Composed in 2024, Overture to Alhambra is a tribute to the city of Alhambra, California. This performance is the first professional orchestra premiere of a work by Thai American composer Kevin Charoensri. Commissioned by conductor Alex Deng, who grew up in Alhambra and shares a close personal friendship with the composer, the piece honors the city's energy, culture, and significance as a home.

Charoensri is part of a rising generation of composers whose music reflects both artistic excellence and a broader cultural perspective. His recent work was selected for a national performance with the United States Marine Band, but the concert was canceled following executive orders that targeted diversity programming at the federal level. This decision was widely reported and highlighted the political challenges faced by emerging composers of color.

Presenting Overture to Alhambra is both an artistic and civic act. It reflects the orchestra’s commitment to platforming diverse voices and to creating space for music that represents the lived experiences of today's America. The San Gabriel Valley Symphony recognizes that programming is never neutral. This performance is an affirmation that inclusion, equity, and excellence belong at the center of the concert stage.