PARADISE — I’ve heard a couple of orchestra members say that not everyone even knows the Paradise Symphony Orchestra exists. It does, and it’s better than ever. I went to the last two performances and found them enchanting.
Symphony publicist Jan Wade detailed the orchestra’s history.
In 1958, Paradise Recreation District Director Harvey Roth put an ad in the Paradise News Press inviting local musicians to meet with him in the hope of organizing a symphony in Paradise, Wade said. Eight people responded and thus began the Paradise Community Orchestra.
Since 2018 when the Camp Fire hit, eight conductors have overseen the orchestra which before the fire, had over 50 members, and the Paradise Community Orchestra became the Paradise Symphony Orchestra, with a Paradise Symphony Society and board to oversee the administration and organization of its activities.
The symphony has several youth education programs to help young musicians develop their music, play stringed instruments and provide opportunity for the annual Young Artists Competition winners to perform with the orchestra during one of its concerts. In 2024, the Young Artists winners were Ethan Kitto, Catalina Huss and J.J. Tiefenbach.
The 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons were impacted by the fire and the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic. However, small groups from the symphony performed on Zoom. In mid 2021, some of the pandemic restrictions were lifted and the remaining orchestra members began to perform again.
Performances since that time included a free public concert in May 2021 at the Paradise Performing Arts Center with annual free patriotic concerts on July 4 and regularly scheduled fundraisers. The concert seasons have proceeded as planned and the 2024-2025 season will begin with two concerts at the Paradise Performing Arts Center July 4.
Attendance has grown, but provides only about 10% of the required funding to support the orchestra, Wade said. Other funding is provided through commercial sponsorship, individual society membership and fundraisers.
Orchestra flutist Glenda Ott has been playing the flute since the eighth grade and has been a symphony member for 41 years. She was also on the board for 20 years.
Ott joined the symphony after a hiatus of raising her family. When her husband retired they moved to Paradise and lived next door to the concert master. The first flute player died and Ott became first chair. She was a Camp Fire victim and lives in Chico now.
“After the fire we rehearsed at different locations,” Ott said. “Schools, churches; whoever would let us have rehearsals. We had a sense of normalcy. The music was a godsend.”
Ott rarely misses a performance and played during the recent “For the Kid in All of Us” concert and “Best of Broadway.”
“We are building back up after the fire,” she said.
Ott loves playing with the symphony.
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“I have a lot of things in my life, but music has always been my basic enjoyment and passion,” she said. “I’m going to hang onto it as long as I can.”
Ott has made friends with other symphony members. She appreciates the direction of conductor and music director Lloyd Roby.
“He is delightful,” Ott said. “After the fire, he worked so hard at keeping the orchestra together and searched for locations for us to continue rehearsing. He kept us going.”
The COVID-19 pandemic threw the symphony for a loop but managed to stay together.
“We never stopped rehearsing,” Ott said. “It’s been difficult since the Camp Fire. So many people had to relocate. It’s been quite a challenge to lead us. We never want to miss an opportunity to urge people to join the board or volunteer.”
There will be two free symphony July 4 concerts at the Paradise Performing Art Center located at 777 Nunneley Road at 2 and 4 p.m. with lots of patriotic music. The Paradise Community Chorus will join. For further information, visit www.paradisesymphony.org. The orchestra can also be found on Facebook under Paradise Symphony Orchestra.
“It’s always a patriotic day,” Ott said. “It’s good for all ages.”
Jennie Blevins writes an arts and entertainment column. To make suggestions or ask questions, email her at [email protected].
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