Stanford Summer Symphony

The Stanford Summer Symphony is one of three orchestras, along with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford Philharmonia, sponsored by the Stanford Department of Music. The 2026 Stanford Summer Symphony will rehearse twice weekly, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:30pm, for six weeks beginning on 23 June 2026, and will give two performances, on Friday, 31 July, and Saturday, 1 August 2026. Both concerts will take place in Bing Concert Hall and start at 7:30pm. This summer the Stanford Summer Symphony and Stanford Summer Chorus will join forces for performances of Felix Mendelssohn's Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise), op. 52, an 11-movement "Symphony-Cantata on Words of the Holy Bible for Soloists, Choir, and Orchestra" composed by Mendelssohn in 1840. Anyone interested in playing in the 2026 Stanford Summer Symphony should fill out the Participation Form and sign up for an audition time.

Members of the Stanford Summer Symphony include Stanford undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, high school students enrolled in the Stanford Summer Session, and community members. Stanford affiliation is not required for membership, which is determined by audition and open to musicians of all ages. Stanford students who auditioned in Fall 2025 are not required to re-audition for the Summer Symphony; auditions are only required for prospective Summer Session students, community members, and any Stanford students or Stanford-affiliated individuals who did not audition earlier in the year. Questions about the 2026 Stanford Summer Symphony should be emailed to orchestra@stanford.edu. The Summer Symphony roster will be announced during the week of June 14.

        2026 STANFORD SUMMER SYMPHONY  •  2026 Program     
ETHEL SMYTH    Overture to The Wreckers   Stanford Summer Symphony Orchestra    Paul Phillips, conductor  
SHAWN KIRCHNER    Heavenly Home   Stanford Summer Chorus    Rafael Ornes, conductor 
FELIX MENDELSSOHN    Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise)
  Esther Tonea, soprano I
  Jennie Yukyung Byun, soprano II
  Chance Jonas-O'Toole, tenor
  Stanford Summer Symphony Orchestra & Stanford Summer Chorus
  Paul Phillips, conductor 

Roster:  3 fl/picc   3 ob/EH   3 clar/bass   3 bassoon/contra   4-5hn   2 tpt   3 trb   tuba   harp   organ   1-2timp  1-2perc   strings: 14-12-10-8-6