The 50-plus members of the new orchestra are former members of the San Jose Symphony, which is scheduled to file for bankruptcy within the next two months.

"To some measure the musicians, the board of directors and the management all have to take responsibility for the failure of the San Jose Symphony," says Willow Glen resident Galen Lemmon, spokesman and percussionist for Symphony San Jose Silicon Valley.

The former symphony had performed for 123 years, but during the last 15 years the symphony began experiencing financial difficulties. After several attempts to keep the symphony afloat, board members and management determined that the symphony was no longer financially solvent.

But a new orchestra was created and is under the same management as Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. The combined name for the ballet and symphony is San Jose Silicon Valley Great Performances.

"In the past when the ballet would decide on a performance they would hire the San Jose Symphony to play for them. Now we will all be in the same performance company," Lemmon says. "It just makes more sense."

The new symphony has committed to 11 performances for the season, four as the orchestra for the ballet.

Four of the symphony's programs are classical arrangements, and three performances—at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino—are pops concerts.

The symphony's debut concert will be conducted by Memphis Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor David Loebel.

The music program will include Promenade Overture by Corigliano, Petrushka by Stravinsky and Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (or New World Symphony) by Dvorak.

"All of the musicians are very excited about the upcoming concert," Lemmon says. "We've been hoping something would come along so we could get back to entertaining the audiences."

Guest conductors will be featured at each of the performances. A full-time conductor for the symphony has not yet been hired.

"We don't even have our first rehearsal until the Wednesday before the show. We've all been playing for a very long time together and know the music," Lemmon says.

For additional information or to purchase tickets or subscriptions to the Symphony San Jose Silicon Valley or Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, call 408.288.2800.