Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW. Support Your Symphony!

Here's a sobering fact. This is a time when many arts organizations are "on the ropes" financially because an increasing number of foundations and donors are now focused on supporting social issues. While we appreciate those causes, it leaves the arts in a challenging position.

Thanks to your kind generosity, Santa Cruz Symphony has thrived for 67 years! We hope you will continue, especially on #GivingTuesday, December 3, a day for supporting nonprofit groups through public donations.

The Symphony is still bringing concerts and recitals to our enthusiastic audiences. But education is also a big part of our mission. We bring free music curricula into the classroom, along with musicians and instruments. In many instances, children are learning about classical music for the first time!

We also provide free youth concerts every year, open to all fourth- and fifth-grade students. These are presented in both North and South County. Many underrepresented young people are now seeing professional musicians who look like them! It's a great way to inspire these students and lay the groundwork for future artistic endeavors.

Tomorrow on #GivingTuesday, would you please consider a donation of any amount to Santa Cruz Symphony? Think of your donation as an investment into the cultural legacy of our community.

But you don’t have to wait until tomorrow. Make your donation online today–it's quick and easy! Thanks once again for your incredible generosity.

 

We are grateful for YOU!

We are grateful for YOU!

As we gather with friends and family, we are profoundly thankful for all the support we have received during a time of enormous challenges and changes. The past few years have been a difficult time for cultural groups because many foundations and agencies have changed their focus to social issues rather than the arts. Yet, thanks to your generous support, Your Symphony remains a vital and important part of the cultural landscape in Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz Symphony’s 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. With your support, we continue to accomplish our goals. THANK YOU!

An update on the Civic Auditorium's handrail Installation project

Santa Cruz Symphony cares about the comfort and safety of all who attend our concerts. We’ve heard your concerns about the lack of handrails at the Civic Auditorium, and we have been working with the City of Santa Cruz to install railings along the stairways.

A brief summary of the project and its status can be found here: https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Home/Components/BusinessDirectory/BusinessDirectory/311/4350

The above link will provide updates on the progress of this project.

What do kids of all ages need right now? A good dose of holiday magic!

On December 14 and 15, Santa Cruz Symphony will deliver a spirited family celebration of holiday music for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa featuring many of your favorites. Our Holiday Concert is a presentation for the whole family—with special pricing for kids. Our show even includes a lively sing-along for added fun!

There's nothing quite like live orchestral music to bring the magical spirit of the season to life. Here's what you can expect to hear:

  • Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, a toe-tapping medley of eight popular holiday songs, including Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, and more.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Polonaise from Christmas Eve, a beautiful excerpt from the composer’s four-act opera.

  • Peter Jaffe's Symph-Hanukkah, an orchestral medley of popular Hanukkah songs including The Dreidel, O Hanukkah, Blessing over the Hanukkah Lights, and more.

  • Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves, a beloved traditional tune that originally appeared in his Shakespeare-inspired opera, Sir John in Love.

  • Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser's Hlonolofatsa (Bless in the Name of the Father), traditionally sung by African choirs, featuring rhythmic lyrics in Zulu.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, a popular series of eight short selections featured in the composer’s fantasy ballet.

  • Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, a perennial favorite that lets us imagine we have snow for sleigh rides!

As the nights draw in and winter approaches, give yourself and your family the gift of festive music enjoyed together with your community. Get your Holiday Concert tickets today!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 at 7:30 PM
Civic Auditorium

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 at 1:00 PM
Civic Auditorium

HOLIDAY TICKET SPECIAL: Youth tickets (ages 3–17) are just $13 each with our Family Pack discount! Click here to learn more.

Audition for Santa Cruz Symphony!

On January 13–14, 2025, Santa Cruz Symphony will be holding blind auditions for multiple positions in our orchestra. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are welcome to apply for open positions.

Auditions are held to elevate the artistic standards of the orchestra and increase the roster of permanent musicians. We strive for strong continuity and a cohesive ensemble, allowing Music Director Daniel Stewart to develop the unique sound of Santa Cruz Symphony.

We celebrate our musicians’ interpretive contributions, their technical skills and discipline, and their scholarship of styles and contexts. We are committed to achieving the highest artistic and professional standards in our art and operations. We seek to create a culture of inclusion and a work environment that values dedication, professionalism, and creativity, and we’re committed to diversity and equal opportunity in our recruitment and hiring.