Lois Leyva is one of the founding persons of the Inland Valley Symphony. She attended West Virginia University where she received her Masters Level in Performance; studying with Professor Donald Portnoy. She moved to California in 1977 and studied with Anthony Porto at Grossmont College in La Mesa and sat as concertmaster under his baton in the Grossmont Sinfonia for six years. On occasion she played solos (ex: Vivaldi’s Summer from the Four Seasons) and was involved in a five-year chamber music concert series with Porto and others.

Lois has played in other professional productions including Gilbert and Sullivan San Diego, SDSU musicals, Jewish Community Symphony’s Mexico Tour, Coachella Valley and Idyllwild School. She has attended many chamber music workshops from Oregon to Bozeman, MT.

Lois has taught for over 20 years. She began teaching in the San Diego Public Schools and now teaches private lessons in the Temecula area. She performs regularly with the Inland Valley Opera Orchestra.