The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an American

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

based in

Modesto, California Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the List of cities and towns in Ca ...

. Founded in 1931, the MSO plays its concerts at the Gallo Center. The current Music Director is Nicholas Hersh, who was appointed in August 2023.

History

When the Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) gave its first concert in 1931,

Modesto Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the 19th-most populous city in California. Modesto is locate ...

had a population of 17,000 and was the smallest town in the United States to have a symphony orchestra. A letter sent to musicians in December 1929 read:

We wish to organize an orchestra to be known as the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. With your cooperation and assistance, I believe we will be the only city of its size in the United States that can boast of having a symphony orchestra. We aim to give several concerts this winter and play the best there is in music."

In 1977, the MSO became a fully professional ensemble. Today, it consists of 75 - 85 professional musicians from the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay area, and is under the artistic direction of David Lockington, who began his tenure in the September 2007 as the Orchestra's eighth music director.Modesto Symphony : About MSO : History
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Notes

Musical groups established in 1931 Orchestras based in California {{US-orchestra-stub