Excellence in Performance
A vibrant community of dedicated musicians pursuing excellence in wind performance
In Spring 2025, Brandon Madrid founded the SoCal Music Collective with a bold vision: to create a space where musicians could challenge themselves, grow, and ultimately become the best artists they can be.
What began as an opportunity for Brandon to gain conducting experience quickly evolved into a collaborative community built on passion, mentorship, and a shared love for music. Our debut concert, Legacy, reflected this spirit—honoring the music and leaders who've shaped us while paving the way for new voices to rise.
The SoCal Music Collective brings together handpicked musicians from across California and beyond, each selected for their artistry and dedication. Together, we celebrate the beauty of instrumental music and deepen our connection to its rich traditions.
Founder & Music Director
SoCal Music Collective
Brandon Madrid founded the SoCal Music Collective in Spring 2025 with a bold vision: to create a space where musicians could challenge themselves, grow, and ultimately become the best artists they can be.
Through the SoCal Music Collective, Brandon is not only carving out his path as a conductor but building a space where musicians can develop their artistry and connect deeply with the rich traditions of wind ensemble performance.
Full BiographyHighlighting exceptional musicians from our ensemble
Guest Soloist
Soprano
Erin Ellysha joins the SoCal Music Collective as guest soprano for our 2026 season, performing Eric Whitacre's haunting arrangement of "Goodnight Moon." Her expressive artistry and vocal sensitivity bring depth and emotion to this dreamlike piece.
With a background in classical performance and a passion for contemporary repertoire, Erin's collaboration with the ensemble adds a unique vocal dimension to our wind symphony sound.
View All MusiciansMoments, emotions, and memories that resonate through time and sound
Our 2026 season follows last year's powerful debut of Legacy. This year, we extend that vision with Echoes—a season centered on the idea that certain moments, emotions, and memories don't simply pass… they resonate. They ripple. They echo—through people, through time, and through sound itself.
Timothy Mahr
A triumphant and heartfelt celebration. "Saisei," meaning "rebirth" or "resurgence," reminds us that beginnings are echoes of those who came before. Through vibrant brass and soaring textures, the piece pays tribute to how musical lineage is passed down through generations.
Frank Ticheli
A symphonic poem imagining the connection we all share as living beings. With dazzling colors and breathless motion, it paints the emotional connections between beings—how one spirit can reflect, touch, or resonate with another.
Eric Whitacre • Text by Margaret Wise Brown
A haunting arrangement for soprano and wind ensemble featuring guest soprano Erin Ellysha. This gentle, dreamlike music reveals how our earliest memories continue to sing softly within us.
Join a community of passionate musicians dedicated to excellence
Rehearsals take place in Newport Beach with flexible scheduling to accommodate both student and professional musicians. We seek performers comfortable with collegiate-level repertoire who are eager to grow individually and as part of a collaborative ensemble.