By Gabrielle Nomura

Special to the Reporter

When describing the dramatic comeback of the Eastside’s only professional orchestra, Bellevue Philharmonic, Michael Miropolsky doesn’t mince words:

“You simply don’t see orchestras come back from the dead; this hardly ever happens in the music business,” said Miropolsky, an accomplished violinist and conductor.

Since 1967, Bellevue Philharmonic had been connecting audience members with classical repertoire and professional, high-caliber musicianship. Many of the artists also played for Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Symphony and other regional groups.

When the economic downturn forced Bellevue Philharmonic to close its doors in 2011, Eastsiders thought they had lost one of their community jewels.

“The Eastside has its own cultural identity. Every cultural center needs its own orchestra without having to cross over a bridge,” said Martha Garrett, a violinist who got involved with the group in the early 2000s. At the time, she said, local musicians viewed the Philharmonic as “the next big thing.”

From the passion of musicians like Garrett and Miropolsky, and the persistence of dedicated music lovers and community members, miracles can happen.

Almost three years after implosion, the group did indeed “come back from the dead” and with a spiffy new name, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra.

Led by Miropolsky, artistic director, the musicians handle both performing and administrative responsibilities with a new artist-driven model. While this means many long hours of essentially volunteer-work for some involved, especially in the initial stages, Miropolsky said the structure is much better fit.

“The managers know the business from the inside-out,” he said.

The group gave its inaugural performance this March at Lake Washington High School Performing Arts Center, treating roughly 250 jubilant audience members to the works of Strauss, Alfven, Bizet and Rimsky-Korsakov.

“The musicians played with such great energy; that’s what makes the music,” said Miropolsky, who led the group from the podium. “I can’t believe they pulled it off in only three rehearsals.”

It felt incredible for Garrett to sit down on stage with her violin and perform once again for many of the people who had made the original orchestra so beloved. She hopes that the company will only continue to grow, adding additional concerts each year.

To jump-start that goal, the organization will hold a “Symphony of Gardens” fundraiser event from 9-4 p.m. June 29. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour “all-star” gardens in Medina, Clyde Hall, Hunts Point and Kirkland with live music provided by the orchestra. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/604208.

Garrett said the musicians are overjoyed to be back, and grateful to all who have stepped forward to support the group in some way.

“It’s been overwhelming,” she said. “At our inaugural concert, we were floating on air.”

Gabrielle Nomura is a freelance writer. She lives in Seattle.