The California Chamber Orchestra is the principal ensemble – or musical performance group – of the Golden Valley Music Society.  It presents a season that includes multiple performances of four to five concerts.

One of the hallmarks of the orchestra is the variety of music it presents.  The professional musicians performing these concerts are drawn from throughout Southern California – outstanding regional talent, members of other orchestras and top free-lance musicians.  The size of the ensemble for each concert, as well as the instrumentation, will vary from program to program, based on the repertoire.

The Society has expanded its offerings by creating various performance ensembles that are making it possible to take great music to a broad array of audiences.

Dana Mambourg Zimbric has been named the Society's artistic director and conductor of the California Chamber Orchestra.  Noted for her fresh and creative programming as well as interest in new music, Ms. Zimbric is known for connecting with her audiences through her musical authority and exceptional on-stage presence.

Since 2003, Ms. Zimbric has served as the music director of the San Diego-based Classics Philharmonic Orchestra, a fully professional adult ensemble which performs over 30 concerts annually.  In addition to her work with the Classics Philharmonic, Ms. Zimbric has been active in many youth outreach and music education programs.  Prior to her work with the Classics Philharmonic, Ms. Zimbric held conducting positions with the San Diego Youth Symphony, Avanti Chamber Orchestra, and the University of Wisconsin Chamber and Symphony Orchestras.

Recently, Ms. Zimbric has appeared as Guest Conductor with Orchestra Nova San Diego (formerly known as the San Diego Chamber Orchestra) in both pops and classical concerts.  Through her continued professional work and training, Ms. Zimbric has conducted orchestras in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, Mich., Norwalk, Conn., Santa Cruz, Calif., and Puerto Rico.

An accomplished clarinetist, Ms. Zimbric holds a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance and a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Wisconsin.

Ms. Zimbric, her husband, Michael, and their daughter make their home in San Diego.