The UCLA Philharmonia is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1936 by the renowned conductor, composer, and music educator, Ernst Toch. The ensemble is based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and is composed of undergraduate and graduate students from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. The UCLA Philharmonia has a rich history of excellence in classical music performance, and has been led by a number of distinguished conductors over the years. In addition to Ernst Toch, the ensemble has been led by such notable conductors as Lukas Foss, Zubin Mehta, and Michael Tilson Thomas. One of the highlights of the UCLA Philharmonia's history was its performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 1945, under the direction of Ernst Toch. The ensemble performed Toch's own composition, "Circus Overture," which was met with great acclaim by both the audience and the critics. Over the years, the UCLA Philharmonia has also collaborated with a number of renowned soloists, including pianist Emanuel Ax, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and violinist Itzhak Perlman. These collaborations have resulted in some truly memorable performances, and have helped to cement the ensemble's reputation as one of the premier classical music ensembles in the United States. In addition to its performances with soloists, the UCLA Philharmonia has also been recognized for its outstanding performances of contemporary classical music. In 1961, the ensemble was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for its performance of Roger Sessions' Symphony No. 2. More recently, the UCLA Philharmonia has continued to build on its legacy of excellence in classical music performance. In 2019, the ensemble performed a sold-out concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, under the direction of conductor Neal Stulberg. The concert featured works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky, and was met with rave reviews from both the audience and the critics. The UCLA Philharmonia is currently led by conductor and music educator, Neal Stulberg. Stulberg has been with the ensemble since 1989, and has helped to guide it through a period of growth and expansion. Under his leadership, the ensemble has continued to attract talented young musicians from around the world, and has maintained its reputation as one of the premier classical music ensembles in the United States. In conclusion, the UCLA Philharmonia is a classical music ensemble with a rich history of excellence in performance. Founded in 1936 by Ernst Toch, the ensemble has been led by a number of distinguished conductors over the years, and has collaborated with some of the world's most renowned soloists. With its commitment to excellence in classical music performance, the UCLA Philharmonia is sure to continue to be a major force in the world of classical music for many years to come.

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