Concert Sponsors: Edward Houghton & Kathryn Cowan; Garth Illingworth in memory of Wendy Illingworth

Concert Co-Sponsors: Angela Chesnut; Lesley Harris; Vance Landis; John & Jodilynn Larse; Jeanette & Patricia Moretti

Artist Co-Sponsors: Roger Anderson; Dorothy Wise

Classical Series Concert 1

UNITED SOUNDS OF AMERICA

Smith, arr. Toscanini: Star Spangled Banner
Antonín Dvořák: Finale from the New World Symphony
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Florence Price: Juba Dance from Symphony No. 1
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Leonard Bernstein: Music from West Side Story
Nina Simone: Come Ye
Jackie Orzel: Chukchansi Overture [World Premiere]
John Williams: Music from Star Wars

FEATURED SOLOIST

Christine McLeavey, piano

OPEN REHEARSAL

Friday, October 2, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM)
Learn more about open rehearsals here.

CONCERT DATES

SATURDAY, October 3 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

SUNDAY, October 4 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Concert Sponsors: Bob Edmund; Lani LeBlanc; Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Lieberman and Mr. & Mrs. Eric Schweitzer in memory of Norman Albright; Phil & Linda Segal

Concert Co-Sponsors: Allen & Shirley Ginzburg; Lester & Martha Miller

Artist Sponsor: Dennis St. Peter & Alice Kollmann

Classical Series Concert 2

TCHAIKOVSKY & MENDELSSOHN

Daniel Strebulaev: Overture [World Premiere]
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
— featuring violin soloist In Sun Jang
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, Italian

FEATURED SOLOIST

Concertmaster In Sun Jang, violin

OPEN REHEARSAL

Friday, November 13, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM)
Learn more about open rehearsals here.

CONCERT DATES

SATURDAY, November 14 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

SUNDAY, November 15 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Concert Sponsors: Owen Brown & Mary Akin; David Van Beveren

Concert Co-Sponsors: Allen & Shirley Ginzburg; Mary James; Lester & Martha Miller; Silver Mountain Vineyards

Artist Sponsor: Redtree Properties

Classical Series Concert 3

RACHMANINOFF’S 3RD

Jaron Lanier: Singularity Variations [World Premiere]
—- featuring piano soloist Serene
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3
—- featuring piano soloist Serene

FEATURED SOLOIST

Serene, piano

OPEN REHEARSAL

Friday, January 15, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM)
Learn more about open rehearsals here.

CONCERT DATES

SATURDAY, January 16 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

SUNDAY, January 17 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Major Program Sponsor: Monterey Peninsula Foundation

Program Sponsors: The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation

Concert Sponsors: Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Concert Co-Sponsors: Kellie Allyn on behalf of Kismet CPR; Catharine & James Gill; Kent & Marie Imai; Omega Nu of Santa Cruz; Rotary of Santa Cruz; Scharf Investments

Family Concert

PETER AND THE WOLF

This engaging, family-friendly concert brings students, families, and our community together.

GUEST ARTISTS

Master of Ceremonies Omari Tau

CONCERT DATE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 at 2:00 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 1 PM | Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

NOTE: There will be NO open rehearsal and NO pre-concert talk for this concert.

Carnegie Hall Link Up Program: The Orchestra Sings

Golden KPop Demon Hunters
— featuring Cabrillo Youth Chorus and El Sistema
El Cascabel
— featuring Esperanza del Valle and Nematatlín de la Universidad Veracruzana
Antonín Dvořák: Music from New World Symphony
— featuring International Academy of Dance
George Gershwin: I Got Rhythm
— featuring Kuumbwaa Honor Jazz Band
Reena Esmail: Ram Tori Maya
— featuring Cabrillo Youth Chorus
Igor Stravinsky: Finale from The Firebird
— featuring International Academy of Dance
Jesús Echevarría: Atravesado from Suite Huasteca
— featuring Esperanza del Valle and Nematatlín de la Universidad Veracruzana
Jim Papoulis: Oye

Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf

— featuring Santa Cruz Symphony and Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony

Concert Sponsors: Todd & Corinne Wipke; Valerie Macken; Anonymous

Concert Co-Sponsor: David Fulton & Natalie Grant

Artist Co-Sponsor: Michael & Colleen Harrison

Classical Series Concert 4

THE FIREBIRD

BTS & Myungsoo Shin: Black Swan 
William Walton: Concerto for Viola
—- featuring viola soloist Pearl de la Motte
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (1919 Suite)

FEATURED SOLOIST

Pearl de la Motte, viola

OPEN REHEARSAL

Friday, April 2, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM)
Learn more about open rehearsals here.

CONCERT DATES

SATURDAY, April 3 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

SUNDAY, April 4 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Concert Sponsors: Mark Chambers-Bray in memory of Roy Chambers-Bray; Carolyn & Robert Levering

Concert Co-Sponsors: James Barton & Kathryn Schlepphorst; Dr. Frederick & Kate Chen; Julie Mazurek; Mary Ann Orr

Classical Series Concert 5

ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA

Reena Esmail: Ram Tori Maya
Leonard Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Friedrich Nietzsche: Hymnus an das Leben
Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

FEATURED GUEST ARTISTS

Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Carlin Truong

OPEN REHEARSAL

Thursday, April 29, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM)
Learn more about open rehearsals here.

CONCERT DATES

SATURDAY, May 1 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

SUNDAY, May 2 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Concert Sponsors: Dale & Chris Attias in memory of Gwen Laffoon; Donna Maurillo & Gary Reece; West Coast Community Bank

Concert Co-Sponsor: John Dickman & Lisa McEuen

Pops Benefit Concert

A JOHN WILLIAMS CELEBRATION

Including music from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and more!

CONCERT DATE

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

PRE-CONCERT STREET PARTY

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM in front of Civic Auditorium. Free to attend. Featuring live music, dancing, food trucks, and more. Movie costumes are encouraged!

NOTE: There will be NO open rehearsal and NO pre-concert talk for this concert.