Grammy Award-winning MCHS Orchestras!
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We are the Mira Costa Orchestra Program
From a fledging program of 18 students in 2002 to an orchestral powerhouse playing complex scores, our robust orchestra music program now includes three performing groups.
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Philharmonic Orchestra
Rehearsing daily, Philharmonic students education include intermediate to advanced learning experiences in music reading, technique, and application of different musical styles for violin, viola, cello and string bass instrumentalists with emphasis on performance.

Symphony Orchestra
Membership in this orchestra involves an accelerated education in music reading, string technique, and different musical styles with emphasis on performance. Students play and rehearse daily covering a variety of music genres, musical elements and performance techniques at a very advanced level. This orchestra Includes principal members of the school's Wind Ensemble.

Chamber Orchestra
Made of the Symphony's top players, this elite orchestra ............

Student leaders, elected by their peers for each orchestra, organize fundraisers and lead team building activities. 
Symphony Student Orchestra Leadership
President Shubhayu Bhattacharyay
Vice President Zain Khalifeh
VP Communications Brianna Zukotynski
VP Events & Activities Yen Nguyen
Philharmonic Orchestra Student Leadership
President Niilo Niemi
Vice President Zoobia Jilani
VP Communications Ivy Stevens
VP Events & Activities Katherine Elias
Our Director
Director Peter Park, teaches all three performing groups. His teaching philosophy ................

Our Founding Director
Director Christopher Schwabe, was our director of orchestras from 2002 to 2009. He began our orchestra program in 2002. Read more about our founding director here.
We've come so far!
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, immersed in the culture of musical excellence that champions the overall growth of the student musician. 

The GRAMMY Signature Schools Awards 2003 and 2014
The orchestra program at Mira Costa High School was founded by Director Christopher Schwabe in 2002. It was under his leadership that the first Grammy Signature School Award was earned in 2003. In 2014, the entire Mira Costa Music program was recognized as one of top three public high schools across the U.S. providing excellent music education, winning a 2014 Grammy Signature Schools GOLD award.

League of Astonishing Strings China Tour 2014
The Symphony Orchestra was one of four orchestras in the entire U.S. invited by the League of Astonishing Strings to participate in a 12 day tour. The tour included performances in six concert halls including the Hangzhou Grand Theatre, Xuzhou Concert Hall and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center. 

Congratulations to the Mira Costa Orchestras for an excellent Winter Concert performance! It was also a special treat to watch the video montage of the Symphony's tour to the People's Republic of China earlier this Summer. Thank you to the creative and talented Marco Bacich for producing this video.

Posted by Mira Costa High School Orchestras on Sunday, December 14, 2014
LA Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Mentorship Program 2011-2013
Through auditions, the Symphony Orchestra was chosen by the LA Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Mentorship Program as one of top four youth orchestras in the greater Los Angeles area. Selected to receive a "premier status" partnership, students received free coaching sessions from LA Phil musicians and other teaching artists over two years, culminating in a Walt Disney Concert Hall performance.

Walt Disney Concert Hall Performance 2013
117 Mira Costa students of the Symphony Orchestra performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in culmination of the school's partnership with the LA Phil. Read the news article published by a local paper here.

American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival, Atlanta 2012
Our Symphony Orchestra travelled to Atlanta, Georgia to participate in the National Orchestra Festival in 2012. The festival brings together orchestras from around the country "to provide an unparalleled opportunity to receive placement, ratings, comments and education from leading clinicians and adjudicators in the industry." (www.astaweb.com)

Walt Disney Concert Hall Performance 2009
Click here to view our printed program. Listen to excerpts:
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christopher Schwabe
  • Excerpt from Movement II - Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza 1:02
  • Excerpt from Movement IV - Finale, Andante maestoso 0:49 

The Chamber Ensemble
  • Excerpt from Movement I - Moderato
Carnegie Hall 2006
With Costa's Choir, the Symphony Orchestra headed to Carnegie Hall in 2006. "Mira Costa was one of about 15 California school groups heading to the famous concert hall to perform during the year, including a group from El Segundo High School and Dorsey High School in South Los Angeles. Talented schools from every state are selected to perform at the famous concert hall by the Mid-America Productions company, which works with Carnegie Hall to produce the shows." (Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Association)
Annual Participation in the SCSBOA
The Symphony Orchestra has performed at many adjudicated festivals sponsored by SCSBOA (Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association) and consistently receives a ‘superior’ rating, the highest rating awarded by SCSBOA. 

Mira Costa High School Orchestras

1401 Artesia Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310 318-7337
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  • Home
  • Calendar
  • About
  • Booster Club
    • Fair Share Donations
    • Music Advocacy
    • Concert Attire
    • Volunteer
    • SUBSCRIBE
  • SHOP
    • SHOP ONLINE
  • Yearbook Photo
  • PERFORMANCE
    • Festival Concert
    • All District Festival
    • Rotary Music Solo Competition
    • Winter Concert
    • 20-Year Anniversary Concert - Walt Disney Concert Hall
    • Chamber Strings Concert
    • Eclectic Ensembles
    • Winter Concert - The Gift of Music
    • Concert Videos
  • Tri-M
    • Tri-M Music Honor Society
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • MCHS Pajama Pants
  • MCHS Water Bottles
  • MCHS Quarter Zip Pullover
  • MCHS Crosswind Quarter Zip Sweatshirt
  • MCHS Full-Zip Hoodie
  • MCHS Nike Pullover Hoodie