Origins and Founding Vision (1966–1970s)

The Palisades Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1966 by Joel B. Lish — a violist, conductor, and visionary educator who believed that music should be accessible to all. A graduate of the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and longtime music teacher at Palisades High School, Lish formed the orchestra to give his students and local musicians a place to perform orchestral repertoire beyond the classroom. What began as a small community project quickly became a cornerstone of cultural life in Pacific Palisades, a coastal district of Los Angeles.

Lish’s mission was clear:

“To foster, promote, and increase the musical knowledge and appreciation of the public; to provide qualified musicians with a venue to perform; and to allow contemporary composers to have their works performed and heard.”

It was during this formative period that Eva Holberg, a Pacific Palisades resident and passionate advocate for community music, became a cornerstone of the orchestra’s success. After meeting Lish in 1966 at one of his early concerts, she offered to help with the fledgling ensemble’s organization and soon gathered a group of volunteers to support his vision. As the Symphony’s first Board President, Eva provided the administrative foundation that allowed it to flourish—handling publicity, fundraising, and concert logistics with tireless dedication. Her leadership was instrumental in transforming a small neighborhood ensemble into a sustainable nonprofit institution, a process further strengthened by Lish’s friendship with philanthropist Richard D. Colburn, whose guidance helped formalize the Symphony’s incorporation. Remembered by Lish as “the heart and backbone of the Palisades Symphony,” Eva Holberg’s spirit of volunteerism and service continues to define the orchestra’s character to this day.

Shortly thereafter, Lish’s stand partner at the Carmel Bach Festival, philanthropist Richard D. Colburn—a towering figure in American classical music whose leadership and generosity helped shape Los Angeles’s cultural life through his support of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the creation of Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the founding of the world-renowned Colburn School—offered to endow the ensemble. When Lish declined financial support, Colburn instead arranged for his lawyer to establish the orchestra as a registered nonprofit public-benefit corporation (501c3). With Eva’s guidance, this new structure ensured the Symphony’s long-term stability and independence.

From the start, the orchestra was sustained by volunteer effort, free concerts, and local soloists—values that still define it today.

Building a Musical Community

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Palisades Symphony blossomed into a large and vibrant ensemble composed of professional, semi-professional, and dedicated amateur musicians from across Los Angeles. From its earliest years in the 1960s, the orchestra was affiliated with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Adult Education Program, which provided rehearsal space at Palisades High School (Pali High) and made participation open to community members of all ages. Rehearsals were traditionally held there during the school year, while summers took place at Palisades Lutheran Church, which for decades also served as a key performance and gathering space. In more recent years—approximately the six years prior to the 2025 fire—the Symphony had transitioned to rehearsing exclusively at Palisades Lutheran Church, solidifying its role as the ensemble’s home base.

Among the central figures who sustained the orchestra’s operations and community presence during these decades was Eva Holberg—a devoted Board President, Chorale member, and tireless administrator whose guidance and organizational dedication supported every aspect of the Symphony’s work. Her leadership reflected the volunteer spirit that has defined the Palisades Symphony for nearly six decades and continues to inspire its members today.

Alongside its orchestral programming, the Symphony cultivated partnerships with composers and soloists across California, premiering numerous new works and arrangements by local artists—including some by Lish himself through his publishing company, Middle Fiddle Music. The orchestra’s open-door policy—no auditions, no dues—embodied Lish’s inclusive philosophy.

The Birth of the Brentwood Palisades Chorale (1963)

Founded in 1963 by Frances Cain, the Brentwood Palisades Chorale began as two sister choirs that quickly merged and, by 1967, were already performing major works with the Palisades Symphony (starting with Handel’s Messiah). After Cain’s retirement, Susan Rosenstein became director in 1987, guiding the non-auditioned, volunteer chorus through decades of oratorios and requiems alongside the Symphony, with hallmark concerts twice each season.

In the late 1980s, conductor Susan Rosenstein, a veteran choral director and music educator, joined forces with Lish to expand the orchestra’s reach into the choral repertoire. Under her leadership, the Brentwood Palisades Chorale was established as the Symphony’s official choral partner.

The Chorale quickly became a defining part of the organization, performing oratorios, requiems, and sacred works with the orchestra twice each season. Like the orchestra, the Chorale remains non-auditioned and volunteer-based, providing singers of all backgrounds with a chance to learn and perform major choral masterworks. Rosenstein’s tenure, beginning in 1987, has spanned decades, allowing thousands of Angelenos to sing great works such as Verdi’s Requiem, Vaughan Williams’ Hodie, Handel’s Messiah, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, and more.

As Rosenstein described:

“[The Chorale members] all share a love of singing. They are happy to come to rehearsal, happy when they leave, and proud of what they’ve learned.”

