Valerie Geller Biography

Maestra Valerie Geller has a very busy professional career as Conductor, Concertmaster, Motion Picture & Recording Artist, and Master Pedagogue. She is also Music Director and Conductor of the Saddleback College Emeritus Institute Symphony Orchestra, Laguna Woods Village Symphony, Irvine Valley College Emeritus Institute Symphony Orchestra, and Merage Jewish Symphony.Following her formal studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Oklahoma at Norman, and University of Colorado at Boulder, Maestra Geller performed and toured internationally with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Andre Previn & Esa-Pekka Salonen) and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (John MaucerI), and made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1990.

Her Concertmaster positions include Disneyland Candlelight Orchestra, South Coast Symphony, Kingston Technologies private corporate orchestra ‘J.T. & the California Dreamin’. Valerie Geller serves as guest Concertmaster for San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Long Beach Mozart Festival, Orange Coast College, and appears as guest solo artist.

In addition to her symphonic and solo appearances, Maestra Valerie Geller is an active chamber music performer and coach. She is violinist for the highly acclaimed Violin & Organ Duo ‘Va’lee’ (Dr. Jung-a Lee, Organ) performing works from the classical repertoire and premiering works by contemporary American composers.

Valerie Geller studied the art of violin playing and pedagogy under the tutelage of Master Pedagogues Noumi Fischer, Lily Mahler, Manuel Compinsky, and Irving Geller. She is also an accomplished Lecturer, and conducts Master Class for Violin, Chamber Music, and Orchestra Audition Preparation. She has judged multiple competitions including the ‘Young Stars of the Future’, and regularly programs and encourages young talent as featured soloists in concert.

Additional credits include 1^st Violin Long Beach Symphony, New West Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Master’s Symphony, Las Vegas Symphony, Bolshoi Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Kirov Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, and Los Angeles Opera. Maestra Geller has toured nationally and internationally with multiple recording artists and celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Led Zeppelin, Mick Jagger, Electric Light Orchestra, Rod Stewart, Kenny G, Josh Grobin, Alicia Keyes, Donny & Marie Osmond, Shirley Maclaine, Tony Bennett, Paul Anka, Robert Goulet, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. Maestra Geller was solo violinist for the West Coast premieres of “The Spitfire Grill;” “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change;” “The Last Five Years”, “Violet”, and solo violinist for numerous National Touring Broadway Productions including "Annie", "Chicago" and “Peter Pan”.

Maestra Geller has made conducting appearances in the United States, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Israel, China, and recently premiered the new Starlight Symphony as Conductor and Solo Violinist in Aliso Viejo, CA.

Valerie comes from a distinguished musical family. Her father, Irving Geller, served 48 years as Associate Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Her mother, Helen Geller, is an accomplished actor of stage and screen, and will be featured in this summer’s production of ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ at the Sacramento Music Circus. Her brother, Paul Geller, is Production Director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Disney Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. Valerie is most proud of her two sons, Aaron and Greyson, who are also accomplished actors having starring roles on Broadway, in feature films and television; and their voices are often heard on radio and in animated feature films.