Get ready for the KAZU Symphonic Dances Concert Rebroadcast!

Symphonic Dances:

LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE CONCERT 

Our first concert weekend to open the 22-23 season was a hit! If you missed the concerts, or just want to relive this around-the-world musical tour of symphonic dance music, you can hear the concert rebroadcast this coming weekend.

At 4 PM on October 2, go to KAZU.org's classical station (or click the button below to be taken there) to experience the entire program performed by the Santa Cruz Symphony!

Here's how to listen: when you're on the KAZU website, click "All Streams" underneath the red Donate button and select the Classical station from the drop-down menu. Then just click the play button in the grey bar at the top left part of the page, right underneath the logo. At 4 PM on Sunday, clicking this button will play the Symphonic Dances concert.

You can find more information about listening to KAZU broadcasts here, including how to tune in on your HD radio station.

Symphonic Dances: Come Dance With Us!

The Santa Cruz Symphony is celebrating its 65th year of presenting live, exciting classical music concerts for Santa Cruz County. This year’s opening concert will get your feet moving with 11 symphonic dances from around the world.

Over the centuries, countless compositions have been inspired by the connection between music and dance.

  • In 1879, Johannes Brahms composed 21 Hungarian Dances, based directly on Hungarian folk tunes. The Santa Cruz Symphony will perform Nos. 1 and 5. During the same period, Antonin Dvořák wrote 16 Slavonic Dances using his own melodies in combination with traditional rhythms and patterns from the rich Bohemian folk culture. We will be featuring two of those dances on this concert. 

  • Nearly 75 years later in Shenyang, China, composer Huanzhi Li compiled several Chinese folk tunes into the lively Spring Festival Overture. Traditional drums beat and cymbals crash in this brilliant celebration of the Lunar New Year written in the Western style. 

  • In a truly global embrace, American composer Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser arranged the South African greeting tune, Hlonolofatsa, for a symphonic orchestra. Alongside the usual instruments of a modern orchestra, the piece features a collection of djembes, traditional African drums, and the marimba.

  • Finally, the concert will conclude with the boisterous Huapango, by Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo. The huapango itself is a style of Mexican folk music from which Moncayo drew his inspiration. To accompany this piece, the Santa Cruz Symphony is pleased to feature Esperanza Del Valle Baile Folclorico from Watsonville as our guest artists. They will thrill the audience with the beauty and excitement of traditional Mexican dance. 

Saturday, September 17 at Civic Auditorium

Sunday, September 18 at Mello Center

 You don't want to miss this inspiring opening concert. We hope to see you this weekend!

A message from Santa Cruz Symphony Board President Linda Burroughs

MUSIC – THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Welcome to the 65th season of the Santa Cruz Symphony. Sixty-five years is a long time to survive in this fragile world of symphonic music, and we are proud to be celebrating another year with you. Because of your support we are strong and looking forward to another incredible year.

We hope we have made it through the bulk of the pandemic and things will start looking a bit more normal, whatever that turns out to be. Our hopes are that you, our wonderful patrons, will feel safe in attending our live musical performances and will continue to support us with your generosity. Maestro Stewart has an outstanding season planned for you, and we hope you will be able to attend every one of our concerts. And invite your friends to enjoy our performances, too. Help spread the word that Santa Cruz has a world-class symphony!

We have an outstanding support team that helps to make our concerts happen. Of course, we are incredibly fortunate to have Danny Stewart as our Maestro, and I couldn’t be more happy knowing that he will be with us for at least 10 more years. Our small staff does an amazing job keeping things organized, creative and moving seamlessly forward. Our Board of Directors is dedicated, hard-working and committed to making sure that Your Symphony remains vital and an important part of our community.

Our mission is to “inspire, educate and engage through artistic excellence, distinctive musical performances and varied activities that celebrate and enhance the cultural vibrancy of our community.” We keep that mission in mind with every decision that we make. We have a strong educational influence in our county with our varied youth and adult education programs. We believe in the power of music, in particular live performances.

If you want to be part of our dynamic team, feel free to contact me or the Symphony office. We always need help in some capacity. Here are some ways you can help: invite your friends to our concerts, join our Board, join the Symphony League, volunteer to be a docent at one of our Youth Concerts or school visits, become a sponsor or donor, contribute to our Endowment, or join our Legacy Society.

Music is transformative and is a universal language for humans and animals. Whenever I played my piano, my previous cats and dogs were drawn to the music and would lay down calmly close to the piano. When we attend outside performances it’s apparent the impact of music when birds suddenly start flying around or sitting peacefully on a nearby tree. Music affects us all, and we’re happy to be part of providing this beautiful music for your enjoyment.

Linda Burroughs, Santa Cruz Symphony Board President

Welcome to our 65th year!

The Santa Cruz Symphony kicks off its 65th season with Symphonic Dances. You will be tapping your feet to 11 magnificent dance pieces from around the world. Truly, an unforgettable musical and visual experience as you watch Esperanza del Valle Baile Folclorico dancing to Moncayo’s Huapango.

THIS IS IMPORTANT! If you are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home for your own health’s sake and to help keep others safe and well!

ALL patrons entering the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium or the Mello Center for the Performing Arts must present proof of vaccination, OR a negative PCR test taken within the last 48 hours, OR a negative Antigen test taken within the last 24 hours. YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENTER WITHOUT ONE OF THESE ITEMS.

The Symphony will NOT refund any tickets to anyone who cannot attend because they were denied entrance for not complying with these requirements.

To ensure that everyone will be as safe as possible, the Symphony strongly recommends that all patrons wear a mask inside the venues regardless of their vaccination status. Our volunteers and staff will also be required to be vaccinated and wearing masks.

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. By attending a Santa Cruz Symphony event you expressly agree to comply with all policies and safety guidelines put in place by the event organizers, and voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19, waiving all claims and potential claims against the event organizers, and their affiliated companies relating to such risks.

We are enthusiastic about this season and appreciate everyone’s understanding. Your Symphony is always committed to providing performances of the highest quality and with your safety as our number one priority.

We look forward to seeing you all at the concert! 

If you haven’t bought your ticket yet, there are good seats still available. Please visit www.santacruztickets.com or call 831-420-5260.