The Young Artist Awards and Educational Outreach

Education and opportunity have always been central to the Palisades Symphony’s mission. In the early 1970s, founder Joel B. Lish established the Young Artist Awards Competition to provide promising student musicians with a rare opportunity—to perform as soloists with a full symphony orchestra before a live audience. Originally inspired by his work as a music educator at Palisades High School, the program soon grew beyond the local community to attract talented young instrumentalists from across the greater Los Angeles area.

Over the decades, the competition has nurtured hundreds of gifted musicians, many of whom have gone on to advanced conservatory studies and professional performing careers in orchestras and universities throughout the United States and abroad. Today, the program continues under the coordination of Sandy Sonderling, cellist and longtime member of the orchestra, in collaboration with Music Director Dr. Maxim Kuzin. Together they uphold the competition’s founding ideals—providing a supportive, professional environment where young artists can experience the thrill of performing with a full symphony and grow in confidence and artistry. The annual Young Artists Showcase Concert, held each spring, remains one of the Symphony’s most cherished traditions—a joyful celebration of youth, mentorship, and the organization’s enduring belief that great music should inspire every generation.

Artistic Evolution and Enduring Traditions (1990s–2010s)

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the orchestra continued to perform seven concerts annually, including its signature summer Opera in Concert program, two major choral concerts, and instrumental masterworks by Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, and others.

Under Lish’s steady baton, the ensemble maintained its dual focus on accessibility and artistic integrity. He was widely respected not only for his musical leadership but also for his mentorship, warmth, and devotion to volunteer musicians. By the 2010s, the Symphony had become one of Los Angeles’s longest continuously running community orchestras.

As Lish approached his later years, he began to prepare carefully for the Symphony’s future. Determined to ensure the organization’s artistic and communal legacy would endure, he worked closely with the board to plan a thoughtful leadership transition. Thus, when the time came, the orchestra was ready to embrace a new era.

Leadership Transition and the New Era (2024–Present)

While the board organized a formal search and invited several guest conductors to audition with the orchestra, one voice carried special weight: founder and longtime Music Director Joel Lish. Before his passing in March 2024, Lish personally handpicked Dr. Maxim Kuzin as the artistic leader best suited to carry the organization forward. After additional auditions and a unanimous vote of confidence from the musicians and board, Kuzin was officially appointed Music Director in May 2024. His position encompasses the entire organization—both the Palisades Symphony Orchestra and the Brentwood Palisades Chorale—ensuring artistic unity and continuity across all programs.

Since stepping in, Dr. Kuzin has approached the post as both a guardian of tradition and a builder of the next chapter—working closely with the Board President Denisa Hanna and Choral Director Susan Rosenstein to plan large choral-orchestral masterworks, commissioning and spotlighting Eastern European and contemporary voices alongside core repertoire, and expanding youth and community engagement. The result is a refreshed artistic profile that honors Lish’s founding promise of free, high-caliber concerts for everyone, while widening the circle of who gets to make—and hear—this music.

Following Joel Lish’s passing in March 2024, the orchestra entered a transformative new chapter. The season opened that fall with a “Tribute to Joel Lish” concert at Palisades Lutheran Church, conducted by Dr. Maxim Kuzin, the newly appointed Music Director. The program—which included Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture, Telemann’s Viola Concerto (performed on Joel’s own instrument), and Brahms’s Symphony No. 1—symbolized the continuity of Lish’s vision and the passing of the torch to a new generation of leadership.

Dr. Kuzin, a Ukrainian-born conductor with international credentials, brought new energy and a global perspective to the organization. A graduate of UCLA’s doctoral instrumental conducting program, the National Music Academy of Ukraine’s choral and orchestral conducting programs, and a champion of contemporary and Eastern European repertoire, Kuzin has emphasized educational outreach, youth collaboration, and cultural diversity in programming.

The Palisades Fire and the Fire Recovery Season (2025)

In January 2025, tragedy struck when the Palisades Fire devastated the orchestra’s home community. The Palisades Lutheran Church, though spared, was converted into a disaster-relief center, forcing the orchestra to relocate. Despite the loss, the Symphony and Chorale responded with resilience. Under Kuzin and Board President Denisa Hanna, the ensemble quickly resumed rehearsals in borrowed venues—including Belmont Village Senior Living Westwood and Westwood United Methodist Church—culminating in the Fire Recovery Benefit Concert on February 16, 2025, at Westwood United Methodist Church (10497 Wilshire Blvd.). The program featured Alexander Wasserman in Grieg’s Piano Concerto alongside Lysenko’s Taras Bulba Overture and Franck’s Symphony in D minor, and was covered on the front page of the Los Angeles Times as a symbol of cultural recovery and community unity.

“Recognizing the power of music to comfort and heal” remains the orchestra’s guiding motto.

