The Desert Symphony

Based in Palm Desert, The Desert Symphony is a recognized orchestra dedicated to the enhancement of cultural life of the communities in The Desert Cities. The orchestra holds a string of concerts among other special programs and events of artistic and musical excellent that serve to engage, entertain and educated the audience. It is committed to giving free youth concerts to musically enrich the children of the Desert area.

Founded in 1989, the orchestra comprises of one of the best possible chambers, virtuoso soloists, musicians, recording artists and principal players that are hand-picked from among the major orchestras of Southern California and teamed with a smaller corps of the usual symphony performers. The artists are made to gather together on a basis of concert-to-concert or season-to-season. These wonderful players, selected for their ensemble as well as individual skills, can guarantee their desert fans a fascinating pop, classical, or other music genre performance every season. It is no surprise to see why The Desert Symphony tickets are so wildly sought after among its Desert City music lovers.

Gary Berkson, the conductor and music director of The Desert Symphony, has been the resident conductor of Royal Swedish Opera and Royal Swedish Ballet as well as the principal conductor of Stora Teatern of Gothenburg opera house, where he has also served as artistic advisor. In addition, he has also had a ten experience of being the head of Royal Swedish Opera House’s Opera Division. Berkson graduated from Julliard School for Music in NYC and is best recognized for his work as a theatre conductor, performing with companies such as Dutch National Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater I& II, Royal Swedish Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Greater Miami Opera’s operatic field, Finnish National Ballet, Royal Swedish Opera, Chattanooga Opera, and Malmo Opera och Miskteater. He has also appeared several international music festivals across the United States, Bulgaria, Norway and Germany, conducting ballet and operas from a wide spectrum of traditional to contemporary styles, and operettas and musicals.  

The Desert Symphony’s conductor, Berkson has also played with many symphony orchestras, appearing with Gothenburg Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Sophia Philharmonic, Royal Swedish Court Orchestra, Holland Symfonia, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de Bilbao, Malmo Symphony Orchestra and Helsingborg Symphony. Among the many orchestras he has conducted across North America include San Antonio Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic and National Arts Centre Orchestra in Canada.  Berkson has had the privilege of conducting for Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustav, Queen Beatrix of Netherlands and the Prime Ministers and Presidents of several European countries.

The Desert Symphony has performed with many renowned artists including the likes of pianist John Novacek, soprano Renee Sousa, bassoonist Charlie Coker, flautist Sara Andon, singer Andy William, guitarist/singer Glen Campbell, singer Gloria Loring and others. The symphony continues to invite various musicians from different genres to create an innovative exciting mix of sound. Don’t miss the Desert Symphony’s upcoming shows; just grab some cheap The Desert Symphony tickets and be there for an evening of soothing music.