Oakland Civic Orchestra 
"In the Heart of Oakland and For the Heart of Oakland" 

Martha Stoddard,
Artistic Director and Conductor

ococonductor@yahoo.com


 

        Oakland Civic Orchestra (OCO) will celebrate its 26th season  in 2017-2018. The orchestra was founded in 1992 by Enric Zappa through the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation. Martha Stoddard was appointed as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor in 1997.


        A thriving community orchestra, OCO brings together musicians of all ages and backgrounds from throughout the Bay Area, to share in the joy and magic of music-making. The orchestra maintains a roster of 50 - 65 players who perform high quality, free, and accessible afternoon concerts in the beautiful lakeside setting of Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland. Our programming ranges from presenting beloved symphonic repertoire to showcasing emerging and established talents of local performers and composers.


        Offering free and accessible concerts to all is a major part of our mission.  We are particularly happy to welcome young children to orchestra concerts in a kid-friendly and comfortable environment with floor seating available. OCO also regularly extends solo opportunities to student musicians, enjoys collaborations with area choral ensembles, and recently served as the pit orchestra for a youth production of Les Miserables.

        Oakland Civic Orchestra is supported by the City Of Oakland, by patron donations, and through membership fees. Our fiscal sponsor is the Oakland Parks and Recreations Foundation. 		 
       Semi-Finalist!

    The Oakland Civic Orchestra is proud to announce that we were named a semi-finalist for the Ernst Bacon Award for our performance of Martha Stoddard's Gait Changes. 

    This award honors outstanding performances of American music by community, youth and professional ensembles.

    Our submission is unique in that our conductor is also the composer!

    Read about it here:
    
http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2016/09/ernst-bacon-award-semi-finalists-2016.html


   

Concert dates







  

October 29, 2017
Hymn to the Human Spirit


January 28, 2018
A Glimpse of Heaven


March 25, 2018
Water Ways


June 10, 2018
Excursions in the Americas		  


    * Most of our concerts take place at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA.


    * Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland CA


    * New members are always welcome in the string section; interested string players should call or email for more information prior to attending rehearsal.


    * Winds, Brass and Percussion are accepted by audition as vacancies occur. Interested players are encouraged to contact the Director to learn about vacancies and arrange an informal audition.





Please direct all inquiries to ococonductor@yahoo.com
Admission to the Orchestra is at the discretion of the Director.


Visit us on FaceBook -- search for the Oakland Civic Orchestra and "like" us today!


Click here to download the OCO Member Handbook.



Making a tax-deductible donation of any amount to the Oakland Civic Orchestra is as easy as writing a check!

Checks should be made payable to:  Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation

(be sure to memo: Oakland Civic Orchestra) and mail to P.O. Box 13267, Oakland CA 94661

Credit card payments can be made to the foundation using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card:


Please note this link does not provide you with the option of designating the orchestra as the recipient.

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