Alexei Girsh’s relationship with music began at the young age of 7 when his father enrolled him in music school in Russia.

Although this blossomed into a lifelong love, the 21-year Redmond resident, who plays the cello and piano, admits that as a boy he was quite indifferent to music and just went along with his father’s decisions.

“Father was very involved in music … At first, I didn’t care,” he said.

Music didn’t become a bigger part of Girsh’s life until he entered his teens and since then, he has never looked back: He studied music in college in his native Russia, receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Novosibirsk State Conservatoire in Novosibirsk and a master’s degree in conductor of symphony and opera from the Urals Mussorgsky State Conservatoire in Ekaterinburg.

And this year Girsh, who moved to Redmond from St. Petersburg, Russia in 1991, celebrates his 20th year as conductor for the Redmond-based Eastside Symphony. His other musical credits since moving to Redmond include stints as music director of the Washington Wind Symphony, Youth Philharmonic Northwest and Bellevue Ballet Orchestra. Girsh is also currently music director of the Renton Youth Symphony orchestra and conductor of the Boeing Concert Band. In 2000 he was honored with the City of Redmond’s Patron of the Arts Award. He also founded the Concert Opera of Seattle where he is artistic and music director.

Eastside Symphony, a nonprofit orchestra, currently boasts a membership of about 65 people, but it hasn’t always been that way.

“There were 10 people, maybe 12,” Girsh said about his early days with the group. “No brass section … it was very small.”

Eastside Symphony board of directors President Jeff Evans agrees.

“It was worse than a chamber orchestra,” he said with a laugh. “It was almost a quartet.”

Evans said as recently as five years ago when he joined the orchestra, the viola section was so small they had to use a microphone during performances just to be heard.

Evans, who began as a violinist with Eastside Symphony, switched to the viola to fill out that section.

But the orchestra has grown substantially since it began in the mid 1980s as the Redmond Community Orchestra, which was founded by Penelope Orloff and Charles Long. The name changed to Eastside Symphony and the group became a nonprofit around the same time Girsh joined in 1992.

Girsh said the orchestra has come a long way since he joined and acknowledged that it took a lot of work.

“It takes a lot of patience,” he said about growth.

Evans said as a conductor, Girsh has plenty of patience for someone who works with mostly amateur musicians.

“He puts up with a lot,” Evans said. “He gets it done and keeps his good nature.”

Evans said he appreciates working with a conductor he gets along with, but also has high standards.

Although he has a role in Eastside Symphony’s current state, Girsh said the symphony’s success is the result of a lot of hard work put in by a lot of different people. From the board of directors, to the advertising department to the people behind the orchestra’s website, Girsh had nothing but high praise for the organization.

“We have a very good team,” he said.

In addition to those within Eastside Symphony, the orchestra has received a lot of support from the surrounding community.

The group rehearses at Redmond High School and performs at the Redmond Performing Arts Center located on the school’s campus at 17272 N.E. 104th St. Eastside Symphony also performs throughout the city at various events and venues.

“Redmond’s always been very supportive,” said Hugh Anderson, who helped establish the orchestra under its current name.

Eastside Symphony’s next performance is its Music for Spring concert, which will be Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Redmond Performing Arts Center.

IF YOU GO

• WHAT: Music for Spring Concert
• WHEN: Saturday, May 19
• WHERE: Redmond Performing Arts Center, 17272 N.E. 104th St.
• TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased online with a Visa credit card at www.eastsidesymphony.org at a discounted advance price of $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and children. Children 7 and younger are free. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $9 seniors and children. Only payments of cash or check will be accepted at the door.
• MORE INFO: Call (206) 334-2055 or visit www.eastsidesymphony.org.