Our Community’s Orchestra!
MUSIC DIRECTOR
MAESTRO MICHAEL NOWAK
• Joined the Santa Maria Philharmonic in 2015
• Made his Conductor debut at Carnegie Hall in April 2001 with the SLO Symphony
• Assistant Conductor and violist with the Dallas Symphony • As a violist, a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra with Sir Neville Marriner until 1980.
• Maestro Nowak is active as a recording musician and conductor in the motion picture industry.
• Among the many notable films conducted by Michael Nowak: Academy Award-winning Life of Pi, King Kong, Under the Tuscan Sun, Bobby, American Gangster, Disney’s Bedtime Stories, The Kite Runner, and The Accountant. He also conducted the highly popular ABC TV show Once Upon a Time for 7 seasons.
2025-2025
CONCERTMASTER BRYNN ALBANESE
• Graduated from Peabody Conservatory of Music
• Concertmaster, Tanglewood Orchestra
• Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops
• In 1998, moved to Netherlands, playing with the Philharmonic of the Hague and various Europena chamber music festivals
• Prominent positions with the Monterey Symphony, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra and Festival Mozaic Orchestra
• Explored world music during 12 years with Café Musique • Founded Cambria Concerts Unplugged
THE ORGANIZATION
It takes a collaborative effort to maintain the
Philharmonic for our community!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• Passionately interested in promoting the
organization, classical music performance, and the
Arts in general.
STAFF
• Highly experienced Executive Director managing
our staff, including professional musicians.
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS
• Considerable talents, performing with multiple
orchestras.
• Many have advanced degrees in music.
President Emeritas
Jed Beebe
LIBRARY SERIES
Special Arrangement with the City of Santa Maria
• Donation by Norm Hardy: Baldwin Concert Grand Piano
Concerts free to the Public
Opportunity to
experience classical
music!
Library Series includes
selected professional
ensembles, Youth
Showcase, and Youth
Competition
SUPPORTING YOUTH
The Philharmonic works to foster
music education in our community.
Music Van
• Presentations to the third-grade classrooms through the area
• Students get to play an instrument
SUPPORTING YOUTH
The Philharmonic works to foster music
education in our community.
Children & Family Concerts
• Thousands of fourth graders in the Santa Maria
Valley attend our Children’s and Family concerts.
• Each instrument is demonstrated to them by the
principal musicians of the orchestra.
• Narrated story by the orchestra
SUPPORTING YOUTH
The Philharmonic works to foster music
education in our community.
Youth Showcase
• Encourages youth musical development
and the music appreciation
• Goals:
• After School Strings Program
• Youth Orchestra
SURI KIM
• 2024 Second Place and Andrys Basten Award, California State Finals, CAPMT Honors Competition • April 2023 Guest Soloist, Santa Maria Philharmonic
• 2023 First Place, Paderewski Competition
• Has won awards for 4 years
• 2023 Honorable Mention, MTNA CA State Competition
• Traveled to Poland in the Summer of 2023 as part of their music exchange program. • 2022 won the Golden Key Music Festival that included a performance at Lincoln Center in New York City • Performed as a soloist at the Paso Pops Concert in July of 2019 • Received her first award at the age of 8, winning first prize in the State Finals of the Contemporary Music Division for CAPMT (California Association of Piano Music Teachers.)
https://smphilharmonic.org/upcoming-events-concerts/
PROMO CODES:
KIDSFREE: With
purchase of adult
ticket, all kids
attend free
MEETSMPS: 25% off
ticket price