We had a tradition at my house, a tradition I am sure is not unique to my family. Every August when the first day of school rolled around, my brother and I had our pictures taken before heading down the driveway to the bus stop. Always in our new school clothes, with our back packs stuffed with brand new school supplies, these pictures remind me of a new beginning we, as children, got every year that we, as adults, do not (Excepting New Year’s, but everybody gets that). Looking beyond our annoyed expressions (“Mom! Hurry uppppp!”), I now see a complex mixture of emotions ranging from hopeful to anxious behind my Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox.

Though we’ve outgrown our need for crayons and loose leaf paper, we in the symphony orchestra community are blessed to still have this extra opportunity for a new beginning. Each fall, we get to start again and build on last season’s successes for a bigger and better year.

Because we operate on loosely the same calendar as the American school system (September to May), it is often perceived that we experience a slow summer. I can assure you, that is not the case. I don’t mean for this to sound like a “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” essay, but I do want to share that all summer, LACO staff worked to prepare artist contracts, write grant applications, secure musical scores, print and mail brochures, update our website, plan the education program for the year and countless other projects that prepare us for the season. Much like “summer reading” assignments, we’ve done our best to prepare for our return to the busy concert-filled months so that we can hit the ground running.

We have an amazing lineup of concerts and performances this season, and it will be great to return the concert hall in just a few weeks.

A new season is a wonderful thing –- a chance to return to what it is that LACO does best: to enrich and connect our community through intimate and transformative musical experiences. We’re ready, and we look forward to seeing you soon!