Modesto High School Symphonic Orchestras

     The Modesto High School orchestra program is one of the oldest orchestra programs west of the Mississippi River.  It has been in existence since 1913.  It was founded by Ida Brown, but later taken over by Frank "Proof" Mancini. Though Mr. Mancini is known for being a fine band director, his first job was directing the high school orchestra. Mancini later started the Modesto High School Band.  It was through both these groups that he founded the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.

     Through the years the orchestra has performed in many different cities and states.  It has also performed internationally.  In 1986, the chamber orchestra did a concert tour in Canada that involved concerts in the city of Vernon, British Columbia, Modesto's sister city.  The orchestra then also played in a festival at The World Exposition 1986 in Vancouver, British Columbia.  In 1998, the orchestra participated in a concert tour of Italy, visiting the cities of Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Cremona, and Milan.  It 2000, the orchestra toured Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich.  In 2002,  the Chinese government invited the orchestra to participate in a cultural exchange involving visits to the cities of Beijing and X'ian.  We have just recently (spring-2004) returned from a concert tour of Spain and Portugal where we performed in Madrid and Lisbon.  In 2006, the orchestra visited France and Belgium.

     The orchestra is currently under the direction of Ricardo Paderes.  Mr. Paderes has directed the orchestra since 1976.  The program consists of two orchestra classes that meet daily, the symphonic orchestra and the chamber orchestra.  There is also a string only group that meets outside of the school day. There are a total of 120 wonderful students involved with the orchestra.