Orchestra Nova San Diego, formerly known as the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, is a chamber orchestra based in San Diego, California. The group's Artistic Director is Jung-Ho Pak.
The San Diego Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1983 and performed its first concerts in 1984.[1] The ensemble changed its name to Orchestra Nova San Diego in the fall of 2009.[2]
The orchestra performs in many different locations; its primary venues are Sherwood Auditorium at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla and the new Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall in Sorrento Valley, described by Pak as "one of the most acoustically perfect halls in the country."[2] Other venues include the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, Coronado Performing Arts Center at the Coronado School of the Arts, and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido (CCAE).
The group has 35 full-time members, with up to 15 additional musicians being added for special occasions and Pops concerts. The group's season runs fall through spring and typically includes five Classics Series concerts, three pops concerts and Handel's Messiah in December.
The 2011-2012 season has been a banner year for Orchestra Nova as they launched Nova 2.0, which includes pre-concert food, drink and entertainment wrapped around the theme of the evening. This has resulting in nearly every performance selling out.