra remains dedicated to providing the
highest artistic standards.
The orchestra has performed throughout Southern California, and was featured in arts festivals-including The Los
Angeles Street Festival; on radio-live music broadcasts from the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History; and
television -- the short, "The Ice Man Hummeth," created by Michael J. Fox for The David Letterman Show.
The orchestra has presented concerts dedicated to Black American, Latin American, and American Women composers.
We recently instituted a series of concert dedicated to American Music titled "American Beat." The initial concert was
January 30, 2010, when we presented a "Music of the Americas" concert featuring music by composers from
North/Central/South America. On January 29, 2011, we presented an historic and unique concert of music composed
by Women, American composers. “American Beat/African Influences” presented on June 3, 2013, featured music of
Black American Composers with a demonstration and notes on how the music scales of Western Africa made their way
to the U.S. and was the basis for the Blues and Jazz and influenced American Classical Music.
Another endeavor of the orchestra is the annual Parness Concerto Competition for ages from pre-teen to young adult-
age twenty-five. This competition attracts the best and brightest young musical talent in the Los Angeles and greater
Southern California communities. The winners are given the opportunity to perform with the orchestra, and for some
this is their first experience performing as soloist with an orchestra.
The orchestra is also the parent orchestra of The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, led by Conductor Fetta in a
series of successful concerts at Burton Chace Park.
In cost savings moves, the size of the orchestra has been reduced for some concerts. The orchestra size varies from a
chamber orchestra and, in reverting to its roots, as a string orchestra.
Through the dedication of the musicians, the board of directors and officers, elected officials, community leaders, and
volunteers, the Culver City Symphony Orchestra presents master works of the past and contemporary pieces; exciting
concert performances of operas; and the winners of the Parness Young Artists Concerto Competition.
Westchester as a string orchestra. The string orchestra soon evolved into a full symphony orchestra, the Westchester
Symphony. The Parent Corporation is the SoCal Symphony Society, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Through its history the orchestra has performed under various names in the attempts to attract a larger audience base
through a larger geographic range. After the Westchester Symphony, the orchestra became The Marina del Rey-
Westchester Symphony for the burgeoning music devotees in nearby Marina del Rey. After the orchestra was invited
by Culver City to perform there in 2000, the name became The Culver City-Marina-Westchester Symphony, prompting
the Los Angeles Times to call it "the orchestra with the long name." We became The Culver City Symphony Orchestra
in 2005.
Even with the change in locale to Culver City, long time audience members from throughout Southern California
continue to attend concerts. Moreover, over the years our audience has included a growing number of Culver City
residents attesting to our establishing an audience base there.
The same as our move the Culver City, we were invited to perform at Burton Chace Park, Marina del Rey as the
Marina del Rey Symphony-same orchestra with Frank Fetta Conductor, but a different name. We thank Los Angelels
County Department of Beaches and Harbors for producing these concerts in one of the most beautiful settings in SoCal
to hear Classical Music.
Many of the musicians have remained with the orchestra through the years and through the name changes, giving
stability to an orchestra comprised of local musicians, teachers, freelance artists and studio musicians.
Under the direction of Conductor and Music Director Frank Fetta, the orchestra remains dedicated to providing the
highest artistic standards.
The orchestra has performed throughout Southern California, and was featured in arts festivals-including The Los
Angeles Street Festival; on radio-live music broadcasts from the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History; and
television -- the short, "The Ice Man Hummeth," created by Michael J. Fox for The David Letterman Show.
The orchestra has presented concerts dedicated to Black American, Latin American, and American Women composers.
We recently instituted a series of concert dedicated to American Music titled "American Beat." The initial concert was
January 30, 2010, when we presented a "Music of the Americas" concert featuring music by composers from
North/Central/South America. On January 29, 2011, we presented an historic and unique concert of music composed
by Women, American composers. “American Beat/African Influences” presented on June 3, 2013, featured music of
Black American Composers with a demonstration and notes on how the music scales of Western Africa made their way
to the U.S. and was the basis for the Blues and Jazz and influenced American Classical Music.
Another endeavor of the orchestra is the annual Parness Concerto Competition for ages from pre-teen to young adult-
age twenty-five. This competition attracts the best and brightest young musical talent in the Los Angeles and greater
Southern California communities. The winners are given the opportunity to perform with the orchestra, and for some
this is their first experience performing as soloist with an orchestra.
The orchestra is also the parent orchestra of The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, led by Conductor Fetta in a
series of successful concerts at Burton Chace Park.
In cost savings moves, the size of the orchestra has been reduced for some concerts. The orchestra size varies from a
chamber orchestra and, in reverting to its roots, as a string orchestra.
Through the dedication of the musicians, the board of directors and officers, elected officials, community leaders, and
volunteers, the Culver City Symphony Orchestra presents master works of the past and contemporary pieces; exciting
concert performances of operas; and the winners of the Parness Young Artists Concerto Competition.