The Planets on November 1/2: An extraordinary cosmic journey awaits you!

Join us on Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2 for Gustav Holst's best-known composition The Planets, with its evocative depictions of planetary gods such as War, Peace, and Magic. We'll also hear Paul Hindemith's legendary viola concerto Der Schwanendreher, featuring rising star Emad Zolfaghari, and a world premiere of Voices by Santa Cruz native Benjamin Goodwin. You'll want to be there for this unforgettable orchestral experience!

Prepare to be captivated by our gifted young featured artists, violist Emad Zolfaghari and composer Benjamin Goodwin. Emad's virtuosity will bring to life Der Schwanendreher, a distinctly unique piece for viola and orchestra which weaves traditional techniques and melodies into a 20th-century context. Benjamin Goodwin's Voices explores themes of change and acceptance, drawing on personal memories and beloved tunes to convey stories that resonate with listeners of any age. And the Symphony will take you on a celestial journey through our solar system with The Planets—a masterwork which uses a larger-than-usual orchestra to portray the color and drama of the planets as viewed through the lens of Holst's vivid imagination.

This blockbuster program will enchant your senses and inspire your spirit. It's perfect for long-time Symphony fans and first-time concertgoers alike. Bring a friend, and experience the magic together!

You can purchase concert tickets online anytime using the button below. Want to order your tickets from a real person? Call Civic Box Office at 831-420-5260 (hours are Tuesday–Friday, 12pm–4pm.)

BUY TICKETS FOR THE PLANETS

Our season opens with Scheherazade on October 4 — and it starts with a party!

Join us on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5 for Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, the beloved collection of Middle Eastern folktales. We'll also hear Elgar’s intensely moving Cello Concerto and Mascagni’s breathtaking Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana. And it all begins with a free, no-ticket-required Middle Eastern-themed street party outside the Civic before the Saturday concert!

Expect dazzling performances by our featured artists, Artist in Residence and Concertmaster Nancy Zhou and Principal Cellist Jonah Kim. Nancy will represent the voice of Scheherazade with her violin in a work the composer described as a narrative of "fairy tale wonders." Jonah's expressive playing will bring to life the haunting themes of Elgar's contemplative, elegaic Cello Concerto. And the Symphony will thrill you with Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana, one of the most captivating and recognizable works of all time. This memorable cultural adventure will launch a concert season that promises to expand our horizons while rediscovering timeless classics. We can't wait to explore with you!

You can purchase concert tickets online anytime using the button below. Want to order your tickets from a real person? Call Civic Box Office at 831-420-5260 (hours are Tuesday–Friday, 12pm–4pm.)

BUY TICKETS FOR SCHEHERAZADE

JOIN US FOR A FREE SEASON OPENER STREET PARTY!

Everyone is welcome to the 5 PM street party before the concert on Saturday, October 4 — no tickets required. We’ll enjoy tasty bites from local food truck favorites and live Middle Eastern music.

This party is a wonderful opportunity to connect with music lovers of all ages in your community. Get ready to dance!

THERE'S STILL TIME TO BUY SEASON TICKETS!

Until October 1, 2025, you can still purchase a season subscription. You'll save money on tickets, and you'll get first choice of the best available seats and keep the same reserved seat at every concert.

BUY SEASON TICKETS

Celebrate "America's Composer" at our John Williams Encore Pops Concert!

Legendary composer John Williams has had a giant impact on the American orchestral landscape. He created the music for some of American cinema's most significant, groundbreaking films, including Star Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter. Nearly all of Steven Spielberg’s films feature music by Williams, who also composed music for the Summer Olympics, NBC News, and a multitude of TV shows. Billions of people around the world have enjoyed the music he has written.

At our Pops Concert on June 7, we'll be celebrating Williams' critically acclaimed body of work— while also honoring his role in supporting musicians, bringing powerful orchestral works to millions of moviegoers, and inspiring generations of viewers with a lifelong love of music.

All are welcome to the 5 PM street party before the concert—no concert tickets required. We’ll enjoy tasty bites from local food truck favorites and Brazilian-influenced music by Samba Cruz. Get ready to dance!

Want to make the party even more fun? Wear a costume from a movie featuring the music of John Williams, and you’ll be entered into our costume contest! We’ll award prizes for the best adult costume, best child costume, and best couples costume at the concert.

BUY TICKETS FOR JOHN WILLIAMS POPS CONCERT

WHEN:
Saturday, June 7

5:00 PM - STREET PARTY

Live music, food trucks, dancing, and a costume contest.

7:30 PM - POPS CONCERT

Featuring music from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ET, Harry Potter, and many more!

WHERE:

Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz

TICKETS:

Call 831-420-5260 or buy tickets online

Help us bring joy and hope to our community with our May Board Match Challenge!

