Litha Symphony Orchestra was founded in early 2012 by a group of musicians who wanted to create an outlet for performing classical orchestral music in the New York Metropolitan area during the summer, which is traditionally the off-season for most orchestras. As the full orchestra performs mostly during the summer season, the orchestra decided to use the name "Litha"—the celebration of the summer solstice—as the signature name for the organization. Maestro Eric Hayslett has been at the helm of the orchestra since its inaugural season. He has led the orchestra through every season featuring a variety of orchestral repertoire from Mozart to Mahler. Litha Symphony Orchestra—now a 501(c)3 nonprofit—continues to demonstrate its primary ideology that there should always be a place to perform and enjoy wonderful classical works even during the fiery summer season.