In 1978, a little known Japanese-American conductor was appointed music director of a community orchestra known for performing standard repertoire in street clothes. This association proved to be the seed of a flourishing artistic endeavor in a community known for risk-taking, innovation and diversity. Within just a few years, Kent Nagano had carved out a unique identity for himself and a revitalized orchestra—the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra.

Thirty years later, the partnership between Nagano and Berkeley Symphony is unlike that of any orchestra, anywhere. Nagano and Berkeley Symphony have developed a distinctive brand of programming that includes 20th century scores by composers ranging from Olivier Messiaen to Frank Zappa, to revealing performances of the standard orchestral repertoire, to the most intriguing young composers of our time.

Berkeley Symphony is now poised to begin a new, exciting chapter with 32-year-old Lisbon native Joana Carneiro as Music Director. With an express interest in furthering Berkeley Symphony's signature programming, for her debut season Joana Carneiro embraces composers including Berkeley residents John Adams, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Paul Dresher, her musical mentors Esa-Pekka Salonen and Steven Stucky, plus favorites by Brahms, Beethoven, and Stravinsky.

Berkeley Symphony.
An orchestra as unique as the community that supports it.