Peninsula Symphony

Come on down to the well-air-conditioned San Mateo Performing Arts Center for some incredible music by John Williams!😎Concert starts at 2:30. Tickets available now online or at the door.

One last chance to experience guest conductor Pola Benke, cellist Christopher Costanza, and your Peninsula Symphony bringing John Williams’ unforgettable music to life this Sunday at San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Get your tickets now: https://peninsulasymphony.app.getcuebox.com/o/GTKQSZRT/shows/DY83SWFM

[Scenes from the Rehearsal] In two days, Peninsula Symphony will celebrate the landmark 78th Season with a pair of blockbuster opening concerts: Oct 2 at the Campbell Heritage Theatre and Oct 4 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Join Guest Conductor and PSO Music Director Candidate Pola Benke, cellist Christopher Costanza, and your own Peninsula Symphony for some of the most iconic film scores by John Williams. Come early for a special pre-concert one-on-one interview with Maestro Klein and Pola Benke. Details and tickets: https://peninsulasymphony.org/john-williams-world

“It gets back to primal sounds. That in our origin story as human beings,sounds meant a great deal to us. They could bring us peace and a sense of serenity, or they could alert us to danger and the need to run. Percussion could be an earthquake. It could be rocks tumbling down. Birds could signal a sense of romance in the air...” - John Williams

John Williams’ distinct philosophy is that film music should do more than accompany images. It should reveal the story’s emotional soul. Through memorable themes, rich orchestration, and an instinctive understanding of character and drama, he gives films a musical identity that endures long after the final scene. This rare ability to make music inseparable from storytelling is what makes him the greatest film composer of all time.

On October 2 & 4, experience some of John Williams' most unforgettable scores: Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park and much more. Get your tickets today: https://peninsulasymphony.org/john-williams-world

(Image: Steven Spielberg and John Williams in the late 1970s)

[In Loving Memory of Matt Springer]

Earlier this summer, we lost a cherished member of our orchestra family. Matt Springer, who performed with Peninsula Symphony as a first violinist and timpanist, passed away at his home in San Francisco on June 15, 2026.

Born in Chicago, Matt began studying piano and violin at an early age and spent many summers performing with competitive drum corps. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. During more than 20 years on the faculty at UCSF, he dedicated his career to advancing the understanding of heart disease through pioneering research. He was admired not only for his scientific contributions, but also as a devoted mentor, generous collaborator, and kind friend.

Music remained one of Matt’s greatest passions. In addition to performing with Peninsula Symphony, he played with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and was an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who played piano, violin, percussion, and the Chinese erhu.

Matt leaves a legacy of artistry, intellectual curiosity, humility, generosity, and unwavering integrity. Whether in the laboratory or on the concert stage, he brought kindness and joy to those around him. We are grateful for the music and friendship he shared with our orchestra, and we will miss him deeply.

As Matt’s loved ones gather today to remember him, the Peninsula Symphony family extends our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Weiyun Ai, his sister, his extended family, and all who knew and loved him.

❤️‍🩹🕊️

JUST ANNOUNCED: After a three-month nationwide search for our next Music Director, we are thrilled to introduce three exceptional candidates: Pola Benke, Brad Hogarth, and Samantha Burgess.

Each will lead one subscription concert set during our Season 78, giving our musicians and our audience the chance to experience their artistry firsthand. Maestro Mitchell Sardou Klein, having served as PSO Music Director for 42 years, will retire after our 2026-27 season and become Music Director Laureate.

We invite you to join us throughout the season, hear each candidate, and be part of this exciting moment in the life of the Peninsula Symphony.

Read our official announcement: https://peninsulasymphony.org/md-candidates-announcement-pr

SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE AUGUST 1: Four spectacular concerts, from the film music of John Williams to Holst's The Planets to Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2. Maestro Mitchell Sardou Klein's final season as Music Director after 42 years on the podium. Meet the three finalists for PSO's next Music Director as they each take the stage. Then join us as Maestro Klein conducts the season finale, featuring Jon Nakamatsu, Pianist Are you ready yet? https://peninsulasymphony.org