Civic Auditorium Handrail Installation Project – Update

Santa Cruz Symphony cares about the comfort and safety of everyone attending our concerts. We’ve heard your questions about the handrails at the Civic Auditorium and want to provide an updated status.

The City of Santa Cruz has confirmed that the contractor, Selway Construction, is scheduled to install the new handrails in January 2026. Current preparations include material submittals, preconstruction meetings, scheduling, and procurement of materials. While a specific start date has not yet been set, installation is expected to take place during the month of January.

We expect that this means our patrons will be able to enjoy the use of the handrails in time for our Family Concert on March 1, 2026.

You can find additional information on the City’s project page here: Civic Auditorium Handrail Project

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Civic to enjoy both the improved accessibility and the joy of live music. Don’t miss the Family Concert on March 1 to see the handrails in action!

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

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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.)

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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.)

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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!

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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.

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.

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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

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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.

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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hear the Mozart Requiem that almost went unpublished!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor is a masterpiece shrouded in mystery and surrounded by controversy, making it even more fascinating and emotionally stirring. It began with an anonymous commission by Count Franz Walsegg zu Stuppach, who intended to pass it off as his own. But in the midst of creating the Requiem in 1791, Mozart died after a short illness. It could be said that he was writing his own funeral music.

Needing the income the piece would bring, Mozart’s widow Constanze persuaded his friend Süssmayr to finish it, based on Mozart’s notes. Without his participation, it’s likely the Requiem never would have been completed. Count Walsegg, the man who had anonymously commissioned the piece, later performed it as if it were his own. Thus ensued a ten-year battle over ownership, including legal maneuverings and deception. The Count ended up disgraced. 

Constanze faced a difficult task: she had to keep secret the fact that the Requiem was unfinished at Mozart's death, so she could collect the final payment from the commission. She also had to promote it as being fully Mozart’s composition to receive revenue from its publication and performance. Her efforts helped create the many half-truths and myths about the work that proliferated after Mozart's death.

The masterpiece that we know today was the work of many hands, but Mozart’s vision was the true guiding force. Even on his deathbed he was composing. His sister-in-law Sophie, who cared for him in his final hours, reported that “the last movement of his lips was an endeavor to indicate where the kettledrums should be used in his Requiem. I think I still hear the sound.”  

Mozart’s Requiem in D minor is one of the most popular and well-known pieces of classical music ever written. On May 3 and 4, Santa Cruz Symphony will join forces with Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and four stellar vocalists: Emalie Savoy (soprano), Sara Couden (contralto), Joshua Stewart (tenor), and Elliot Madore (baritone) to bring you this masterwork.

Our program will also feature a new arrangement of Björk's Overture to Dancer in the Dark by our very own Maestro Daniel Stewart, and a stunning world premiere of Daniel Stewart's Lux Perpetua. Prepare to be transported, both spiritually and emotionally, in this thrilling conclusion to our 2024-25 classical concert series. We invite you to share this unforgettable performance with us!

PROGRAM:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Requiem in D Minor

Björk/arr. Stewart:

Overture to Dancer in the Dark

Daniel Patrick Stewart:

Lux Perpetua

Free open rehearsal of Mozart's Requiem:

THURSDAY, May 1 at 7:30 PM

Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz

No reservations required

Doors open at 7 PM

Evening performance of Mozart's Requiem:

Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 PM

Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz

Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM

Doors open at 6:15 PM 

Matinee performance of Mozart's Requiem:

Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 PM

Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville

Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM

Doors open at 12:45 PM