Clyde Mitchell, Culver City Symphony Orchestra
Clyde Mitchell is conducting his second season as Music Director-Conductor of the Culver City Symphony Orchestra, and continues to bring exciting new programs and tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and experience to our orchestra.
Following a B.Mus. at Louisiana State University and an M.A. at CSU-Northridge, Mitchell had a highly successful international career as a French Horn player with orchestras in Bogota, Colombia and Tucson, Arizona. In Montreal, Canada, he was Associate Principal Horn in the prestigious L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, and a music professor at McGill University.
Mitchell then retrained as an orchestral conductor with studies at CSU-Long Beach (Master of Music) and USC (Artist Diploma). After leading orchestras in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe and South America, he founded the Lions Gate Sinfonia and the Lions Gate Youth Orchestra in North Vancouver, Canada, where he continues as Music Director.
Clyde Mitchell is conducting his second season as Music Director-Conductor of the Culver City Symphony Orchestra, and continues to bring exciting new programs and tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and experience to our orchestra.
Following a B.Mus. at Louisiana State University and an M.A. at CSU-Northridge, Mitchell had a highly successful international career as a French Horn player with orchestras in Bogota, Colombia and Tucson, Arizona. In Montreal, Canada, he was Associate Principal Horn in the prestigious L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, and a music professor at McGill University.
Mitchell then retrained as an orchestral conductor with studies at CSU-Long Beach (Master of Music) and USC (Artist Diploma). After leading orchestras in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe and South America, he founded the Lions Gate Sinfonia and the Lions Gate Youth Orchestra in North Vancouver, Canada, where he continues as Music Director.
Steven Allen Fox, Marina del Rey Summer Symphony
Steven Allen Fox brings extensive experience in conducting, in composing music, and in musical productions for many different styles and genres of music. His repertoire ranges from fan favorites film scores to some of the most beloved symphonic works. He is the founding Artistic Director/Conductor of the Golden State Pops Orchestra.
On July 22nd he made his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall conducting the inaugural performance of the Los Angeles Film Orchestra. Other notable orchestras he has conducted include the San Francisco Symphony, City of Prague Philharmonic and Orquesta Sinfonics de Tenerife. In his “spare” time he also conducts and directs the El Segundo Concert Band.
Fox's education includes a Graduate Certificate in Film Scoring from U.S.C., and a Degree in Music Composition and Theory from Illinois State University.
Steven Allen Fox brings extensive experience in conducting, in composing music, and in musical productions for many different styles and genres of music. His repertoire ranges from fan favorites film scores to some of the most beloved symphonic works. He is the founding Artistic Director/Conductor of the Golden State Pops Orchestra.
On July 22nd he made his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall conducting the inaugural performance of the Los Angeles Film Orchestra. Other notable orchestras he has conducted include the San Francisco Symphony, City of Prague Philharmonic and Orquesta Sinfonics de Tenerife. In his “spare” time he also conducts and directs the El Segundo Concert Band.
Fox's education includes a Graduate Certificate in Film Scoring from U.S.C., and a Degree in Music Composition and Theory from Illinois State University.
Frank Paul Fetta III
1944-2021
As the Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor from 1976 through 2021, Maestro Fetta was responsible for the creative decisions regarding the performance, the artists and repertoire. Maestro Fetta’s versatility and skills have been widely acclaimed in both symphonic and operatic repertoire.
Maestro Fetta received his musical education and training in New York and Los Angeles and fulfills conducting engagements and operatic coaching assignments throughout the United States. From coast to coast, Frank Fetta’s musical talents have been glowingly praised and warmly appreciated.
As a guest conductor, Maestro Fetta was in high demand, and Maestro Fetta had a number of his performances heard on both radio and cable television. Many of his fans enjoyed his appearance in the Blake Edwards’ film, “Mickie And Maude” starring Dudley Moore and Amy Irving and with the Symphony on the David Letterman Film Festival with Michael J. Fox. He was the music consultant on the film “Song of the Lark” which was seen on the Mobil Masterpiece Theater.
In addition to his engagements with the Culver City Symphony and the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, he was the Conductor and Artistic Advisor to the Redlands Bowl Music Festival, Music Director and Conductor of the Torrance Symphony and Principal Conductor for the Nevada Opera Theatre.
Maestro Fetta maintained an active teaching schedule in conducting and in operatic and song literature. He resided in Los Angeles.
1944-2021
As the Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor from 1976 through 2021, Maestro Fetta was responsible for the creative decisions regarding the performance, the artists and repertoire. Maestro Fetta’s versatility and skills have been widely acclaimed in both symphonic and operatic repertoire.
Maestro Fetta received his musical education and training in New York and Los Angeles and fulfills conducting engagements and operatic coaching assignments throughout the United States. From coast to coast, Frank Fetta’s musical talents have been glowingly praised and warmly appreciated.
