The Shasta Symphony Orchestra

For up-to-date event information and ticket purchases, please visit shastacollege.edu/ArtsEvents.

Founded in 1950, the Shasta Symphony Orchestra (“SSO”) rehearses and performs the finest orchestral literature, from well-known standard works to premieres of new compositions. The SSO performs an average of four concerts per year and regularly features guest solo artists and choral-orchestral collaborations.

Each fall, the Shasta Symphony hosts the annual Emerging Artist Solo & Aria Competition. The winners of this competition have the opportunity to perform an aria or instrumental solo of their choice along with the orchestra at one of that season’s subsequent concerts. 

Weekly rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings in Room 633 during the fall and spring semesters, from 6:30 pm to 9:20 pm. Performances are onstage in the Shasta College Theatre (building 500). 

For more information about participating in the ensemble, or if you are interested in guest conductor services or contacting professional musicians and performing ensembles, please contact conductor and music director Dr. Jeff Specht (jspecht@shastacollege.edu).

Current Season

• October 30, 7:30pm — “The Night Before the Fright!”
  • Includes a pre-Halloween bash, a costume competition, and a live showing of the Rafael Portillo film “The Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy”
• December 6, 3:00pm — “Sounds of the Season!”
• February 27, 7:30pm — title forthcoming
• April 24, 7:30pm — title forthcoming 

Tickets prices can be confirmed at shastacollege.edu/ArtsEvents, but are generally $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for seniors 65 and up, and $5.00 for students. There are never additional charges for purchasing online.

Emerging Artist Solo & Aria Competition

The Emerging Artist Solo & Aria Competition provides an opportunity for young emerging artists living in the north state to perform solos with the Shasta Symphony Orchestra. 

It is open to all young (age 25 maximum) musicians in the north state (past winners must wait one competition cycle to compete again). 

Candidates must select a work that has available orchestral parts for rent or purchase. (Please contact Dr. Jeff Specht in advance to ensure your chosen work is eligible.)

If selected as a winner, the candidate is typically expected to perform the piece they auditioned with; repertoire changes are at the music director’s discretion.

In order to compete, all candidates must send an email by Sunday, November 1st, 2026 to Dr. Jeff Specht (jspecht@shastacollege.edu) containing the following information:

• Full name (as it should appear in the program)
• Title of piece
• Composer’s name and birth & death dates
• Accompanist’s name

The live competition round will take place on Tuesday, November 3rd starting at 6:30pm in the Shasta College theatre, and is open to the public. 

There will be two divisions (instrumental and vocal); under ideal circumstances one winner from each division will be selected (although multiple or no winners may be selected, at the discretion of the adjudication panel). 

• All works must be performed with piano accompaniment (memorization not required)
• No alterations to the solo part is permitted unless authorized in advance (any abridging of longer works must be in the tutti sections)
• All candidates must provide three (3) photocopies of their piano score for the judges prior to competition 

Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in disqualification.

Sponsored in part by Vituity Anesthesia Redding.