Soulful JOY on December 22 with the Destiny Muhammad Project

Discover a new sound for the holidays!

Back by popular demand! Destiny Muhammad, the self-described "harpist from the hood," returns to Santa Cruz for "Soulful Joy," a special holiday performance. Come hear an inspiring blend of jazz, gospel, and a hint of storytelling on Sunday, December 22, at Cabrillo College’s Samper Hall.

Destiny first introduced this show at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and it has since become a beloved tradition that sells out every year. This is your chance to see it in here in Santa Cruz in an intimate setting.

Soulful JOY is just what it sounds like: a joyful and soulful way to come together during the holiday season. We'll be reflecting and re-imagining the holiday spirit with music and sacred movement along with Destiny and her cool, eclectic Sonic Ensemble of Bay Area Masters: musicians Leon Joyce, Jr., Tammy Lynne Hall, and Ron Belcher; voices Leberta Lorál, Nicolas Bearde, and Will Hammond Jr.; and dancer Victor Temple.

"Whether interpreting jazz standards or her original tunes, Destiny Muhammad turns every piece into a soulful adventure."

WHEN: SUNDAY, December 22 at 2 PM
WHERE: Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College
TICKETS: 831-479-6154 or cabrillo.edu/vapa

🎶 Music, laughter, and love: enjoy the spirit of the season at our Holiday Concert! 🎶

Music, laughter, and love: enjoy the spirit of the season at our Holiday Concert! 

On December 14 and 15, Santa Cruz Symphony will deliver a jolly 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 a special ticket price of just $13 for young people 3-17 years as part of our Family Pack Discount. Our show even includes a lively sing-along for added fun!  

There's nothing quite like live, in-person orchestral music to bring the magical spirit of the season to life. 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! Learn more about the concert here.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

7:30 PM at Civic Auditorium

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

1:00 PM at Civic Auditorium

HOLIDAY TICKET SPECIAL: Youth tickets (ages 3–17) are just $13 each when purchased as part of our Family Pack discount!

KEEP THE FESTIVITIES GOING WITH SOULFUL JOY! 

Soulful Joy reimagines the holiday spirit with jazz, gospel, soul, and a hint of storytelling. Led by Destiny Muhammad’s stirring vocals and harp, Soulful Joy features her cool, eclectic Sonic Ensemble of Bay Area Masters: musicians Leon Joyce, Jr., Tammy Hall, and Ron Belcher; vocalists Leberta Lorál, Nicolas Bearde, and Will Hammond Jr.; and dancer Victor Temple. Don't miss this unique and uplifiting Musician Series event!

🛍️READY, SET, SHOP! 🛒 

You'll be blown away by our new Symphony online store! With our trusted vendor partnership, we've created almost 200 items of Symphony-branded merchandise. You'll find T-shirts, athletic pants, shorts, totes, mugs, exercise wear, jackets, hats, beanies, and more. Select your favorite styles, colors, and sizes. Even more designs will be added in the new year! 

🎁 TAKE YOUR HOLIDAY GIVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL!  

Gift vouchers for concert tickets are a wonderful option for folks who already have everything–or those who are new to Santa Cruz Symphony. Imagine sharing the thrilling experience of a Symphony concert with your partner, family member, or best pal. Going to concerts together could become a new and beloved tradition!  

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.