Dear Symphony Friends,

As we near the end of our electrifying 2024-2025 Symphony season, we’re already deep into planning our next blockbuster program. Can we count on you to support us through next season and beyond?

Our dedicated Board of Directors challenges you to make a pledge now, and we will match all donations up to $50,000. It’s the easiest way to make your money go farther. We only ask that you act now, while we are planning our budget.

Make a donation

What will your (doubled) donation do? You will bring JOY and HOPE to our community in the form of extraordinarily moving symphonic music.

When you look at your fellow concertgoers’ faces at the end of the concert – or during – you can see that we have created a space where we can set aside our cares and worries for a bit of time and celebrate our Symphony’s commitment to our health. Yes, studies show that live music supports brain health, including improved memory, better mental outlook, and enhanced connections with fellow listeners. Let’s take advantage of this and keep our community vibrant!

Where we used to count on grants to significantly help us, we now must look to our patrons and sponsors to carry us through. This is not a problem for our Symphony alone. Many foundations are changing their priorities, leaving arts organizations with reduced funding. (And if you know of organizations or businesses that are interested in funding the arts, please let us know.)

You can donate online at santacruzsymphony.org/makeadonation, or click the button below. Under "Where to Target My Gift," select May 2025 Board Match to double your donation. Because the Symphony is a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax deductible. Check with your financial adviser for specific information.

Make a donation

Thanks very much for your generosity and for making our Symphony thrive!

Deborah Bronstein, MD

Santa Cruz Symphony Board President

PS -- A wonderful gift for a person you care about is to make a gift in their honor! Both of you will be acknowledged in our program book.

Omari & Friends on May 18: An exhilarating blend of Classical, Musical Theater, Jazz, and more!

Our Musician Series recital on Sunday, May 18 features a true Symphony favorite: Omari Tau! If you've attended our Family Concerts, you know Omari as an engaging narrator and a powerful vocalist. Here's your chance to see this versatile artist and director in a program of his own creation, along with pianist Graham Sobelman and cellist Natalie Hagwood.

Indulge in an afternoon of rousing, inspiring, emotionally captivating music featuring an eclectic mix of selections from the worlds of musical theater, classical, jazz, and more! Music by Nina Simone, George Gershwin, Marc Blitzstein, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, and others — plus original compositions by the performers — will have you singing along and dancing in your seat.

As always, our recitals are held in an intimate setting, where the musicians interact with the audience. Because of the limited capacity, order your tickets now for the best seating.

WHEN: Sunday, May 18 at 2 PM
WHERE: Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College
TICKETS: 831-479-6154 or cabrillo.edu/vapa

Buy tickets for Omari & Friends

Omari Tau, voice

Omari Tau is a versatile performing artist, educator, and director who is at home in the operatic and musical theatre worlds, as well as in jazz and pop genres. Co-Founding Artistic Director of Rogue Music Project and Professor of Vocal Music at Cosumnes River College, he served as the Director of Opera Theatre at Sacramento State University and directed the Houston Grand Opera’s Education and Outreach Department touring opera program for youth. As a performing artist, Tau toured internationally with Disney’s The Lion King for nearly nine years; in 2024, he was honored to arrange music for The Lion King's 25th Anniversary celebration on the Broadway stage. Other credits include roles at the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, MUNY, Sacramento’s Broadway at Music Circus, and musicals such as Evita at Theater Under The Stars. As a composer, Tau’s operas have been commissioned and premiered by Lone Star Lyric, where they enjoyed successful runs. Tau appears on various recordings with Solabel as well as solo work with composer Graham Sobelman. Click here to learn more.

Graham Sobelman, piano

Graham Sobelman is a music director, a composer, a performing musician, an educator, and a skilled musical collaborator. He has worked as a music director for Broadway Sacramento, Ensemble Theatre Company, B Street Theatre, Capital Stage, and New Helvetia Theatre; he has also led productions in Edinburgh, London, and New York. As a composer, Graham has set the poetry of William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Jane Kenyon, and Robert Frost. His song cycles include, among others: Songs From Eagle Pond (Text by Donald Hall & Jane Kenyon), Love Is Eternal (Text by David Kent); Film score: Lily; Choral work: A Dozen Fires Alight (Text by Omari Tau). Click here to learn more.

Natalie Hagwood, cello

Known for her multi-style cello playing, ethereal vocals, and heartfelt songwriting, Natalie Hagwood expands the boundaries of her traditionally classical instrument. She grew up steeped in music, singing harmonies with her family and playing by ear. Collaborations with folk bands honed her improvisational skills, while cello performance in college expanded her technical ability. She currently performs with Solabel, a Sacramento-based ensemble of established jazz, folk, and Broadway talents whose messages of joy and social justice cross musical boundaries. Natalie enjoys songwriting, recording, and teaching cello students of all ages and abilities. Click here to learn more.