As a guest conductor, Maestro Fetta was in high demand, and Maestro Fetta had a number of his performances heard on both radio and cable television. Many of his fans enjoyed his appearance in the Blake Edwards’ film, “Mickie And Maude” starring Dudley Moore and Amy Irving and with the Symphony on the David Letterman Film Festival with Michael J. Fox. He was the music consultant on the film “Song of the Lark” which was seen on the Mobil Masterpiece Theater.
In addition to his engagements with the Culver City Symphony and the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, he was the Conductor and Artistic Advisor to the Redlands Bowl Music Festival, Music Director and Conductor of the Torrance Symphony and Principal Conductor for the Nevada Opera Theatre.
Maestro Fetta maintained an active teaching schedule in conducting and in operatic and song literature. He resided in Los Angeles.
George Berres, Founder
1912-1975
It is with love and affection that we honor George Berres (1912-75) founder of the Symphony and its first Music Director and Conductor. Mr. Berres contributed a wealth of musical experience from various aspects of his life, as conductor, a prolific composer and performer. He was respected for his musical accomplishments, his strength, his kind and gentle manner, his wisdom, integrity and his fabulous sense of humor.
Born in Berlin, Mr. Berres came from a long line of musicians. His father, Juda Beresowsky, a well-known conductor, held posts in Berlin, Stockholm, New York, and then in California. At 17, George's first composition, Dream Grotto, Opus 1, No. 1, won him a prize and a public performance in New York. In that same year, both he and his father accepted invitations to join the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as violinists.
Apart from a 3 year tour of duty during World War II, Mr. Berres was in constant demand as a violinist, particularly in film, television and recording. His formal training in violin, composition and conducting was under such eminent musicians as Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Toch and Sylvan Novak. In the course of his 35-year career, Mr. Berres became acquainted with numerous renowned musicians, including Igor Stravinsky and Bruno Walter.
Mr. Berres' extensive list of prize-winning compositions includes the Harp Quintet, the Nonette: Theme and Variations, and his Symphony in D major, a commissioned piece for the San Diego Symphony. Mr. Berres composed a series of chamber pieces for various instrument combinations for advanced study by accomplished student string players. The series included quartets written in the styles of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. His symphonic works include a tone poem and a divertimento for harp and orchestra.
When Mr. Berres' daughter was born, and again when each of his 3 grandchildren were born, he composed another series of piano pieces for their beginning studies. He later orchestrated and compiled them into a children's suite dedicated to his wife Dr. Frances Berres.
As a life member of the Los Angeles local of the American Federation of Musicians ("AFM"), Mr. Berres was the conductor of its Life Members Symphony and the West Coast Chairman of the AFM Congress of Strings program. Mr. Berres' other conducting activities were the Inglewood Philharmonic, the Compton Civic Symphony and Doctors' Symphony.
1912-1975
It is with love and affection that we honor George Berres (1912-75) founder of the Symphony and its first Music Director and Conductor. Mr. Berres contributed a wealth of musical experience from various aspects of his life, as conductor, a prolific composer and performer. He was respected for his musical accomplishments, his strength, his kind and gentle manner, his wisdom, integrity and his fabulous sense of humor.
Born in Berlin, Mr. Berres came from a long line of musicians. His father, Juda Beresowsky, a well-known conductor, held posts in Berlin, Stockholm, New York, and then in California. At 17, George's first composition, Dream Grotto, Opus 1, No. 1, won him a prize and a public performance in New York. In that same year, both he and his father accepted invitations to join the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as violinists.
Apart from a 3 year tour of duty during World War II, Mr. Berres was in constant demand as a violinist, particularly in film, television and recording. His formal training in violin, composition and conducting was under such eminent musicians as Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Toch and Sylvan Novak. In the course of his 35-year career, Mr. Berres became acquainted with numerous renowned musicians, including Igor Stravinsky and Bruno Walter.
Mr. Berres' extensive list of prize-winning compositions includes the Harp Quintet, the Nonette: Theme and Variations, and his Symphony in D major, a commissioned piece for the San Diego Symphony. Mr. Berres composed a series of chamber pieces for various instrument combinations for advanced study by accomplished student string players. The series included quartets written in the styles of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. His symphonic works include a tone poem and a divertimento for harp and orchestra.
When Mr. Berres' daughter was born, and again when each of his 3 grandchildren were born, he composed another series of piano pieces for their beginning studies. He later orchestrated and compiled them into a children's suite dedicated to his wife Dr. Frances Berres.
As a life member of the Los Angeles local of the American Federation of Musicians ("AFM"), Mr. Berres was the conductor of its Life Members Symphony and the West Coast Chairman of the AFM Congress of Strings program. Mr. Berres' other conducting activities were the Inglewood Philharmonic, the Compton Civic Symphony and Doctors' Symphony.