About La Jolla Symphony & Chorus

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) is a dynamic, independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and a proud affiliate of UCSD. Each year, we perform six pairs of concerts in Mandeville Auditorium, along with additional community concerts in venues throughout San Diego. Our ensemble is made up of 230 passionate volunteer musicians from all walks of life-doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, and professional musicians-all coming together to share their love of music.

Beyond our concerts, LJS&C is deeply committed to fostering the future of music. We sponsor an annual Young Artists Competition, commission new works for orchestra and chorus each year, and provide essential music education to K-12 schools across San Diego County.

Your donations directly support our artistic mission, enabling our 230 community musicians to continue creating music and allowing us to extend our music education and outreach programs throughout San Diego.

Help us sustain our musical legacy and commitment to excellence.

Diversity Statement

At La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, we renew our commitment to the core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. While we firmly believe in the power of music to unite and inspire, we acknowledge that many communities have historically been underrepresented in our activities and projects.

In addition to upholding the rich traditions of symphony orchestra and chorus, we are committed to making these traditions more inclusive. We pledge to amplify the voices of underrepresented artists and ensure that our musical programs and organizational structures are equitable, diverse, and welcoming to all.

Join us as we continue our journey toward a more inclusive musical future.

Executive Director
Stephanie Weaver Yankee

Stephanie Weaver Yankee began her tenure at LJS&C in late September 2019 and had oreviously served as executive director of the Cape Conservatory in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a position she had held since 2011. In addition to being an experienced arts administrator and educator, Stephanie Weaver Yankee is an accomplished pianist. She received her D.M.A. degree in Piano Performance from Michigan State University and her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Western Ontario. Prior to her position with the Cape Conservatory, she served a dozen years at the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts, first as the School’s Dean of Music and next as its president and executive director.

Music Director and Chorus Conductor
Arian Khaefi

Prior to joining San Diego State University in September 2019, Dr. Khaefi served as director of choral activities at Fullerton College and Towson University in Maryland. He holds D.M.A and M.M. degrees in conducting from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and the University of California, Los Angeles, respectively. An active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization, Dr. Khaefi is also the current Secretary of the Choral Consortium of San Diego.

Music Director and Orchestra Conductor
Sameer Patel

Named Musical America’s April 2023 New Artist of the Month and recognized for his “profound artistry” (The San Diego Union Tribune), Sameer Patel is one of America’s most exciting conductors. Patel was recently appointed the Music Director and Orchestra Conductor of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and is also Artistic Director of the San Diego Youth Symphony. Formerly, he served as Associate Conductor of the Sun Valley Music Festival and Associate Conductor of the San Diego Symphony, and held conducting positions with the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Patel has assisted and learned from some of the greatest conductors of our time – Gianandrea Noseda, Daniele Gatti, Gustavo Dudamel, Jaap van Zweden, Charles Dutoit, Paavo Järvi, Kurt Masur, Bernard Haitink, Edo de Waart, Robert Spano, and Stéphane Denève – and is dedicated to fostering the next generation of passionate musicians. Patel’s impressive work has led to recognition by the Solti Foundation U.S., which granted him three consecutive Career Assistance Awards and an Elizabeth Buccheri Opera Residency with North Carolina Opera; Daniele Gatti, acknowledging Patel as a top conductor at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy; Kurt Masur, the late Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, with a prize from the Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Foundation; and the League of American Orchestras. Born and raised in Michigan, Patel makes his home in San Diego with his wife, Shannon, and two children, Devan and Veda.

Board of Directors

MICHAEL KINNAMON, VICE PRESIDENT
EINAR GALL, PRESIDENT

LINDA ALTES, TREASURER

JUDY ENNS, SECRETARY

KAREN ERICKSON, CHORUS LIAISON

CATHERINE CHYI,
ORCHESTRA LIAISON

SUE APPELBAUM

OLIVIA GRAEVE

BRYAN W. LOWE

SUZANNE MARMION

SUZI STERNER

HENRY TORRES BLANCO

Honorary Artistic Board

JOHN LUTHER ADAMS

CLAIRE CHASE

PHILLIP GLASS

DAVID LANG

WU MAN

BERNARD RANDS

STEVEN SCHICK, MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS 2022