Don’t miss out on the chance to experience the virtuosic skills of top bay area musicians blend the heart of rock music into their energetic performance. Photo courtesy of Renegade Orchestra

DAVIS, CA (MPG) – Take everything you don’t like about a classic orchestra and throw it out the window! Bay Area based “rock and roll symphony” Renegade Orchestra is performing at Davis Odd Fellows on Friday Oct. 16.

During the heat of the pandemic in 2021, a group of highly trained local orchestra players grew immensely tired of performing namelessly, dressed in black, to the same classical music they have heard for years on end.

After years of playing in major classical orchestras, they found themselves wanting to do something different, to create a unique experience for those concert attendees. With extra time on their hands, they began practicing rock music and alas Renegade Orchestra was born!

While still keeping the talent and beauty of amazing string players in a traditional symphony, Renegade Orchestra throws everything you know about a traditional orchestra away. No longer do the members stand still, nameless, dressed in black, instead, each member of the 14-core ensemble is encouraged to dress in their unique style while performing rock hits.

Renegade Orchestra mixes top Bay Area strings players with a mix of symphony playing, wedding string quartets, Grammy Award-winning, Juilliard graduating violins, violas and cellos, while the rhythm section consists of a range of players from North Beach jazz musicians to recent college grads. With the mix of these worlds colliding, a new “rock band” sound manifests, attracting live music lovers and orchestra connoisseurs alike to their shows

“We take the strings and combine that with a rock band to create an entire new sound,” Conductor Jason Eckl said.

Unlike most Orchestra’s repeating the same songs, Renegade Orchestra approaches song selection quite differently. Each year, the symphony takes song requests from the audience which end up on a master list of songs to be played at their future shows.

Renegade Orchestra’s Conductor then goes through the audience requested songs list and chooses the ones that have been most requested and what he thinks will sound best live. This creative methodology forges an interactive and immersive experience for both the performers and audience members.

Don’t miss out on the chance to experience the virtuosic skills of top bay area musicians blend the heart of rock music into their energetic performance.

“If you love rock music, but hate formality, come out and see this show!” Conductor Jason Eckl said.

Tickets are on sale for $25 at RenegadeOrchestra.com. The concert will be held on Oct. 16th at 7 p.m. at Davis Odd Fellows on 2nd Street.

Come out to see the power of amazing string players perform some of your favorite rock hits. Who knows, maybe your song suggestion could end up on their setlist!