Enjoying parks and recreation in Palm Springs

After arriving Jan. 19 in Palm Springs, California, Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians spent two days in the desert oasis. The first day and a half offered a balance of relaxation and community engagement.

While some musicians roamed through the city’s attractions, others ventured to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, which spans two deserts, the Mojave and Colorado. The park is covered with its namesake flora, the Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia), a distinct yucca species that defines the Mojave Desert section.

Elsewhere, a group of CSO musicians performed a chamber-music concert at Indio High School, followed by a Q&A session with students. Indio hosts the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April at the Empire Polo Club.

The day concluded with a reception, hosted by longtime CSOA friends and donors Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett, at the Tamarisk Country Club in Rancho Mirage; the city is known as “Playground of the Presidents” (Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford and Reagan all vacationed there) and “Golf Capital of the World” (the city has 12 courses and several tournaments).

After a concert Jan. 21 at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, the CSO’s West Coast Tour 2026 rolls on to Northridge, Santa Barbara and Costa Mesa.