A portrait of a man in continual motion
Joshua Stewart captivated Symphony audiences at our Mozart's Requiem concerts last year. The powerful, multifaceted tenor is back on Sunday, April 12 to present Man Without A Home, a deeply personal recital inspired by the culture and legacy of the African diaspora. Stewart will be joined by award-winning pianist and composer Courtney Bryan.
Rather than presenting a single narrative, Man Without a Home allows many musical voices to articulate what it means to search for belonging in spaces not originally designed to hold you. Works by Mozart, Saint-Georges, Leoncavallo, and Chaplin sit alongside spiritual and popular song, revealing how beauty, irony, and suffering often coexist.
Together, these works form a musical portrait of a man not without origin, but in continual motion—finding home not as a fixed place, but as an act of singing, listening, and being fully present.
JOSHUA STEWART
A leading proponent of contemporary opera, tenor Joshua Stewart has made a name for himself in the world of opera without losing touch with his jazz roots. "He stood out from the very first for his impressive clarion vocality," according to Broadway World; The Stage called him "magnetic and majestic."
Stewart has graced the stages of operas and orchestras around the world. Displaying compelling artistry and versatility, he has performed for world leaders such as King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Presidents George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Joshua attended the prestigious New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and released his first solo album at age 12. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and a former member of Munich’s Bavarian State Opera Studio, Stewart has appeared in productions of directors Christoph Loy, Richard Jones, Olivier Py, and conductors Kent Nagano, Dan Ettinger, and Maurizio Benini. His extraordinary talent has cemented his place as one of the premier tenors of his generation.
COURTNEY BRYAN
New Orleans native Courtney Bryan is “a pianist and composer of panoramic interests” (New York Times). A Steinway Artist and 2023 MacArthur Fellow, she currently serves as composer-in-residence with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
Bryan’s compositions have been performed by Opera Philadelphia, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, London Sinfonietta, LA Phil, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Chicago Sinfonietta in a wide range of renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Blue Note Jazz Club.
Recent accolades include the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (2018), Samuel Barber Rome Prize in Music Composition (2019–2020), United States Artists Fellowship (2020), the Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship (2020–2021), and the Camargo Foundation Fellowship (2025). She is the Albert and Linda Mintz Professor of Music at Newcomb College in the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University and co-founder of the Jazz Generations Initiative, funded by the Mellon Foundation and sponsored by Jazz Foundation of America.
🎟️ Tickets are going quickly. 🎟️
reserve yours today!
Our Musician Series performances are held in a smaller, more intimate venue, bringing the musicians up close with the audience. Tickets for this season’s recitals have sold out quickly, leaving some people disappointed. An early purchase is encouraged!
Call Cabrillo Box Office at 831-479-6154 or click the button below to buy tickets online.
Man Without a Home
Joshua Stewart and Courtney Bryan
Sunday, April 12 at 2:00 PM
Samper Hall at Cabrillo College
Make this recital possible
Man Without a Home is generously sponsored by Mary Ann Orr and Burt Rees. Bringing artists like Joshua Stewart and Courtney Bryan to our community depends on more than ticket sales, which cover just 31% of the true cost of each performance.
A Recital Co-Sponsorship at the $2,500 level is currently available, offering a meaningful way to support this work, with recognition and opportunities to connect more deeply with the artists and audience.
To learn more, contact Candice Stenstrom, Development Director, at (831) 462-0553 x12 or candice@santacruzsymphony.org.
