San Diego Symphony, an American symphony orchestra based in San Diego, California, was founded on December 6, 1910, as the San Diego Civic Orchestra and initially performed at various venues before settling into Jacobs Music Center. Throughout its history, the orchestra faced several periods of financial difficulty, including a hiatus from 1921 to 1926 and another from 1936 until it resumed concerts in 1949. The orchestra filed for bankruptcy in May 1996 but reorganized and restarted operations in 1998 under artistic director Jung-Ho Pak. In January 2002, the San Diego Symphony received a $120 million donation from Joan and Irwin Jacobs, which significantly bolstered its financial stability. The symphony continues to perform at Jacobs Music Center and the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, serving as the orchestra for the San Diego Opera. Rafael Payare first guest-conducted the orchestra in January 2018. Following this appearance, he was appointed the orchestra's next music director in February 2018, effective on July 1, 2019. His contract was later extended through the 2025 to 2026 season.
