Thirty-two years ago, on April 24, 1974, a newly formed group calling itself the Palm Springs Friends of the Los Angeles Philharmonic proudly presented the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta in an appealing program of Beethoven and Rimsky Korsakoff. In 1972, Mimi Rudulph, an enthusiastic mover and shaker of things cultural in the Desert, had a dream to bring classical music by first rate orchestras to the Desert on a regular basis. Our first concert took place in 1974 but work and plans began in 1973, with a Board of Directors consisting of Mimi Rudulph, Ann Heavey, Gloria Gorelik, Tony Rose, and Erna Schulhofer securing the Palm Springs High School auditorium the only venue in town. Ann Heavey and Tony Rose still serve on this Board. The original plan was to bring the Los Angeles Philharmonic to the Desert on a regular basis, however after a short time the Friends began presenting four or five concerts annually and booking other orchestras in addition to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. From the beginning the idea of supporting memberships was considered most practical thus eliminating the prospect of yet another benefit gala to the already saturated social calendar in the Desert. That plan has proven most successful with the Friends. In January 1988 the McCallum Theatre opened it’s doors. Gratefully, the Friends took up residence in the Theatre for the concert season. Our subscription sales increased and membership support soared. Naturally with this increased interest and revenue, plus our well earned reputation with agents and audiences, the Friends today are able to book ever more prestigious orchestras such as the Boston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic.