Benefactor Sponsors:
Mark Chambers-Bray in memory of Roy Chambers-Bray; Santa Cruz Symphony League
Season Sponsors:
John and Linda Burroughs on behalf of West Coast Community Bank; Rebele Family
VENUE SPONSORS:
Pegi and Tom Ard; Barbara Canfield; Bob Davidson on behalf of Canyon View Capital; Francis Garcia in memory of George Silva; Mary James in memory of George Cook; Richard Klevins and Gay Nichols; Kenneth Koenig and Lisa Rose; Joyce and Campbell Scott; Charlotte Williams; Marian Zeidler
UPCOMING CONCERTS AND EVENTS
Rimsky-Korsakov’s depiction of tales from One Thousand and One Nights features Artist in Residence and Concertmaster Nancy Zhou representing Scheherazade on her violin. Acclaimed SCS principal cellist Jonah Kim performs Elgar’s intensely moving Cello Concerto. The program opens with Mascagni’s breathtaking Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana. Join us for a free street party before the concert!
Classical Series Concert 1
Scheherazade
Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana – Intermezzo
Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35
FEATURED SOLOISTS
Jonah Kim, cello
Artist in Residence and Concertmaster Nancy Zhou, violin
CONCERT DATES
SATURDAY, October 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
SUNDAY, October 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
SEASON OPENING STREET PARTY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM in front of Civic Auditorium, right before the concert. Free to attend. A Middle Eastern-themed street party featuring live music, dancing, food trucks, and more!
OPEN REHEARSAL
Friday, October 3, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM) Learn more about open rehearsals here.
SPONSORS
Concert Sponsors: Edward Houghton & Kathryn Cowan; Lani LeBlanc; Valerie Macken
Artist Sponsor: Dennis St. Peter & Alice Kollmann
Concertmaster Sponsor: Locatelli Moving & Storage
Holst’s best-known composition The Planets evokes planetary gods such as War, Peace, and Magic in an unforgettably powerful orchestral experience. Hindemith’s legendary viola concerto Der Schwanendreher features rising star viola virtuoso Emad Zolfaghari. We also will present the much-anticipated world premiere of Voices by Santa Cruz native Benjamin Goodwin.
Classical Series Concert 2
The Planets
Benjamin Goodwin: World Premiere of Voices
Paul Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher
Gustav Holst: The Planets
FEATURED SOLOIST
Emad Zolfaghari, viola
CONCERT DATES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
OPEN REHEARSAL
Friday, October 31, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM) Learn more about open rehearsals here.
SPONSORS
Concert Sponsors: Garth Illingworth in memory of Wendy Illingworth; Nancy Van Natta in memory of John Dickinson
Concert Co-Sponsors: Angela Chesnut, Lesley Harris
WINTER POPS
Holiday Concert
Our Holiday Pops Concert offers festive favorites including holiday music by Leroy Anderson, the lighthearted and nostalgic Symph-Hanukkah, selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and singalong tunes in a variety of December traditions. It’s the best way to celebrate the season with friends and family in a joyfully-decorated venue. Take a picture with Santa Claus and the North Pole crew at our photo station!
CONCERT DATES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6 PM | Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 12 PM | Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
NOTE: There will be NO open rehearsal and NO pre-concert talk for this concert.
SPONSORS
Concert Sponsor: West Coast Community Bank
Concert Co-Sponsor: David Fulton and Natalie Grant
Weeks of innovative educational programming wrap up with our Family Concert, featuring Carnegie Hall Link Up’s The Orchestra Swings and showcasing our community arts partners with a multicultural offering of tunes and dances. After intermission, stay for the brilliant Carnival of the Animals, where our multi-talented emcee Omari Tau will continue to entertain. Bring the kids, and stay for the instrument “petting zoo” after the concert!
Family Concert
Carnival of the Animals
Affordably priced for families!
Carnegie Hall’s LinkUp Program: The Orchestra Swings!
Camille Saint–Saens: Carnival of the Animals
GUEST ARTISTS
Master of Ceremonies Omari Tau
CONCERT DATE
SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 1 PM | Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
NOTE: There will be NO open rehearsal and NO pre-concert talk for this concert.
SPONSORS
Major Program Sponsor: Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Program Sponsor: The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation
Concert Sponsors: Lee & Emily Duffus; Santa Cruz County Office of Education; Scharf Investments
Concert Co-Sponsors: Catharine & James Gill; Marie & Kent Imai; Rotary Club of Santa Cruz
The magic of Peter Shaffer's play Amadeus comes to life with our Symphony orchestra and professional actors working together to tell the story of the rivalry between Mozart and Salieri. Conceived by Maestro Stewart for the concert stage, this production features Santa Cruz Shakespeare Artistic Director Charles Pasternak and a cast of theatrical stars in a melding of live theater and symphonic music.
Classical Series Concert 3
Amadeus
A blend of Mozart’s music with live dramatic narration adapted from Peter Shaffer’s celebrated play.
GUEST ARTIST
Charles Pasternak, Artistic Director of Santa Cruz Shakespeare
CONCERT dATES
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
OPEN REHEARSAL
Friday, March 27, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM) Learn more about open rehearsals here.
SPONSORS
Concert Sponsors: Owen Brown & Mary Akin; Todd & Corinne Wipke; Phil and Linda Segal
Concert Co-Sponsor: Lee & Emily Duffus
Artist Sponsor: Redtree Partners LP
Our performance of Beethoven’s immortal Symphony No. 9 features soloists from the Metropolitan Opera in collaboration with the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus. The concert opens with Dvořák’s Carnival Overture, an exuberant symphonic poem, followed by the world premiere of a new composition for piano and orchestra by virtual reality guru Jaron Lanier, written specifically for the Santa Cruz Symphony and featuring groundbreaking pianist Serene.
Classical Series Concert 4
Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Antonín Dvořák: Carnival Overture, Op. 92
Jaron Lanier: New Work
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
GUEST ARTISTS
Featuring Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and soloists from the Metropolitan Opera
CONCERT DATES
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM, Henry J. Mello Center
Doors open at 12:45 PM | Pre-concert talk at 1:00 PM
Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
OPEN REHEARSAL
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (doors open at 7 PM) Learn more about open rehearsals here.
SPONSORS
Concert Sponsors: Dr. Deborah Bronstein & Dr. Evans Whitaker; Mark Chambers-Bray in Memory of Roy Chambers-Bray; Carolyn & Robert Levering
Concert Co-Sponsors: Dr. Frederick & Kate Chen; Allen & Shirley Ginzburg; John & Jodilynn Larse; Julie Mazurek; Lester & Martha Miller; Mary Ann Orr
Artist Co-Sponsor: Dr. Matthew Wetstein & Dr. Cindy Ostberg
It’s Movie Night at the Civic Auditorium! We’re featuring music from movie blockbusters including Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Interstellar, Avengers, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. Children and adults will delight in this popular concert of brilliant music composed for the screen. Come wearing a movie-themed costume, and enjoy a fun street party with live music and delicious food before the concert!
Spring Pops
Movie Night
James Horner: Titanic
Joe Hisaishi: Music from Studio Ghibli
Howard Shore: Lord of the Rings
Hans Zimmer: Dark Knight and Interstellar
Alan Silvestri: The Avengers
Tan Dun: Finale from Crouching Tiger Concerto
Klaus Badelt: Pirates of the Caribbean
CONCERT DATE
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM, Civic Auditorium
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Concert duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
PRE-CONCERT STREET PARTY
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM in front of Civic Auditorium. Free to attend. Featuring live music, dancing, food trucks, and a movie costume contest!
NOTE: There will be NO open rehearsal and NO pre-concert talk for this concert.
SPONSORS
Concert Sponsors: Donna Maurillo & Gary Reece; Silver Mountain Vineyards
Concert Co-Sponsor: Beach House Wealth Management