BURBANK 
PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BURBANK PHILHARMONIC

 

The orchestra was originally founded as the Burbank Chamber Orchestra in 1991 under the direction of Maestro Steven Kerstein (Conductor and Music Director) and performed its debut concert in 1992.  Comprised of highly skilled studio and motion picture soundtrack musicians, local residents immediately fell in love with the orchestra for its standard of high-quality performances.

 

In support of the orchestra’s initial success, the City of Burbank assisted with funding and, by 1994, world-renowned musicians (including violinist Robert Cani and Bass-Baritone Richard Bernstein) were featured concert soloists. By 1998, the orchestra was performing four concerts a year and had collaborated with entertainment giants such as Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Special Events Group to feature music from such Disney classics as “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and “The Little Mermaid.”

 

In 2002, in recognition of the breadth and scope of the music performed by the orchestra and the strength of its musicians, the Burbank Chamber Orchestra officially changed its name to the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra.  Over its four decades, the orchestra has performed for more than 125,000 attendees at local venues ranging from Burbank’s Starlight Bowl and the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena.  As part of its dedication to music education, the orchestra has provided musical outreach to students in Burbank schools and performed family concerts featuring notable local personalities like Fritz Coleman who narrated “Peter and the Wolf.”  In addition, for several years, the Burbank Phil performed in the City of Burbank’s July 4th celebration concert.