The objectives of this organization shall be to bring a series of classical music concerts annually to the Coachella Valley and generally to promote an interest in classical music. In order to accomplish this goal, the Friends may provide scholarships, equipment or other assistance to promising young musicians and assist financially other not for profit organizations with similar goals.

Our first concert took place in 1974 but work and plans began in 1973 when a small group of desert music-lovers arranged for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra with Zubin Mehta conducting to perform a guest concert at the Palm Springs High School in 1974. That small group of forward-thinking people has grown into a successful non profit organization. Concerts continued to be performed at the High School until 1988 when the Friends gratefully took up residence at the newly constructed McCallum Theatre. It is with great pride that we list the Orchestras and concert artists who have performed the world’s greatest music for our audience. During these 30 years our stage has been graced with 40 world class orchestra’s and their renowned conductors and soloists. Of the 21 American Orchestras, in addition to the Los Angeles Philharmonic who have made over 30 appearances here our stage has been graced by the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony. Nineteen International Orchestras including; the Israel Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, London Philharmonic and the Russian National Orchestra. Over 60 different conductors have appeared; Zubin Mehta has appeared here nine times, Andre Previn four times, Vladimir Ashkenazy has been here three times, Kurt Masur twice, Seiji Ozawa, Daniel Barenboim, Daniele Gatti and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Eighty orchestral soloists and instrumental recitalists including Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Yefim Bronfman, Joshua Bell, Midori, Jean-Yves Thibaudet have all performed locally.

The Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic’s involvement in the desert community extends beyond the six performances each season. Part of our mission is to promote education and classical music for the children of the Coachella Valley. Scholarships started in 1975 with students auditioning for cash awards. We partially financed a talented cellist, a graduate of Julliard for several years. The music mobile toured various schools with musical instruments for the students to see and hold. Instruments were played and their use in a symphony orchestra was explained. Our next move was to underwrite the top audition winners sending them to Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, which is now an annual event. Idyllwild School of Arts joins the Palm Springs Friends in awarding two weeks summer school for piano, winds, strings, brass, and percussion. This program is available to music students in the Coachella Valley, ages 11 to 19, and as a result, many Coachella Valley students have attended the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program. Two of the recipients who studied at the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program have gone on to college to major in music after receiving our partial college scholarship award.

Keeping in line with our objectives, this season it is with a great deal of pride in these fine young musicians that we assist several of our local schools with funds to purchase needed musical instruments and to help support summer band trips.

The Cathedral High School Band, under the direction of Gregory Whitmore toured United Kingdom for ten days.  The Band had four performances and students were excited and grateful to have the opportunity to visit England and Wales. Band students worked hard raising money for the trip and to help them meet their goals, the Board of Directors of the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic voted to donate funds to assist these worthwhile endeavors.  Palm Springs High School Band also received funding to assist with their summer band trip to South Africa.  Nellie Coffman Middle School Band used funds to purchase much needed musical instruments.  Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic also made a donation to The Coachella Valley Unified School District to purchase musical instruments for their after school music programs at several of the elementary schools within their district.  With so many funding cuts in schools for music education, it is certain that these grants help reach many deserving students with the gift of music.   

Other Youth Activities for this season, in partnership with the McCallum Theatre Institute, will be presentations of the "Field Trip Series" for school age children performed at the McCallum Theater in the Fall. 

Our hard working Board of Directors with 22 members whose contributions of time, vigilance, expertise and artist selection continue to make this all possible.

Officers

Mr. Henry Freund, President

Mrs. Lynn Zimmer, Vice-President, Subscriptions

Mr. Robert E. Armstrong, Vice-President, Artist Selection

Mr. Paul Symons, Vice-President, Concert Arrangements

Mr. Marshall M. Gelfand, Treasurer

Mrs. Carol S. Lewis, Recording Secretary

Mrs. Eleanor Sidenfaden, Corresponding Secretary

Mrs. Hannah H. Schneider, Immediate Past President

Mr. Robert Rose, Parliamentarian

Directors

Mr. Robert E. Armstrong

Dr. Gerald Benston

Mrs. Lois Darr

Mr. Henry L. Freund

Mr. Marshall M. Gelfand

Mrs. George Goldstein (Dorothy)

Mr. Joseph H. Stein, Jr. 

Mr. Paul M. Symons

Mrs. Lynn Zimmer

Directors Emeritus

Clara Burgess

Olga Giannini

Evie Glieberman

Betty Haas

Helen Korman

Executive Director

Sandy Lewis