Orchestra to join with SC Chorale for special tribute to veterans
On Saturday, Nov.15 at 7:30 p.m., the Culver City Symphony Orchestra joins forces with the acclaimed SoCAL Chorale for a stirring Americana concert at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, pride, and community spirit in this Veterans Tribute as Vets are invited to stand for their Branch of the Military during the singing of the Armed Forces Medley.
The Admission is free – bring your friends, family, neighbors and Vets, and let us fill the hall with gratitude and great music! After last year’s smash-hit performance, this 2025/26 Season Opening concert celebrates the best of America – its heroes, heart and harmony. Under the direction of Conductor and Music Director Clyde Mitchell, the evening’s program will uplift and delight with well known favorites and choral/symphonic masterpieces.
The program presents spectacular symphonic works by American composers, John Williams’ “Summon the Heroes”; “Variations on ‘America’” by Charles Ives; Duke Ellington’s “Duke Ellington!”; “Lincoln Portrait” by Aaron Copland, and friend of the Orchestra William Grant Still’s “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Mixed in are harmonizing pieces by European composers, including “Lacrimosa” from the “Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Greeting to America” by Johann Strauss II, and “Va, pensiero” by Giuseppe Verdi.
The dynamic, 80 voice SoCal Chorale, led by Director, Marya Basaraba will resonate splendidly in the beautiful acoustics of the auditorium during the second half of the concert in a medley of “Taps” and “Amazing Grace” arranged by Mitchell; George Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band”; the spectacular Peter Wilhousky “Battle Hymn of the Republic”; and, the ever popular “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America”.
The Chorale draws from the diverse choral community from LA County and beyond with singers traveling from as far as Reno, Houston and Pittsburgh. The ensemble has been the Resident Chorus with many symphonic organizations including the California Philharmonic and, LA Film and Golden State Pops Orchestras in iconic venues such as Disney and Royce Halls,Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the Redlands Bowl, LA Arboretum, Santa Anita Race Track, Warner Grand and Broad Theaters, the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and locally, at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. with the Culver City Summer Symphony.
Veterans Auditorium. 4117 Overland Ave., at the corner of Overland and Culver Blvd. The concert is free, and no tickets are required – but an RSVP is requested via Eventbrite to ensure sufficient seating, at http://bit.ly/3J6JMF0.
This concert kicks off the Orchestra’s 2025/26 season, with three concerts in 2026 at the Robert Frost Auditorium at Culver City High School, presenting the Winners of the most recent Parness Competition for Young Musicians. The Brahm’s “Symphony #3” and Barber’s “Violin Concerto” performed by Senior Winner, Esme Arias-Kim ring in the New Year on Jan. 25. The April 19 concert features the Tchaikovsky “Symphony No. 2,” Borodin’s “In the Steppes of Central Asia”, and movements from concerto’s by Kabalevsky and Tchaikovsky starring the Intermediate and Junior Parness Winners, violinists, Minji Choi, and Alicia Huang.
To close the 2025/26 season on June 20, the CCSO presents a powerful Juneteenth celebration in “A Tribute to Our Roots in Black America” with works by Florence Price, William Grant Still and others.
The Culver City Symphony Orchestra is a beloved community institution that has brought beautiful and inspiring music to Culver City and the surrounding communities for 60 years. The Orchestra operates under the nonprofit SoCal Symphony Society, supported by music lovers who believe in the power of live performance to inspire and unite.
For more information about this concert or to support or join the Society, visit www.culvercitysymphony.org.