The Alhambra Orchestra is an active community resource that works to make classical music and music education readily available to the multi-ethnic population of Miami-Dade County. Its members are committed to the concept that music is a lifelong pursuit for performers and listeners alike, enriching our community and enhancing our humanity. It rehearses weekly during the concert season, and produces 10-12 public performances annually, nearly all free.

The orchestra was founded in 1990 by Dr. Leo Walz, who realized that there was no community orchestra in this large and populous county. He recruited students and community members, and after five years of performing in churches, schools, and libraries, he incorporated the entity as Alhambra Music, Inc., to obtain 501( c)(3) status and begin real growth. The orchestra’s original home was in a now-demolished church in Coral Gables, on the street named Alhambra.

In 2000, governance was assumed by an elected board, primarily member musicians, where it remains today. In its 30-plus years of vigorous existence, this orchestra has gradually expanded its cash budget, obtained larger venues, grown into a full-sized symphony capable of performing major classical repertoire, reached ever-increasing audiences, and become an important member of the music community in Miami-Dade. But the character of the orchestra—independent and self-governing, with a volunteer board and mostly volunteer musicians—remains. Today, it has an experienced executive director, and a governing body of businesspeople, students, and professionals who are themselves member musicians, and who perform the necessary administrative functions. Of its 65-plus trained musicians, some do not make their living by primarily performing; they practice other professions or teach music, but bring their talents to the public for love of the art. In a concert review, critic Daniel Fernandez of El Nuevo Herald remarked that Alhambra Orchestra’s artists should be the envy of many ensembles who charge a great deal of money for tickets. The current artistic director/conductor is Dr. Daniel Andai, the charismatic Dean of Music at New World School of the Arts and concertmaster of the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Through such collaborations and through many musicians’ generous donation of their time and talent, Alhambra Orchestra is able to produce a full season of mostly-free, high-quality performances at a small fraction of the budget needed by other orchestras. The Alhambra Orchestra has exciting events and ambitious goals planned for our next season.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

From its earliest beginnings, Alhambra Orchestra sought partnerships with schools and other community organizations, and collaborations with arts organizations. The Alhambra Orchestra normally reaches over 4,000 concertgoers each season with two major symphonic concerts, a Halloween concert, a children’s concert, a full-length chamber concert, and multiple outreach events by small groups of musicians. Only the first concert in October, a collaboration with FIU School of Music to raise donations for music scholarships, had a small admission fee. The remainder of our programs are free.

Furthering its mission of promoting classical music and music education, the Alhambra Orchestra provides free school visits by chamber groups upon request, maintains a prestigious concerto competition for youth, and runs an annual weekend chamber music workshop for students and adults at the University of Miami. A typical concert audience is well over 450 music lovers. Our yearly Halloween concert for children at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium brings around 1,580 people to the venue. Recent collaboration partners include the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami, Miami Acting Company, Miami Collegium Musicum, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, the Bergonzi Quartet, The Children’s Trust, Pinecrest Gardens, Manny Perez Voice Studio, Riuniti Opera, Temple Beth Am, and Coral Gables Congregational Church. Creative, debt-free, nimble and flexible, the Alhambra Orchestra continues to look for new ways to bring great music to our community.

Chamber Music Annual Workshop

The Alhambra Orchestra runs a yearly workshop to allow chamber ensembles of varied types to study and be coached on a work of their own choosing. Each group spends the weekend perfecting its piece, aiming toward  a performance of one movement at the end. Groups are strongly encouraged, but not required, to perform.  There is a class with informal performances by the instructors, as well as many chances to meet new friends and play great music together.

Practice sessions and performances take place in Coral Gables, Miami at the University of Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music. Coral Gables, a beautiful city only minutes from the airport, beaches and tourist attractions of Greater Miami.

Our workshops take place in early January. Tuition for the entire session is $200, including refreshments.  (Lodging and meals are not included.) Full-time students have precedence for scholarship funding.

Ray Millette Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition

The Alhambra Orchestra has established a Young Artists Concerto Competition in memory of Ray Millette, one of the founders of the admired and renown Miami-based orchestra. This annual contest, for middle and high-school students, has been proudly instituted and administered by Alhambra Music Inc. for over sixteen years.

The Concerto Competition serves to recognize the emerging talent in South Florida, allow them to play with a full orchestra, and reward them with scholarship money. The finalists are invited to compete in front of a panel of eminent judges. The competition, open to young musicians from South Florida, accepts contestants from middle school through senior year of high school, including graduating seniors. Any young aspiring orchestral musician trained in any of the following instruments is encouraged to apply: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone; french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba; percussion, harp, piano; violin, viola, cello, guitar or double bass.