Los Angeles, CA (October 21, 2026)—The Hollywood Philharmonic, a recording-focused orchestra, launched this week with a party at Capitol Records.
Drawing on the area’s pool of musicians, singers, conductors, composers, producers and arrangers, the orchestra aims to establish a worldwide reputation for music, creative collaborations, videos and practical solutions.
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The organization is led by Christian Amonson, an L.A. recording producer and score mixer with more than 3,000 projects under his belt, including the Chicago Symphony (John Williams), Kansas City Symphony (Yo-Yo Ma), Pacific Symphony, Gregory Alan Isakov, Trey Anastasio, Branford Marsalis, and more. According to Amonson, “Orchestral music has a long tradition in LA, but the market is changing. We’re overdue for a recording orchestra with a global presence, an established discography and a reputation for crossing genres.”
Amonson is building a coalition of creators and organizers, starting with the Philharmonic’s first composer-in-residence, W. Blair Borland. Borland has composed for video game titles like Apex Legends and Watchdog Legion.
An open roster offers flexibility for diverse bookings and greater participation, and an open contracting model holds the door open for more members of the community. Sessions with co-principals match members of the orchestra with particular artists and allow more musicians to lead. Multiple conductors will lead cues on the debut session at Fox: Angel Velez, Sheila del Bosque Fuentes and Borland.
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The Hollywood Philharmonic’s first recording project includes a new piece for cellist Tina Guo by composer-in-residence Borland; vocalist Hana Effron with a new arrangement of “I Can’t Make You Love Me;” singer-songwriter Victoria Canal arrangement of McCartney’s “Blackbird;” MaryAnne Muglia’s arrangement of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence;” and a new arrangement of Howard Shore’s themes from Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.
The orchestra session is supported, among others, by Paula Srur Carcar, librarian; LAFCI Music Preparation Services, music prep; Noah Gladstone, contractor; the American Federation of Musicians Local 47; Digital Audio Denmark; ADK Microphones; Women’s Audio Mission and others.
