VALLEJO SYMPHONY 2007-2008
Celebrating 25 Years with Maestro Ramadanoff

History of the Vallejo Symphony


The Vallejo Symphony, seventh oldest symphony orchestra in California, traces its roots to the early days of the Great Depression, when a small group of community leaders determined that local musicians needed a showcase for their talents and that other members of the community would be enriched by attending live performances of timeless music.

On February 21, 1931, a 60-piece orchestra conducted by Julius Weyland made its debut in the auditorium of the city's newly dedicated Veterans Memorial Building. Concerts were presented throughout the decade with Mr. Weyland and George Trombley conducting the orchestra during these formative years.

Activity lessened, then ceased during World War II until 1946, when the Vallejo Symphony was revitalized under the auspices of the Vallejo Recreation District and the Adult Education Department.

Dr. Orley See became its conductor at that time. In 1951, Virl M. Swan took the conductor's baton to lead the orchestra until 1961, when Dr. George Wargo began his 21-year career as music director and conductor. The sixties saw the independence of the orchestra established, a subscription concert series launched, and supportive fundraising activities begun by the Symphony Association's board of directors.  During the following decade, artistic goals for the orchestra were set, and an annual Major Gifts Campaign was established to support a professional orchestra and expand the concert season.

The 1980s saw a dramatic improvement in the quality of the orchestra and programming when David Ramadanoff, a former associate conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and winner of the 1980 Leopold Stokowski Conducting Award, accepted the position of music director and conductor. Under his dynamic leadership, the Vallejo Symphony has developed into an urban orchestra of regional importance, attracting some of the finest musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

The Vallejo Symphony now performs a four-concert subscription season and an annual Summer Pops concert each Fourth of July. As part of its commitment to the musical experience of Solano County's children, the orchestra performs Youth Concerts for the elementary school children of Vallejo, and presents its popular series of intimate, entertaining and educational Mini-Concerts in elementary schools throughout the County.