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Currently the Music Director and conductor of the Mission Chamber Orchestra in San Jose, Emily Ray’s inspired performances are earning her a growing reputation throughout California as an extremely gifted and creative conductor. Her recent concerts have earned standing ovations and enthusiastic praise from musicians and critics alike. 
Prior to her term in San Jose, Ms. Ray was the Music Director of the Nova Vista Symphony for several years. She also conducted the Lo Sospiro Ensemble while serving with the Hayward Area Symphony. A great advocate for new music, throughout her career she has promoted and premiered the works of many California composers, as well as those of composers living in other parts of the U.S., and in England.

In 1996 Ms. Ray formed the Mission Chamber Orchestra and has continuously served as Music Director and conductor. During the orchestra’s second season, Ms. Ray and the orchestra recorded a compact disc, Dreams, which was broadcast by radio stations across the country. A second disc, Reflections on the Hudson, was recorded and released in 2000. It is a part of Arizona University Recordings’ Contemporary Composers Series, as it contains the orchestral works of Palo Alto composer Nancy Bloomer Deussen.

In February, 2003, Ms. Ray and the Mission Chamber Orchestra premiered a cantata written by internationally recognized composer Craig Bohmler for San Jose, California. Another important work, Lee Actor’s Violin Concerto, premiered in April, 2006. Ms. Ray served as the Orchestra Director at Santa Clara University for several years. Guest conducting has included the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestras of Southern Alameda County, California Orchestra Directors Association string ensemble, and Winchester Orchestra of San Jose.

Item Special Note

Performance Dates: September 22 featuring violinist Claudia Bloom

                             November 3 featuring guitarist Lily Afshar

                             February 9 featuring pianist Natalya Lundtvedt

                             April 27 featuring pianist Sandra Wright Shen

                             all concerts are Saturdays at 7:30 pm

                                   Petite Trianon Theatre

                              72 N. 5th St., San Jose, CA