About Us

 

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Since its debut, the Symphony has worked to provide the South Orange County communities exciting musical programs at a variety of venues, both indoors and out. These have ranged from public park facilities to local playhouses and hotel ballrooms and even our beloved Mission. The performances vary from our "California Pops" series to chamber music and includes special event programs.

 

The Capistrano Valley Symphony is a professional symphony orchestra. Our musicians come from concert halls and recording studios throughout Los Angeles and Orange County and represent some of the Southern California’s greatest musical talent.

 

About Capistrano Valley Symphony

OUR GOAL - The mission of the Capistrano Valley Symphony is to provide concerts and educational programs of the highest quality symphonic music to the residents and visitors of South Orange County…and to make this music affordable and accessible to the broadest possible audience.

 

A BRIEF HISTORY - The Capistrano Valley Symphony was founded in 1984 by the late Donn Lawrence Mills, a noted conductor, composer, author, and the music director for Chapman University in addition to a number of orchestras in the United States and Canada. For the past 25 years the Symphony has worked to provide the communities of South Orange County exciting musical programs at a variety of venues, both indoors and out. These have ranged from public park facilities to local playhouses, hotel ballrooms and our current home, the courtyard of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The performances vary from our signature “CALIFORNIA POPS” series to chamber music, winter holiday concerts, 4th of July events and special fundraising events ranging from a full dress “Opera Ball” to a country and western “Black Bandana Ball”.

 

YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL – The Capistrano Valley Symphony currently has an annual budget of approximately $250,000. It is a volunteer organization with no paid administrative staff. The average concert costs $22,000 to $28,000. Ticket sales account for less than 60% of the budget. The balance comes from the active involvement of the board of trustees, grants from local governments and corporations and from individual sponsors. In addition to sponsorship and advertising opportunities, we have two donor programs, Annual donors can support us with donations ranging from $100 to $20,000 or Strike a Note donors can make a 5 year pledge ranging from $500 to $100,000. The Symphony is a non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.