Joyful music that resonates through time
Beethoven's groundbreaking Symphony No. 9 in D Minor is widely considered to be one of the supreme achievements in the history of music. Since its first performance in May 1824, this symphony's political, religious, artistic, and cultural ramifications have resonated across the globe like no other single musical work.
On May 2 and 3, Santa Cruz Symphony joins forces with Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and four stellar vocalists: Dani Zhang (Soprano), Ginger Costa-Jackson (Mezzo-soprano), Joshua Stewart (Tenor), and Edward Tavalin (Baritone) to bring you this masterwork.
Our program also features Antonín Dvořák's exuberant Carnival Overture and Jaron Lanier's return to the Symphony stage as both a composer and performer to present Khaenoncerto, his original composition for the khaen arranged for the orchestra by Maestro Daniel Stewart.
Prepare to be transported, both spiritually and emotionally, in this powerful conclusion to our 2025-26 classical concert series. We invite you to share this unforgettable performance with us!
ABOUT THE FIRST HALF
The concert opens with Antonín Dvořák's Carnival Overture, depicting humanity’s power to enjoy merriment and delight in happiness. In short, it’s a celebration of life. Written in the sonata form, it includes a creative and dreamy intermezzo. This is one of only three overtures he wrote, the other two being In Nature’s Realm and Othello.
Next, Jaron Lanier returns to the Symphony stage with Khaenoncerto, an original composition for the khaen arranged for the orchestra by Maestro Daniel Stewart. The khaen is a traditional multi-piped instrument from Laos. Premiered at the WRO 2000 Media Art Biennale in Warsaw, this music exemplifies the composer's blend of technology, unconventional musical instruments, and immersive virtual environments. The piece was designed to interact with virtual reality (VR) worlds, reflecting the Lanier's role as a pioneer of VR.
Jaron Lanier has amassed a collection of about 2000 instruments, most of which he plays. An international figure in tech, he has been an active composer and performer in the world of new classical music since the late seventies.
He moved to Santa Cruz shortly after the pandemic and has gained a new prominence in the area as a musician. In October he led a program at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center titled “Music & the Future of Humanity” with musician friends Harper Simon, Tim Jackson, Zack Olsen and others.
Besides his musical talents, Lanier is an inventor of virtual reality, a computer scientist, and a futurist. He has been named among the Top 100 Intellectuals, 100 Most Influential People, Top 50 World Thinkers, and one of the Top 25 Influencers in technological history.
ABOUT THE SECOND HALF
After intermission, the Symphony collaborates with Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and world-renowned soloists in Beethoven's groundbreaking Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, one of the supreme achievements in the history of music.
Soprano Dani Jingdan Zhang made her debut with Opera Hong Kong as Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, followed by an acclaimed performance as Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. She went on to sing many other operatic roles and has since been recognized in both international and national competitions and featured in numerous television and radio productions.
As an emerging artist, Dani performed at the Beijing Great Wall Cultural Festival and the Shenzhen Cultural Center, showcasing a wide range of Chinese and international repertoire. She received her Bachelor’s (Honours) and Master’s degrees with distinction from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and has participated in masterclasses led by renowned artists.
Italian-American mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson, winner of the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition and a Samling Scholar, is internationally celebrated for her radiant lyric mezzo, magnetic stage presence, and charismatic portrayals of opera’s most iconic roles.
A sought-after Carmen, she has appeared in ten countries, with acclaimed performances at English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Tokyo’s New National Theatre, Staatsoper Hamburg, and Florida Grand Opera. She made an early mark at the Metropolitan Opera and has since performed leading roles with the Paris Opera, Royal Opera House, Gran Teatre del Liceu, La Monnaie, and Teatro Massimo. Her signature roles include Carmen, Rosina, Dorabella, Angelina, Charlotte, and Cherubino.
A Symphony favorite since his stellar performance in the 2025 Mozart’s Requiem concerts, Joshua Stewart’s blend of classical mastery and jazz flair transforms what a modern tenor can be. His extraordinary talent has cemented his place as one of the premier tenors of his generation.
“Stewart stood out from the very first for his impressive clarion vocality,” according to Broadway World, and The Stage called him “magnetic and majestic.”
Stewart has graced the stages of operas and orchestras around the world, performing for world leaders such as King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Presidents George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and Barack Obama. He enjoys a successful career singing both standard and rarely-heard works.
Baritone Edward Tavalin is a local Santa Cruz singer originally from Ben Lomond, California. He was recently a featured soloist in the Amadeus concert in March 2026, and was previously part of the chorus with Santa Cruz Symphony in their 2014 Mozart's Requiem and 2015 Carmina Burana.
Edward has since performed both leading and supporting opera roles including Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Marcello & Schaunard (La Bohème), The Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), and Angelotti (Tosca), among others, at several regional companies around the United States.
Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus has earned a stellar reputation at home in the Monterey Bay and around the world by performing in the finest concert halls in the USA and Europe—including years of transcendent performances with Santa Cruz Symphony. The group consistently evokes a sense of beauty and wonder with the lushness and fluidity of their technique.
In the fall of 2025, Dr. Carlin Truong took up the baton and started a new chapter in Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus history. An educator and conductor whose mission is to make music education more accessible to all, he is known for curating innovative, expressive concerts that engage people on both sides of the stage.
OPEN REHEARSAL
Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 PM
Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz
EVENING CONCERT
Saturday, May 2
6:30 PM Pre-concert talk
7:30 PM Concert
Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz
MATINEE CONCERT
Sunday, May 3
1:00 PM Pre-concert talk
2:00 PM Concert
Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville
Concert Sponsors: Dr. Deborah Bronstein & Dr. Evans Whitaker; Mark Chambers-Bray in Memory of Roy Chambers-Bray; Carolyn & Robert Levering
Concert Co-Sponsors: Dr. Frederick & Kate Chen; Allen & Shirley Ginzburg; John & Jodilynn Larse; Julie Mazurek; Lester & Martha Miller; Mary Ann Orr
Artist Co-Sponsor: Dr. Matthew Wetstein & Dr. Cindy Ostberg