Berkeley Symphony’s opening concert, conducted by Montreal’s Dina Gilbert, invites audiences on a quest for transcendence that spans from tranquility to triumphant heroism. 

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Visions of Elysium

First Congregational Church of Berkeley

Join us at the Music Academy of the West for an exhilarating evening at PercussionFest, a highlight of our Showcase Sampler Series. This unique event is set to take place on June 15th at 7:30 pm in the acoustically superb Hahn Hall, celebrating the diverse and dynamic world of percussion music.

PercussionFest shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the classical music world, featuring an array of instruments from the thunderous drums to the delicate sounds of the cymbal, tambourine, and triangle. Experience how the art of percussion transcends mere rhythm to create beautiful music through the most unexpected collisions of sound.

The program includes an exciting lineup of contemporary works:
- "Symbiotique" by Tyler Tolles
- "Ember II" by Alyssa Weinberg
- "Bell Patterns" by Victor Caccese
- "Sandbox" by Viet Cuong
- "SEESAW" by Ivan Trevino
- "Gutterflies" by JaRon Brown

Highlighting the event is Michael Werner, celebrated percussionist and orchestral studies expert, holding the prestigious Marilyn & Richard Mazess Chair in Percussion. With a distinguished career that includes principal positions with the Seattle Symphony and performances with world-renowned orchestras, Werner brings his unparalleled expertise and passion to the festival.

Tickets are available now, with community access pricing starting at FREE for ages 7-17 and regular tickets starting at $40. Don't miss this one-night-only event that promises to be a memorable part of the Music Academy's 2024 Summer Festival. Whether you're a percussion enthusiast or new to the world of classical music, PercussionFest offers something for everyone.

PercussionFest

Music Academy of the West

Acclaimed violinist and Curtis faculty member Benjamin Beilman (’12) joins former Dover Quartet violist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt (Viola ’10, ’11), award-winning cellist Oliver Herbert (’19), and emerging professional artists from Curtis for a North American tour. This phenomenal sextet of distinguished Curtis faculty and alumni, alongside exceptionally gifted young musicians, presents an electrifying concert of curated selections, both old and new. The program includes Richard Strauss’s masterful Sextet from his final opera Capriccio, Berg’s colorful and chromatic Piano Sonata in B minor, Brahms’s exhilarating String Sextet No. 2 in G major, and a new work by Alyssa Weinberg commissioned for this tour.

Curtis on Tour in Bradenton, FL

State College of Florida - SCF Bradenton

Curtis on Tour in Evanston, IL

Nichols Concert Hall

Curtis on Tour in Davis, CA

University of California, Davis

An opera that delves into the depths of identity, challenges perceptions of time, and takes you on a transformative journey of healing. Crafted by the innovative composer Alyssa Weinberg and the visionary poet J. Mae Barizo

Isola World Premiere

Compound

Every time you go to a percussion concert, the experience usually resonates beyond the normal concert hall boundaries and genres. Exploration of rhythm, sounds and color are limitless in this percussion world of music making. For this program we present works that have been written within the past ten years, three of them within the past five years. The first three pieces on the program all have a similar instrumentaion – all players playing the same setup of instruments, constantly developing and searching as one. The final piece on the program is believed to be Crumb’s final written work and we’re very excited to be able to present it here, as part of the California Festival. In comparison to the first half, it is a total explosion of instruments (almost 100) and color. Evoking an other-worldly experience, treading the line where nature meets sound in an endless exploration of time and color.

Hidden Time-Hidden Treasures

The USC Percussion Group, led by faculty member Joe Pereira, presents an evening of contemporary percussion works as part of the California Festival.

This event features Alyssa Weinberg's Ember II (2018), Juri Seo's Wah (2014), Joseph Pereira's Mallet Quartet (2013 rev 2023) and George Crumb's final work, Kronos-Kryptos (2020). Named "Hidden Time – Hidden Treasures," the program transitions from three pieces of similar instrumentation to Crumb's explosive percussion quintet which treads the boundaries between nature and sound.

California Festival: USC Percussion Group

University of Southern California

The creative and collaborative interweaving of classical music with elements of social justice, language, and improvisation has made Jessie Montgomery one of America’s most relevant and sought-after composers. This episode is the first of two curated by Montgomery. In Sonic Shift, Montgomery collaborates with animator Will Kim to create visuals that come alive with the program, further highlighting and complementing the musicians’ artistry

Alyssa Weinberg

Events

Past events

Sep 14, 2025

Visions of Elysium · Berkeley Symphony

Jun 15, 2024

PercussionFest · Music Academy of the West

About

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