From neighbors to fellow musicians, hometown orchestra strikes the right notes
Sylvie Belmond 
Image Credit: The 805 Standard Conductor Joseph Metcalfe leads the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal for the Sept. 4 Film Music Concert, where classic and contemporary film scores will light up the SIMI Film Fest.
Debut concert brings Hollywood scores to Simi Valley Sept. 4
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) Culture is alive here. The Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra is now more than a dream — it’s a living, breathing part of the city’s heartbeat.
The orchestra makes its official debut at the Film Music Concert on Thursday, Sept. 4, during the third annual SIMI Film Fest. Set at Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District headquarters, the evening promises a celebration of film scores, from classic Hollywood themes to new works by Grant Kirkhope (Mario + Rabbids), Forrest Gray (Stone Garden), and Greg Nicolett (Ripple).
Doors and red carpet open at 6:45 p.m., with music from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $40 for VIP, or $250 for a table of eight. Parking is free, and the event is open to all ages. Tickets: www.simiff.com/concert
For founders Joseph Metcalfe and Katie Garibaldi, the night is about more than one concert. It is the culmination of years of work to give Simi Valley its own cultural voice. Metcalfe, a World Soundtrack-winning composer whose career spans Disney Imagineering, Netflix, Amazon, and live global events, co-founded the orchestra in 2023. Originally from Southern England, he has long believed that community music can change lives, uniting audiences and musicians in shared experience.
Garibaldi, a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter and music supervisor, brings a different kind of artistry. With a background in communications and a decade on the editorial team at Guitar Player Magazine, she blends creative vision with organizational skill, ensuring each performance is both polished and welcoming.
The orchestra’s roots go back to a surprise flash-mob debut at the Simi Valley Street Fair in 2023, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Little House on the Prairie. Since then, it has grown quickly. More than 150 musicians have joined in, filling concert programs with 9,000 pages of specially arranged and composed music. In November 2024, the orchestra expanded again with the launch of the Simi Valley Choir, open to anyone who loves to sing.
“The Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra is made up of many talented local musicians. It is a delight to make beautiful music with this great group,” Elaine Litster, a harpist and member of the community orchestra, told Clair.
“I believe a symphony or orchestra elevates the stature of the community. Big thanks to Joseph Metcalfe and Katie Garibaldi who are making great music happen in Simi Valley,” Litster added.
Scholars and community leaders agree on the power of music: it strengthens social bonds, builds confidence, and gives performers and audiences alike a sense of belonging. It’s why orchestras matter not just in big cities but in hometowns like Simi Valley.
That’s the legacy Metcalfe and Garibaldi are building — not just performances, but opportunities. From youth to seasoned players, from amateur to professional, the orchestra offers a place where talent can grow and audiences can feel the joy of live music.
The SIMI Film Fest continues Sept. 3–7 at Studio Movie Grill in Simi Valley Town Center, featuring more than 60 independent films, filmmaker panels, awards, and red-carpet moments. But for Simi Valley, Sept. 4 will be remembered as the night the city’s orchestra took the stage for the first time — and signaled the start of a cultural movement.
