Dear Friends,

After 41 deeply rewarding years with the Peninsula Symphony, I wanted to write to you personally to share some news and, above all, to express my gratitude.

I have decided, with much-appreciated support from our organizational leadership, that next season (Season 78: 2026–27) will be my final season as full-time Music Director of this remarkable orchestra. Beginning with Season 79, I will step into a new and very meaningful role as Music Director Laureate. In this capacity, I will continue to conduct one concert each season and remain actively involved in the life of PSO through artistic programming, community engagement, advocacy, and fundraising. And I will be able to spend more time with family, travel, and other pursuits.

I look back on these four decades with pride and appreciation. Together, we have built something truly special: an orchestra rooted in musical excellence, sustained by deep community ties, and animated by a shared belief in the power and importance of live symphonic music. I have been endlessly inspired by our musicians, our board and staff, our volunteers, celebrated guest artists, and the audiences who have grown with us year after year. It’s been my good fortune to collaborate with many extraordinary people who have become life-long friends as well as colleagues.

This transition is not an ending; it is an evolution. Peninsula Symphony is strong, vibrant, and poised for its next chapter, and I am genuinely excited about the future. I am equally excited to continue my relationship with the PSO family in a new way, supporting its growth while making space for fresh artistic leadership and renewed ideas.

A search committee has been formed to oversee the process of finding our next Music Director, with the official job posting to be released in the coming days. Three candidates will be selected by the end of our current season, and each will conduct one subscription concert during Season 78. A new Music Director will be chosen by May 2027 and will begin their tenure in the 2027–28 season. The process of discovering this new visionary musical leader will be fascinating.

Thank you for the trust, friendship, and passion you have shared with me over these many years. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your Music Director, and I look forward to celebrating this next phase together.

With hearty thanks and great enthusiasm,

Mitchell Sardou Klein
Music Director & Conductor
Peninsula Symphony

/ Jan ‘26