Life Member. Viola/Conductor
3/11/1935 – 3/5/2024

Violist Joel Lish graduated from Verdugo Hills High School when he was just 16. He enrolled in the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and then later enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his last two years in the Air Force Joel was stationed in Okinawa. At the request of some of the local musicians he started a small group of string players and taught himself to conduct. Many years later Joel was quite surprised to learn that after he left Okinawa in 1957 this group continued and eventually evolved into the Okinawa Symphony, and that Joel is considered the founder of that orchestra!

After his discharge from the Air Force, Joel earned a Master’s degree in teaching from CSUN. He taught music in junior high schools in the San Fernando Valley for several years, and then in 1965 he was invited to join the music department at Palisades High School. Five years later Joel became Chair of the Music Department of that high school, where he remained until he retired from teaching in 1995.

Soon after arriving at Palisades High Joel realized that he had some very good music students, so in 1966 he started the Palisades Symphony in order to provide these outstanding students with an additional opportunity to play orchestral mu-sic. Many of these music students eventually became professional musicians and joined Local 47. Joel continued to con-duct his Palisades Symphony until early this year. The orchestra continues to be a very strong community organization, open to all. It is now under the leadership of Joel’s hand-picked successor, the Ukrainian conductor Dr. Maxim Kuzin.

Joel joined Local 47 and started playing jobs in the Los Angeles area before he joined the Air Force. Even while he was employed full-time as a teacher, Joel was able to free-lance as a professional violist. His retirement from Palisades High School in 1995 allowed him to devote more time to this other career. Joel performed casual, strolling, chamber, and orchestral music with many ensembles throughout the Los Angeles area. He could also entertain as a solo violist, taking re-quests from guests at parties or on cruise ships. He was an expert at creating the inner harmonies while playing with strolling groups. Joel also participated in many studio recordings and films for motion picture and television.

His teaching and conducting led him to work with other performing organizations of all age groups, including the Los Angeles Mandolin Orchestra, which is still remembered fondly by many people. Joel also loved to arrange classical and pops music for string ensembles. He greatly enjoyed playing chamber music with his wife and friends, and he was able to do this until early this year.

Joel leaves behind his two sons, one grandchild, and his cellist wife Jan Kelley-Lish. Joel and Jan met long ago on various orchestra jobs, became friends over the years, and married in 2014. Joel’s passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of his wife, his many friends, colleagues, former students, and the entire Los Angeles area musical community.