News Release

La Mirada Symphony Announces Free 2026–2027 Concert Season

Four concerts at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts will feature silent film, chamber music, Spanish-inspired masterworks, and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”

La Mirada, CA (August 3, 2026) — The La Mirada Symphony has announced its 2026–2027 concert season, inviting audiences from across Los Angeles and Orange Counties to experience four free performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The new season will take audiences from the drama of the silent-film era and the intimacy of chamber music to the warmth and color of Spain and the triumphant finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Continuing the Symphony’s long-standing mission of making live orchestral music accessible to the community, admission to every performance is free.

Inspired by the renewed popularity of vinyl records and physical media, the Symphony’s visual campaign presents each concert as its own record album. Each program features original artwork designed to reflect its distinct musical character, while the four individual “records” come together as one complete concert season.

“We wanted each concert to feel like discovering a favorite record,” said David Derks, President of the La Mirada Symphony Association. “Every program has its own personality, musical style, and visual identity. Together, they create a season with something for longtime classical music audiences, families, film lovers, and those attending the Symphony for the first time.”

Stage to Screen: The Phantom of the Opera

Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.

The season opens with a presentation of the 1925 silent-film classic The Phantom of the Opera, accompanied by the La Mirada Symphony performing the score live.

Starring Lon Chaney in one of the most iconic performances of the silent era, the film follows a mysterious, disfigured figure who haunts the Paris Opera House and becomes obsessed with a young singer. The live orchestral accompaniment will allow audiences to experience the film in the tradition of its original theatrical presentation, when music played an essential role in creating the emotion, suspense, and drama of silent cinema.

Chamber Music for a Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, January 24, 2027, at 3:00 p.m.

Members of the La Mirada Symphony will take center stage for an intimate afternoon of chamber music showcasing the artistry, versatility, and musical collaboration of the orchestra’s musicians.

Unlike a full symphonic performance, chamber music places a smaller group of performers in close musical conversation, allowing audiences to hear the individual voices of the instruments and the interaction between the musicians. The program will offer a relaxed Sunday-afternoon concert experience in the professional setting of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Sketches of Spain

Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 3:00 p.m.
Free pre-concert lecture at 2:15 p.m.

Sketches of Spain will bring the warmth, color, rhythm, and dramatic spirit of Spain to the concert stage through works inspired by the country’s landscapes, dances, and musical traditions.

The program is scheduled to include Mikhail Glinka’s Spanish Overture No. 2, Enrique Granados’ Intermezzo, Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, and music from Georges Bizet’s Carmen.

Guitarist Marcus Gerakos is scheduled to join the Symphony as the featured soloist for Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, one of the most recognized and beloved concertos written for classical guitar and orchestra.

Ode to Joy

Sunday, May 16, 2027, at 3:00 p.m.
Free pre-concert lecture at 2:15 p.m.

The La Mirada Symphony will conclude its season with Ludwig van Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, featuring its celebrated final movement, commonly known as “Ode to Joy.”

Performed by full orchestra and chorus, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is one of the most influential and uplifting works in the classical repertoire. Its finale brings together instrumental and vocal forces in a powerful musical expression of joy, unity, and shared humanity.

The concert is also scheduled to include music from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

Free Orchestral Music for the Community

For more than six decades, the La Mirada Symphony has welcomed generations of Southern California audiences to experience live orchestral music without the barrier of admission. Its performances, educational outreach, and community programs are supported by donors, sponsors, volunteers, grant organizations, and community partners who believe that exceptional musical experiences should be available to everyone.

All four concerts will be presented at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada, CA. Admission is free, and early arrival is recommended. Seating is open and subject to availability.

For complete concert information, visit:

Concerts and Events

About the La Mirada Symphony

The La Mirada Symphony is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the community through free live orchestral performances of the highest quality. Serving audiences across Los Angeles and Orange Counties, the Symphony is committed to accessibility, education, and artistic excellence, providing musical experiences that connect generations through shared performance and culture.

About the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is a professional performing arts venue serving La Mirada and the surrounding Southern California community. The Theatre presents theatrical productions, concerts, family programming, and special events throughout the year.

As the performance home of the La Mirada Symphony, the Theatre provides audiences with the opportunity to experience free orchestral concerts in a professional theatrical setting. The continuing relationship between the Symphony, the Theatre, and the City of La Mirada has helped make live orchestral music an important part of the community’s cultural life.