MEET THE SYMPHONY

John Farrer, Music Director

Maestro John Farrer brings an unprecedented level of experience and excellent selections of classical music for the enjoyment of audiences in the Santa Maria Valley.  Maestro Farrer shares his conducting talents with the orchestras of Bakersfield, California and Roswell, New Mexico, where he received the Governor’s Award for Excellence and Achievement, that state’s highest arts honor.  In addition, he is a trustee of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and a member of the Los Angeles Young Musicians Foundation Music Advisory Board.

Mr. Farrer has served as cover conductor for the San Francisco Symphony and led that orchestra in a performance at Stern Grove before 20,000 listeners in 1995.  Mr. Farrer is also Senior Guest Conductor of the English Sinfonia based in London and has led the London and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, the Bournemouth Symphony, and the London Mozart Players.

His Tchaikovsky recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra received critical praise and led to recordings of Dvořák with the Royal Philharmonic.  His recording of Copland and Gershwin was re-released by Sanctuary Classics, and his CD of English string music was reissued in 2006.  Mr. Farrer’s new recording of the Brahm’s Symphony No. 2 with the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra of London has been enthusiastically acclaimed, and with that orchestra in 2006, he led a special program benefiting the National Osteoporosis Society of Britain, attended by the orchestra’s patron, the Duchess of Cornwall.

In January of 2007 Mr. Farrer joined the Board of Directors of the Conductors Guild, which represents the interests of conductors on an international level.

Sharon Cooper, Concertmistress

When Sharon Cooper is not busily involved choreographing bow strokes, or working with Maestro Farrer, her competent fellow musicians and industrious board members, she is an active freelance violinist throughout central and southern California.

Her love affair with the violin began when she was 5 years old and saw her mother, an accomplished pianist, rehearsing with a violinist.  She began learning violin shortly thereafter, studied chamber music at San Francisco Conservatory, and holds a BA degree in Music from Stanford University.  Her coaches have included Kathleen Lenski, Russell Cantor, David Abel and Jenny Rudin.

Sharon has performed throughout California, Europe and Australia in many recitals, chamber ensembles, and orchestras.  She has been featured soloist with numerous orchestras.  In addition to her position in Santa Maria, she is regularly concertmistress of Cabrillo Music Theatre (Thousand Oaks), and the Moorpark Symphony.

Sharon can frequently be heard on the soundtrack of Fox TV’s animated features as well as other TV, movie, and diverse musical recordings.

She lives on the central coast in Ventura with her husband Bob and 2 cats.

Professional Musicians who Regularly Perform with the Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra