Our Story
Symphony of the Vines is a chamber orchestra founded by music director Greg Magie. It is the realization of his passion to conduct and the need for the North County of San Luis Obispo to have live Classical music performances in their communities.
With the help of musicians, business leaders, and patrons, the orchestra gave its first concert in the summer of 2010 and has performed a series of concerts each year since. In 2015 we formalized a second concert series of chamber music, dubbed “Off-the-Vines,” which features musicians from our orchestra. The Off-the-Vines series has been popular and highly successful.
Symphony of the Vines is comprised of the finest local musicians and guest artists in San Luis Obispo county and surrounding communities, and performs music ranging from the 1600s to world premieres of newly composed music.
Our Mission
“To enrich the quality of life in San Luis Obispo County with professional classical music performances and provide engaging learning opportunities for young musicians.”
Conductor/
Music Director
Founding the Symphony of the Vines is the fulfillment of Dr. Gregory Magie’s lifelong dream to be the music director of an orchestra. A pianist and horn player, Dr. Magie discovered his true calling while in high school playing for the Herbert Blomstedt Conductor’s Institute.
He went on to earn performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music, University of Redlands, and UCLA, and studied conducting with Jon Robertson, Marin Alsop, Gunther Schuller, Gustav Meier, Neil Varon, and choral conducting with Donald Neuen.
Dr. Magie made his conducting debut with the Redlands Symphony in 1995 and was later appointed associate conductor. He has conducted the Rochester Philharmonic, Port Angeles Symphony, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Pasadena Lyric Opera, Arrowbear Music Camp Orchestra, and led the orchestras at Houghton College, San Francisco State University, Pomona College and Graceland University. Opera experience includes conducting productions with the Pasadena Lyric Opera, UCLA, Houghton College, San Francisco State and University of Redlands. Dr. Magie was director of the Pasadena Lyric Opera Chorus, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church Choir, and the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian in SLO.