The Fresno Philharmonic, now in its 62nd season (2015-2016), is the cultural flagship of Fresno, and one of the leading cultural organizations in the central San Joaquin Valley, one of the fastest growing regions in California. The population of Fresno currently exceeds 500,000, with an equal number living in surrounding communities. The rapid growth of Fresno’s cultural community in recent years speaks well of Fresno’s potential as an emerging center of cultural activity in the western United States.The orchestra performs eight concerts throughout the season (approximately one weekend per month) six concerts are held in the 2370-seat Saroyan Theatre in downtown Fresno and three two-performance concerts are held in the Paul Shaghoian Hall in North Fresno. Each season the Orchestra hosts over 8,000 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students during our annual Link Up The Orchestra Sings concert series in conjunction with Fresno, Central and Sanger Unified School Districts as well as several other individual schools from outlying districts. Leading guest soloists, such as Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Lynn Harrell, Sarah Chang, and Andre Watts have appeared with the Philharmonic. Theodore Kuchar is the Music Director and entering his fifteenth season. He is also Music Director of the Janacek Philharmonic in the Czech Republic, and the Reno Chamber Orchestra in Nevada. He previously served as Music Director of the Ukrainian National Orchestra in Kiev and the Boulder Philharmonic in Colorado. With many recordings on both the Naxos and Brilliant labels, he is one of the most recorded conductors on the scene today. Many of his recordings have received critical acclaim.