Join us on September 21/22 as we launch our season with Philharmonia Fantastique!

Let's celebrate the Autumnal Equinox on September 21/22! It's a time of seasonal changes, and Santa Cruz Symphony will help you move into Fall's vibrance with Philharmonia Fantastique. This annual moment of transition provides the ideal setting for the launch of our dynamic 67th concert season. Join Santa Cruz Symphony and Music Director Daniel Stewart as we experience masterfully articulated, uniquely creative works by Johannes Brahms, Mason Bates, and Martin Gaskell.

If you're a subscriber, your tickets were mailed on September 5. If you're not a subscriber, there's still time! Learn more about season subscriptions here.

Johannes Brahms took the composition of his first symphony very seriously, so much that it took him several decades to complete it. When the work premiered in 1876, it was to great acclaim. One notable critic of the time declared that “even the layman will immediately recognize it as one of the most distinctive and magnificent works of the symphonic literature.” 

While influenced by Beethoven, Brahms’ Symphony no. 1 in C minor is still uniquely his own, balancing stormy passion with sweet lyricism.

Grammy award-winning composer Mason Bates takes us on a journey through the instruments of the orchestra as we follow a magical Sprite in Philharmonia Fantastique. By the end of the concerto, instrument families of the orchestra demonstrate “unity from diversity” in a spectacular finale. This exciting, action-packed score (the concerto is often presented as part of an animated film) offers a colorful exploration of the inner workings of an orchestra.

The Washington Post described it as a "sumptuous sonic palette" with "relentlessly clever turns of phrase," and the soundtrack for the film version won a Grammy award in 2023.

Martin Gaskell's Ceremonial Music was a 2023 Finalist in Composition for the American Prize, and has been performed over 100 times on three continents. Originally written for trumpets, trombones, and organ, Gaskell arranged his work for full orchestra at the request of Maestro Daniel Stewart.

“I imagine a long, slow procession for a ceremony in a cathedral,” says Gaskell, “perhaps for a royal wedding or a coronation. One hears heraldic trumpet fanfares and church bells pealing."

Classical Series Concert 1:
Philharmonia Fantastique

Johannes Brahms: Symphony no. 1
Mason Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique
Martin Gaskell: Ceremonial Music

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM at Civic Auditorium
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Henry J. Mello Center

Our 67th season will be dynamic and enthralling!

Last concert season was a resounding success. We increased our attendance, and our final concert was completely sold out.

That's a compelling reason to buy your 2024-25 tickets early!

We’ll kick off our season on September 21/22 with Mason Bates’ electrifying Philharmonia Fantastique and Johannes Brahms' majestic Symphony no. 1, along with a new arrangement of a beloved work by local composer Martin Gaskell.

On November 2/3, we’ll pair Antonín Dvořák’s thrilling Symphony no. 8 with the brilliance of Santa Cruz Symphony Artist in Residence and Concertmaster Nancy Zhou performing Erich Korngold’s radiant Violin Concerto, in a concert that also includes the world premiere of Spin by Josef Sekon.

Our inaugural Holiday Pops Concert on December 14/15 will showcase favorites from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, and many more. The annual Family Concert on March 2 will present Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf plus a diverse selection of music performed with community partner groups.

A highly anticipated collaboration with Santa Cruz Shakespeare on March 29/30 will feature the company’s new director Charles Pasternak alongside the immortal melodies of Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and Felix Mendelssohn’s musical depictions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in addition to Anna Clyne’s breathtaking portrayal of the sound and fury contained in the world of Macbeth.

Our classical season finale on May 3/4 will dazzle with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem, Björk’s Overture to Dancer in the Dark, and an exciting world premiere by our Music Director Daniel Stewart in a concert featuring Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and vocal soloists from the Metropolitan Opera (yes, THAT Metropolitan Opera!).

A special presentation of more magical music themes from John Williams will conclude our season on June 7/8 at our Spring Pops Concert.

And all season long you'll enjoy opportunities to see exceptional performances at smaller venues as part of our Musician Series.

Individual concert tickets are available to buy in late August. For more concert info and links to buy tickets, check out our concerts and events page.  

We can't wait to share this innovative season with you!

Enjoy the benefits of being a Symphony subscriber!

You'll save money on ticket prices, keep the same reserved seat for every concert, and have the option to exchange tickets between Civic and Mello performances, along with other perks.

Learn more and subscribe on our website.

Press Release: Santa Cruz Symphony receives $1 million bequest in memory of Roy Chambers-Bray

This is the largest single donation in the Symphony’s 67-year history.

Mark and Roy Chambers-Bray

Santa Cruz Symphony has just been given an unrestricted donation of $1 million from Mark Chambers-Bray in memory of Roy Chambers-Bray. It is the largest single donation in the organization’s 67-year history.

“Roy and Mark have been longtime supporters of the Symphony,” said Gary Reece, Executive Director. “They have been valued board members of our organization and of our auxiliary, the Symphony League. And they have been zealous about hosting fundraisers, housing our musicians, providing leadership to both organizations, and lending a helping hand wherever needed. Even so, we were quite surprised by the significance of this gift. Our gratitude cannot be expressed enough. But we can ensure that the funds will be used wisely and effectively.”

The donation comes at a time when arts organizations across the U.S. are falling short of their funding goals. Many longtime corporate and foundation donors have shifted their focus to social issues, and the arts are often struggling now to find patrons. The Symphony is one of those entities that have seen their funding sources turning elsewhere.

“Of course, that presents challenges to organizations such as the Santa Cruz Symphony,” said Dr. Deborah Bronstein, Board President. “So, we are incredibly grateful to Mark and Roy for planning this bequest. The funds will be invested with guidance from our financial advisers so we can continue to use the proceeds for as long as possible.”

The Chambers-Bray donation will help support the operating expenses of the symphony, such as increasing musician compensation, staff salaries, production costs, publishing, marketing, and other activities essential to maintaining a professional orchestra. Few people realize that ticket sales only account for less than 30% of the cost of keeping live classical music a reality.

Mr. Reece noted that music education is a priority for the Santa Cruz Symphony and this gift will also support those programs. For several years, the Symphony has sent professional musicians into elementary schools in Santa Cruz and northern Monterey Counties. In conjunction with Carnegie Hall’s LinkUp Program, the Symphony also provides free teaching materials and curricula for teachers; ukuleles and recorders for student music lessons; and short recordings of classical music to help students transition from recess to the classroom. The Santa Cruz County Office of Education is also a partner.

The Symphony concludes the LinkUp Program with popular concerts for fourth- and fifth-grade students at the Mello Center in Watsonville and the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz. These come at no charge to the students or the schools. In total, the Symphony invests close to $200,000 each year into the LinkUp Program. While it is partially supported by its major program sponsor the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and other generous sponsors, these funds do not cover the entire cost of the program.

“Despite the challenges that all arts organizations face,” said Mr. Reece, “our last concert season was outstanding. In fact, our Pops Concert in June was sold out, our Bach concert with Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus increased 44 percent over last year, and overall attendance for the season increased by 25 percent. This upcoming season will include a tribute to Shakespeare, along with something new – holiday concerts in December.”

Mark and Roy Chambers-Bray had included this gift as part of their estate planning. Roy passed away in May, setting the bequest in motion.