About Us
OUR HISTORY:
Orchestra Nova LA is a dynamic community orchestra dedicated to presenting innovative, high-quality, and accessible orchestral concerts in Los Angeles. Centered on free performances and creative programming, the orchestra brings together volunteer and emerging professional musicians who share a commitment to artistic excellence, inclusivity, and meaningful community connection.
The orchestra traces its origins to the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1953 by physicians and medical professionals to support medical charities. Over seven decades, the ensemble developed a rich performance history and collaborated with many distinguished soloists and conductors. As the medical profession and the orchestra’s membership evolved, the ensemble’s mission naturally broadened beyond its original identity.
In 2023, Orchestra Nova LA emerged to reflect who the organization is today: a forward-thinking musical institution focused on reimagining the concert experience, expanding access to live orchestral music, and serving the cultural life of Los Angeles through bold programming and community-driven performances.
OUR MISSION:
The mission of Orchestra Nova LA is to invite our audiences to immerse themselves in the rejuvenating capacity of music through high quality, affordable concerts, to support volunteer musicians, including youth and emerging professionals, in their pursuit of the discipline and joys found in diverse forms of musical expression, and to provide artistic growth for its performing members.
OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR:
Ivan Shulman is an award-winning conductor, teacher, clinician and virtuoso performer and is pleased to be the inaugural conductor and Music Director of Orchestra Nova LA. Originally from New York, he studied oboe with his father, the noted oboist Harry Shulman who played in the NBC Symphony under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. In his youth, he attended the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico on numerous occasions, and spent summers in Marlboro and Aspen, where he studied composition with Darius Milhaud and Charles Jones, theory and orchestration with Gordon Hardy, and conducting with Walter Susskind and Wolfgang Vacano.
After deciding to follow his scientific interests, he went to medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, did a peripatetic surgical residency in New York, Seattle and San Francisco, and spent two years in the US Public Health Service on the Navajo Reservation. Despite the intensity of a surgical training program, music was never far from his daily activities and when he moved to begin a practice in Los Angeles, he sought out many opportunities to play oboe in both community and professional groups…
Our Leadership
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Myles Lee
PRESIDENT
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Joseph Braun
VICE PRESIDENT
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Garrett Levesque
TREASURER
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Ken Alexander
SECRETARY
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Xenos Mason
BOARD MEMBER
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Timothy Chan
BOARD MEMBER
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Christina Choi
MEMBER-AT-LARGE
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Jerry Hornof
BOARD MEMBER
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Rebecca Rodman
BOARD MEMBER
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Leon Fine
BOARD MEMBER
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Andrew Hasel
BOARD MEMBER
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Ivan Shulman
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Musician of the Month: Dallas Crane
Dallas Crane is a trumpet player going on his third year with ONLA and has quickly become an important member of our orchestra community and musical leader within the brass section. Dallas' main gig is writing music for video games and other visual media. He works with the Burbank-based composer, Austin Wintory, on projects ranging from big AAA titles to inspiring indies. He also has a lot of hobbies! In his free time, he likes to play jazz, draw comics, and make stickers. Lately, he's been designing and writing tattoos and wedding vows for people in the Elvish script from Lord of the Rings.
Favorite thing about playing with ONLA:
I really appreciate that all the players bring their A-game. We get to tackle some difficult literature and it's made easier when I can rely on the orchestra, relax, and blend into the sound.
Favorite orchestral piece:
I first listened to Ravel's orchestrated "Le Tombeau de Couperin" suite in the rainy season down in Limpio, Paraguay. Whenever I need to relax and refocus, I listen to that piece and I'm pulled back into the tranquility I experienced then.
Does his instrument have a name?
I play two different trumpets in ONLA: my Bb trumpet is named Hazel and she has been with me for almost 20 years. My C trumpet is named Sandy and I've had her only a little longer than I've been in the orchestra. :)
Favorite TV show:
The benchmark really has to be SpongeBob Seasons 1 and 2. Burbank is so cool - Tom Kenny once popped in on my band's rehearsal (see photo!)
A special thanks to Dallas for his dedication to ONLA!
