December 7, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Musical Treasure Allen Gross Passes Away

Orchestra Santa Monica founder and Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra conductor passes after battling MDS

By Sam Catanzaro

Allen Robert Gross, Orchestra Santa Monica’s (OSM) Founder and first Music Director, and conductor of the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra died on August 20 after battling a Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) blood disorder for several years. He was 75.

“We are very sad to say our final good-bye to Allen Gross,” OSM said in a statement. “For those of you who saw Allen on the podium, you experienced his love of music and the joy it brought to all of our lives. He was always inquisitive and always appreciative of the wonders around him. For his musicians, we shared this special bond of creating music that makes life meaningful, purposeful, and profound.”

Remembered by OSM as “a man of abundant passion and vitality and certainly not one to be easily stopped”, Gross retired from OSM in May 2018 and then led the Caltech Orchestra for one more season before retiring and conducting his last concert with them in May 2019 featuring Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, a piece Gross said was “very near and dear to my heart.”

Gross was born in New York City in 1949 and earned a doctorate in conducting from Stanford University alongside degrees in musicology and music from UC Berkeley and Queens College. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Arts before beginning his conducting career as a staff conductor in the opera houses of Oldenburg, Aachen and Freiburg in Germany as well as the music director of the Heidelberg Castle Festival and conductor of the Junges Kammerorchester Heidelberg.

Orchestra Santa Monica will be dedicating a concert to Dr. Gross during our 2019-2020 season.

“Bravo Maestro Gross… we will continue playing music with you in our hearts,” OSM said.

Gross’s family held his funeral service on August 23 at Mount Sinai, Hollywood Hills honoring his life with fond memories, love and great respect.

Gross is survived by his wife, Karen, children Alexander and Miriam, son-in-law Martin and grandchildren Oren and Leo.

<>Related Posts

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

FILM REVIEWMISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONERated PG-13163 MinutesReleased July 11th The story in this “Mission: Impossible” chapter, “Dead...

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

FILM REVIEWINDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINYRated PG-13154 MinutesReleased June 30th The director of Indiana Jones and the Dial...

Film Review: Past Lives

June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023

FILM REVIEWPAST LIVESRated PG-13105 MinutesLimited Releases June 2nd and June 9th, Full Release June 23rd The Korean concept of “In...

Film Review: Sanctuary

June 8, 2023

June 8, 2023

FILM REVIEWSANCTUARYRated R96 MinutesReleased May 19th In my humble estimation, this is one of the best movies of the year....

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

A Riveting Revival of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning “A Soldier’s Play” Now Playing At The Ahmanson Theatre

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

On Stage With… Murder mysteries, whether cinematic or theatrical, are one of the most popular subjects. The list is quite...

Film Review: Chevalier

May 12, 2023

May 12, 2023

By Kathryn Boole  RATED PG-13107 MinutesReleased April 21, 2023 Chevalier is based on the true story of a historical figure...

Ballet at the Broad Stage Memorial Weekend – Meet the Talent!

May 10, 2023

May 10, 2023

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica returns to the Broad Stage with special guest artists kicking off Friday May 26th with...

Elizabeth McGovern Lights Up The Stage in “Ava – The Secret Conversations”

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

Play About Legendary Screen Star Runs Until May 14 At The Geffen Playhouse By Beverly Cohn Ava Gardner, born Ava...

Unconventional Art Festival “The Other Art Fair” Returns to Santa Monica This Weekend

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

140 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar await visitors at Barker Hangar The Other Art...

Samohi Theatre’s “The Drowsy Chaperone” Takes the Stage in Santa Monica

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

Shows will take place at Barnum Hall on March 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and March 5 at 3...

Michael J. B. Allen: 1941-2023

February 27, 2023

February 27, 2023

Michael J. B. Allen, distinguished professor, engaging teacher, accomplished scholar, dynamic raconteur, avid hiker, and loving family man, passed away...

Film Review: “Marlow”

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

FILM REVIEW“MARLOWE”Rated R109 MinutesReleased February 15th “Marlowe” is a beautifully shot period piece that takes place in the late 1930’s....

Film Review: All Quite on the Western Front

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

I have never been a soldier at war, although I have close friends and relatives who have been. Universally they...