It’s shaping up to be a landmark summer for San Diego’s Sameer Patel. His selection as La Jolla Symphony & Chorus’ new music director and conductor comes less than four weeks after he and his wife, Shannon, attended the state dinner at the White House that President Biden hosted for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This is absolutely a dream gig — it’s a joy to be part of this wonderful music organization,” Patel said. “And, having not ever been to the White House before, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be a guest at a state dinner there.”
Patel, 40, is the artistic director of the San Diego Youth Symphony, a position he will continue to hold. The former associate conductor of the San Diego Symphony, he regularly conducts orchestras around the country.
Patel’s selection to head La Jolla Symphony & Chorus — announced today — comes 14 months after his predecessor, Steven Schick, stepped down. Patel’s initial contract is for four years, with options to renew.
He was selected after a careful audition process, which saw the symphony perform with a number of nationally prominent conductors who were being considered. Patel will work alongside SDSU music professor Arian Khaefi, who has led the chorus of the La Jolla Symphony since early 2021.
Sameer Patel pretends to cook fig tree seeds in the nook of a fig tree root with his wife, Shannon, their son, Devan, and daughter Veda in Balboa Park.
(Brittany Cruz-Fejeran)
“We are delighted and enthusiastically welcome Sameer as the next music director and orchestra conductor of the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus,” said Stephanie Weaver Yankee, the nonprofit arts organization’s executive director. She hailed Patel as “a consummate musician” and a perfect fit for the position.
“The orchestra and chorus respond beautifully to his musical leadership and have developed a positive, natural rapport with him.” Weaver said.
“Sameer is a deeply committed community partner and visionary thinker. His talents and energy will be great assets to the leadership team, as we enter a new and exciting chapter in our history.”
Schick, who led the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus from 2007 until 2022, is an award-winning conductor and percussionist. A UC San Diego professor who is now the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus’ music director emeritus, he is an ardent admirer of Patel.
“Sameer is an artist of the highest level. He creates refined relationships with an ensemble that speak with great clarity,” said Schick, who singled out Patel’s “elegance, nuance and profound artistry” for praise.
“In addition to that,” Schick continued, “he is so invested with San Diego Youth Symphony, which is a huge apparatus. Coordinating all of that — bringing young musicians together and working with La Jolla Symphony & Chorus — it’s an unbelievable gift to San Diego.”
A Detroit native, Patel is the son of Indian parents who migrated to the U.S. from Kenya. He earned his master’s degree in music from the University of Michigan. Speaking by phone to the Union-Tribune from the Bankers Hill home he shares with his wife and two young children, Patel expressed palpable delight about his new La Jolla Symphony & Chorus position.
“The musicians in the orchestra have such joy and curiosity, and they play at a very high level,” he said. “They play everything with great commitment and heart, whether it’s Stravinsky or Brahms, or John Adams or Florence Price. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus has selected Sameer Patel as its new music director and conductor. He also heads the San Diego Youth Symphony.
(Sam Zauscher / Courtesy La Jolla Symphony & Chorus)
Patel is also still pinching himself about having attended the June 22 state dinner at the White House. He does not know — and had never had any previous contact — with President Biden, Prime Minister Modi, or anyone affiliated with them.
“I got a message from my manager that a policy adviser in Dr. Jill Biden’s office had read about me and thought my wife and I would be good guests at the state dinner,” Patel said.
“The funny thing is that we are not politically involved, especially not in the politics of India. My wife, Shannon, is a social worker and I’m an orchestra conductor. The only other musician who was at the dinner was (violin star) Joshua Bell, which was great company to be in!”
Nearly 400 people attended the dinner. They included the Bidens, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Also attending were film director M. Night Shyamalan, tennis legend Billie Jean King, fashion magnate Ralph Lauren and Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and his granddaughter, U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego.
“I met the Bidens and the Modis in the receiving line,” Patel said.
“In talking with other immigrants afterwards, the most powerful thing about this experience for me — as a child of immigrants — is the pride and joy of being able to go to ‘The People’s House.’ It was a very touching and powerful way to represent the community I’ve grown up with, people who have come here with these dreams for them and their children.”