Welcome
Welcome new players!! You will find our culture to be both challenging and nurturing. As a community ensemble, you might be sitting between a young up-and-comer and a seasoned master.
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We do not hold formal auditions, but rather schedule informal meetings with the Director, and occasionally, the section leader, to chat, and hear a tiny bit of music. Placement in the sections is based upon the overall sound of the ensemble, not "challenges" or auditions each term.
Upcoming Repertoire
Upcoming Repertoire
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PSO 2025-2026 CONCERT SEASON
The Road to Joy
Fall 2025
Joyful Collaborations: Bach Concerto in D minor with Gach (1738)
Join the Palomar Symphony Orchestra on our Road to Joy season, framed by two epic works in D minor, written almost 100 years apart. Our first concert features Professor Emeritus Dr. Peter Gach as piano soloist on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto No. 1 in D minor BWV 1052. Originally for harpsichord, this richly woven composition sets us out on our journey with a forthright sense of purpose.
October 14th PSO 1 Tech
October 18th 7:00 PSO 1 Performance
October 19th 2:00pm PSO 1 Performance
The Eternal Search for Joy: Brahms Symphony No. 4 (1885)
Our second concert in our Road to Joy series continues the journey with a work filled with the very human longing for joy. Brahms wrote his fourth and final symphony 60 years after Beethoven’s ninth symphony, yet we can still sense the enormous weight of that shadow. Set in the stormy key of E minor, this work valiantly explores the eternal struggle between darkness and light – and the misty space in between.
December 2nd PSO 2 Tech
December 7th 2:00pm PSO 2 Performance
Spring 2026
Joyful Discoveries – student compositions and performances w/Fortissimo (2026)
The Road to Joy continues as the PSO uncovers the imagination and talent of our own Palomar music students one hundred years after Beethoven’s masterpiece. We will feature student compositions and instrumental and vocal soloists performing movements from instrumental concerti and opera arias. Be ready for some surprises!
April1st PSO 3 Tech
April 4th 7:00pm PSO 3
Ode to Joy: Beethoven Symphony No. 9 PSO and Choirs (1824)
Experience the monumental power of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, performed by the Palomar Symphony Orchestra alongside the Palomar Chorale, Palomar Chamber Singers, guest choruses, and distinguished soloists. This epic choral symphony, celebrated as one of the greatest masterpieces in Western classical music, culminates in the iconic “Ode to Joy,” a jubilant celebration of humanity and brotherhood set to Friedrich Schiller’s timeless text. Under the expert direction of Ellen Weller and John Russell, this performance promises a stirring fusion of rich orchestral textures and soaring vocal harmonies, delivering an unforgettable evening of musical grandeur and emotional depth. Join us for a transcendent journey through Beethoven’s visionary final symphony, a true testament to the enduring spirit of joy and unity.
May 19th PSO 4 Tech
May21st 7:00pm PSO 4 Performance
May 23rd 7:00pm PSO 4 Performance
May 24th 2:00pm PSO 4 Performance
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Rehearsals
Rehearsals will begin promptly at 6:00 pm in Room D-6, so please plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early so that we are set up and ready to tune at 6:00 pm. Please plan to remain for the entire rehearsal, unless dismissed earlier. Sectionals for both strings and winds will be held during regular rehearsal times and are scheduled or TBA.
The bulk of what we do as musicians occurs during rehearsals. The quality of the collective musical experience is dependent upon individual effort and responsibility, both during and in between rehearsals. Please be prompt and have your parts prepared. If you are unable to attend a regular rehearsal, please contact your section leader ASAP and arrange for a sub.
Dress rehearsals will be held at the designated performance venue during the week of each concert or D6. Attendance at these rehearsals is mandatory. If you have a conflict with any of these rehearsals, please provide me with a written statement of the conflict date and reason ASAP.
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Parking Info
Students may now purchase the student parking permit through their MyPalomar student account. Parking Services uses a contactless parking digital system for purchasing parking permits on all Palomar College campuses which allows for up to 5 vehicles to be “registered” to one student. The license plate number will act as the parking permit eliminating the need for a physical permit to be displayed in the vehicle. Students will no longer need to move a permit from one vehicle to another. However, students are only allowed to have one vehicle registered to them parked on campus at any time.
If you have any further questions, please contact Candy Santos (csantos@palomar.edu) or Shellsea Divine (sdivine@palomar.edu).
No one, except faculty, is allowed to park in the faculty lot in front of the “D” building (lot 1). If you choose not to purchase a parking permit you will be parking at your own risk and the PAD cannot assume any responsibilities.
Sprinter
NCTD SPRINTER/BREEZE: Cost $57.60 per month for Palomar students. Adult Regional monthly passes are sold for Palomar College students with valid I.D. and enrollment verification at the cashier windows (Administration Building) on the main campus. Many BREEZE bus routes serve Palomar College in both San Marcos and Escondido. The main campus in San Marcos conveniently has a SPRINTER station located just south of Mission Road.
Contact
If you are interested in playing with the PSO, please contact Dr. Weller with your name, contact information, instrument and experience. We will reach out to speak with you and set up an audition if applicable.
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Dr Ellen Weller
Professor Of Music
Office: (760) 744-1150 ext 3949
email: eweller@palomar.edu
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Box Office:
(760) 744-1150 ext 2453