sign up for the may 9th online music class!

Dear Symphony Music Lovers and Lifelong Learners,

It's time for our next online music class, focused on (more than) you ever wanted to know about Carmina Burana, our May 21 and 22 concerts.

Our leaders for this class will be Santa Cruz Symphony Board member Deborah Bronstein, MD and her husband Evans Whitaker, MD, MLIS. Deborah is a long time Cabrillo Chorus member and amateur musician, and "Whit" is her willing accomplice. We'll also have a very special guest: Maestro Danny Stewart!

Deborah and Whit will cover the pieces to be performed in order as they appear in the program:

  • Claudio Monteverdi's Toccata & Ritornello and its connection to Carl Orff

  • Valentin Silvestrov’s Prayer for Ukraine for an exquisite and timely tribute to Ukraine

  • Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, the perennial fan favorite. We’ll talk about the composer, his controversies, and his legacy—and uncover more about the texts, soloists, and musical structure.

This class will include live commentary and an interview with Maestro Danny Stewart!

We will meet on Zoom on Monday May 9, 2022 at 7 pm. Allow up to 90 minutes for this presentation, which will go into much greater depth than time allows at the preview presentations before the concerts. As always, we aim to enhance your concert-going and musical experience through deeper understanding of the concert material. This class will be recorded. A recording will be available two days later. 

The cost of this class is $20. To sign up, click the button below and follow the instructions on the website. After you've paid for the class, we'll send you an email with instructions for how to join the class via Zoom.

Please join your Symphony friends and pass the word to all your music-loving friends for this excellent class! We look forward to seeing you!

SIGN UP NOW!

Maestro Daniel Stewart presents: Kaleidoscopes

Your Santa Cruz Symphony!

“Join the Santa Cruz Symphony for a mesmerizing experience as Maestro Daniel Stewart presents Kaleidoscopes, the fourth installment in their 2021-2022 Classical Concert Season.”

Wallace Baine, Lookout

This weekend, April 30 and May 1, the Symphony will be presenting the World Premiere of The Aptos Sound Project, composed by our own Josef Sekon.

His marvelous work is inspired by the unique Rio Del Mar Flats neighborhood, the indomitable cement ship, and Halloween on Pacific Avenue!

Kaleidoscopes will also include performances by the prodigious cellist Jonah Kim in Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and violinist Julian Rhee performing Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.

Everyone will delight in the moving work of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky. Maestro Stewart will be conducting the acclaimed Ravel orchestration, which culminates in the topical interpretation of Victor Hartmann’s painting, The Bogatyrs Gate The Great Gate of Kiev.

Don't Miss Out on This Inspiring Performance!

GET TICKETS!

LIFE: BACK AFTER 16 YEARS!

Join the Santa Cruz Symphony as we celebrate the concepts and imagery of renowned photographer Frans Lanting and the captivating music of Philip Glass will be showcased in the LIFE Symphony. This multimedia orchestral production celebrates the splendor of life on Earth. LIFE interprets the history of nature’s existence on our planet in seven movements, from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity, in a work that merges the visual and performing arts with life and earth sciences.

“Lanting’s majestic photographs dance lightly across a huge screen over the orchestra, while some of Glass’s most elegant music pulses underneath,” writes The Washington Post. “It’s a celebration of nature in all its glory.”

LIFE was originally produced by the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and its Music Director Marin Alsop, in collaboration with composer Philip Glass, creative director and photographer Frans Lanting, editor Christine Eckstrom, arranger Michael Riesman, and visual designer Alexander V. Nichols.

Since its premiere at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in 2006, the LIFE Symphony has been performed around the world in major concert halls including London, New York, Amsterdam, and Rome. Now it is returning to Santa Cruz for a special performance by the Santa Cruz Symphony under the baton of Maestro Daniel Stewart.

LIFE: A Journey Through Time is the culmination of National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting’s six-year journey of photographic discovery that parallels new scientific insights about the evolution of life on Earth. The result is a lyrical interpretation of life on our planet, from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity. From prehistoric trilobites to giant tortoises, delicate jellies to spiny octopus trees, and from erupting volcanoes to shimmering coral reefs. Mr. Lanting has added new, exciting images that he has created since the premiere, making the LIFE Symphony a fresh experience. 

Prior to the show, a panel with leading scientists David Haussler, Natalie Barthala, Paul Koch, and Gary Griggs from the University of California Santa Cruz will add colorful insights about the extraordinary evolution of life on Earth. 

“We encourage everyone to order tickets soon because this show will sell out,” said Symphony Executive Director Gary Reece. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.santacruztickets.com

Excerpts from previous LIFE Symphony performances can be viewed at http://lanting.com/images/videos/life-a-journey-through-time/

Enjoy the street party with live music, food and wine at 5pm followed by the Scientist Panel and Concert

on SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022!

GET TICKETS!

Concert Sponsored by Frank Verprauskus in memory of Karen Verprauskus

Composor Sponsored by Santa Cruz County Bank

Spotlight on the symphony recital series: Luminance

Your Symphony is Pleased to Present a Vibrant & Modern Take on Musical Classics

Join the Santa Cruz Symphony as we shine a light on our Recital Series with a concert by San Francisco-based trio Luminance!

They will present a concert of original compositions that draw on their Latin, classical, and jazz musical roots, as well as their take on classics by artists ranging from Frédéric Chopin to Charles Aznavour and from Nat King Cole to Buena Vista Social Club.

Formed in the Mission District of San Francisco, Luminance performs original works and innovative arrangements inspired by Latin-American music styles and classical traditions. The group features Amelia Romano on acoustic and electric lever harp, Matt Ebisuzaki on c-rotary-valve trumpet and Saul Richmond-Rakerd on cello.The trio combines fiery rhythms, lush chords and soaring melodies with classics to create a subtle yet charismatic musical experience. Their recently released EP, Late Dawn, showcases their many musical influences and interests, ranging from mid-century French pop music to Latin jazz improvisations. They have enjoyed sharing their unique music with audiences up and down the west coast since they began playing together several years ago.

Enjoy this immensely talented trio in an intimate setting at the Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College next Sunday, April 10 at 2PM!

GET TICKETS!