Rebirth, Expansion, and Innovation (2025–Present)

The 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons marked a powerful period of renewal for the Palisades Symphony. In the wake of the devastating Palisades Fire of January 2025, which displaced several orchestra members and damaged key community spaces, the Symphony and the Brentwood Palisades Chorale demonstrated remarkable resilience and unity. With Palisades Lutheran Church undergoing repairs, the ensemble expanded its reach, performing across the greater Los Angeles area—including Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Westlake, and Koreatown—and building new partnerships with local congregations, arts centers, and community organizations.

At the center of this renewal was the leadership partnership of President Denisa Hanna and Music Director Dr. Maxim Kuzin. Together, they formed an energetic and visionary team that combined administrative experience with artistic innovation. A jazz-guitar graduate of the University of Colorado, Denver, Denisa had been mentored by legendary guitarist Johnny Smith, later teaching in his studio and performing in the Colorado Springs Symphony, where she began her lifelong journey as a double bassist. During her early career she met and married drummer Jake Hanna, then a member of Bing Crosby’s personal quintet. After moving to Los Angeles, she pursued lutherie and eventually joined the Palisades Symphony through the encouragement of Pastor Wally Mees and founder Joel B. Lish, finding a new musical family and purpose.

Following the fire, Denisa and Maxim worked side by side to stabilize and re-energize the organization. Their partnership blended her calm, practical leadership and institutional continuity with his artistic drive, fresh programming ideas, and international experience. Together they coordinated communications, secured rehearsal and performance venues, supported displaced musicians, and inspired renewed confidence across the ensemble. They were joined by an active and deeply engaged Board of Directors, including Vice President Kathrin Rudner, and by countless volunteer supporters within the orchestra and chorale. Guided by Denisa’s conviction that “music heals and uplifts the soul” and by Maxim’s belief in music’s transformative social power, this collaborative leadership team ushered the Palisades Symphony into a new era of artistic vitality and organizational strength.

During this period, the Symphony broadened its artistic vision, combining classical masterworks with contemporary, cross-cultural, and genre-spanning programming that attracted new and diverse audiences. The orchestra’s concerts highlighted women composers, international voices, and collaborative performances that bridged the traditional and the modern, reaffirming its commitment to accessibility and artistic excellence. The Young Artists Awards Competition continued to nurture emerging talent, while large-scale choral–orchestral performances with the Chorale remained a cornerstone of each season.

Guided by Music Director Dr. Maxim Kuzin, Choral Director Susan Rosenstein, and the dedicated volunteer board led by President Denisa Hanna and Vice President Kathrin Rudner, the Palisades Symphony has emerged from challenge into a vibrant new chapter. Today, over one hundred volunteer musicians and singers rehearse weekly under professional direction, carrying forward Joel Lish’s founding vision of free, high-quality music that inspires, educates, and unites the Los Angeles community.

Digital Renewal and Online Presence

As part of its broader renewal, the Palisades Symphony entered a new era by strengthening its digital presence and community outreach. In 2025, the organization launched a major website redesign and modernization project, reflecting its commitment to accessibility, innovation, and engagement in the digital age. The initiative was spearheaded by Music Director Dr. Maxim Kuzin, with the support of the President and Board of Directors, and realized through the collaboration of Kasey Stern, Bruce Hayes, and Dr. Kuzin. More than a visual refresh, the redesigned website connects the Symphony’s long-standing community traditions with the tools of the modern era. The new platform features a comprehensive history of the organization, information about key stakeholders, and clear guidance on joining the orchestra, the Brentwood Palisades Chorale, or the volunteer team. It also includes an expanded Support and Donations section, allowing friends of the Symphony to contribute easily by phone, computer, or traditional paper methods, ensuring continued access for supporters of all generations.

The updated site further enhances engagement and efficiency by enabling Young Artist Awards Competition applicants to submit registration forms and payments online, simplifying participation for students and families across Southern California. It also provides a secure, password-protected members’ portal for orchestra and chorale participants—a vital tool for managing rehearsals, rosters, communications, and organizational logistics. Together, these digital advances strengthen transparency, accessibility, and community connection, positioning the Palisades Symphony to thrive in the evolving digital and AI-driven cultural landscape while carrying its mission of free, inclusive, and high-quality music into the future.

Legacy and Impact

Nearly sixty years after its founding, the Palisades Symphony stands as one of the oldest continuously operating community orchestras in California. Its free concerts, commitment to inclusivity, and enduring collaboration with the Brentwood Palisades Chorale embody a unique model of cultural service. Under the collaborative leadership of the Palisades Symphony’s administrative and artistic teams, and with the support of an active Board of Directors and dedicated community volunteers, the organization continues to thrive, balancing administrative excellence with dynamic artistic growth and honoring the traditions established by Joel Lish and Eva Holberg.

From Lish’s pioneering spirit to the present era of renewal under Hanna and Kuzin’s partnership, the orchestra remains anchored in its core values—artistic excellence, community engagement, and accessibility for all—while proving, year after year, that music has the power to heal, unite, and inspire.