Name: Sphinx Virtuosi
Start: 2026-03-12T19:30:00
Location: Lobero Theatre

As the Sphinx Virtuosi embark on their latest season, they bring along a powerful narrative of resilience, unity, and peace through the universal language of music. Featuring the prodigious talents of Sterling Elliott and Randall Goosby, this journey sees the ensemble performing across various prestigious venues, exploring a repertoire that echoes the spirit of hope and collaboration. These events challenge us to reflect on our history and aspire to a future where music transcends borders and unites us all.

Sphinx Virtuosi: A Celebration of Diversity and Peace Through Music

Embark on an enchanting journey with Sphinx Virtuosi, an illustrious ensemble of Black and Latinx classical musicians. As they grace stages across the U.S., featuring the remarkable talents of cellist Sterling Elliott and violinist Randall Goosby, their performances encapsulate a profound narrative of peace, unity, and resilience. Through the language of music, they navigate the complexities of history, stirring emotions and aspirations in a quest for harmony and understanding.

Sphinx Virtuosi: A Symphony of Peace and Resilience

Experience the soul-stirring melodies of the Sphinx Virtuosi as they bring to life a tapestry of history, resilience, and harmony. Join acclaimed violinist Randall Goosby and a collective of 18 talented Black and Latinx musicians as they perform a series of groundbreaking concerts exploring themes of peace and shared humanity. From William Grant Still's classic compositions to José White's evocative Cuban rhythms, each note invites listeners into a world where music transcends boundaries and tells stories of human endurance and hope.

Sphinx Virtuosi: A Journey Through Music, Resilience, and Unity

Randall Goosby

Sphinx Virtuosi

Lobero Theatre

With his signature beard and African headgear, Billy F Gibbons is instantly recognizable and best known as the centerpiece of ZZ Top. BFG is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest guitarists working in the blues-rock idiom. The sound originates from the uncanny knack to squeeze unheard of sounds out of the electric guitar with the blues, pop, R & B, country, gospel, western, hillbilly, and West Africa. That BFG down ‘n dirty growl is unmistakable heard on such hits as “La Grange,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Cheap Sunglasses.”

Billy F Gibbons and the BFG Band

In a very short time, the name of Matteo Mancuso has traveled round the globe. His unique guitar technique has caused astonishment with its clarity and precision, as has his capacity to traverse different musical genres with total ease. While he may not use a guitar pick, Matteo’s music has certainly picked up the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide, garnering millions of views on YouTube. Some say that his talent speaks for itself, but it is no secret that Matteo’s success is the result of his hard-working attitude and his continuous experimental music research.

Matteo Mancuso

Take a chance on MANIA… and you won’t be disappointed!

After forming in 1999, MANIA has captivated audiences across the globe, consistently selling out theatres and concert halls internationally.

Following the celebration of ABBA’s monumental 50th anniversary in 2024, marking five decades since their breakthrough hit “Waterloo,” MANIA is thrilled to continue sharing the joy of this incredible milestone with fans worldwide.

MANIA: The ABBA Tribute

GRAMMY® Award-winning bandleader, conguero, and percussionist Poncho Sanchez is among the most influential percussionists in jazz. For more than four decades, he’s stirred up a fiery stew of straightahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources.

Throughout his career, Sanchez has held aloft the torch lit by such innovators as Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader, embraced by each of those icons and entrusted to carry forward the traditions of Latin Jazz. Poncho recently completed his 31st recording, “Live at The Belly Up Tavern” in Solana Beach, California in March 2025.

Poncho Sanchez

This intimate and electrifying dive into the soul of Argentine dance is led by World Tango Champions Germán Cornejo and Gisela Galeassi. Featuring a cadre of exceptional dancers, a powerhouse singer and a live band performing Astor Piazzolla’s revolutionary nuevo tango, this sultry ensemble delivers a breathtaking, high-octane performance. Cornejo’s innovative choreography fuses deep-rooted traditions with a contemporary edge, capturing the seductive pulse of Buenos Aires. Following sold-out runs in London, the highly anticipated Santa Barbara premiere unveils tango in its purest form: bold, sensual and unforgettable.

Tango After Dark

Seven-time Grammy® Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax, renowned for his poetic lyricism and brilliant technique, returns to Masterseries  with a program of Romantic masterpieces. The program includes an all-Chopin second half, showcasing Ax’s profound affinity for this composer. A Juilliard-trained pianist who launched his international career with a victory at the First Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in 1974, Ax received the Avery Fisher Prize in 1979. He is also a dedicated chamber musician, frequent collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma, and a champion of contemporary composers. His extensive discography spans from the Classical era to the present day, reflecting a broad and deep engagement with the piano repertoire.

Emanuel Ax, piano

Don McLean, known as the “American Troubadour,” is a singer-songwriter who achieved international fame with his 1971 song “American Pie,” an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock anthem which was inducted into the GRAMMY® Hall of Fame. Born October 2, 1945, in New Rochelle, New York, McLean’s folk music career flourished with the mentorship of Pete Seeger, and he achieved further success with hits like “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” and “Castles in the Air.” He received the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has released more than 20 studio albums since his debut in 1970.

Don McLean

One of the most charismatic leading men on today’s opera stage, Juan Diego Flórez, bel canto tenor, is known for his interpretations of Puccini, Donizetti and Rossini. This rare North American appearance in the historic Lobero Theatre will include highlights from his illustrious career in bel canto as well as classic Spanish songs from his childhood in Peru. Experience the majesty of one of the world’s most impressive vocal artists. With breathtaking technique and unmistakable charm, Flórez brings passion and precision to every note.

Juan Diego Flórez, tenor

Eagles fans! Mark your calendars because on February 9, 2026 Eagles Tribute – “Take It To The Limit” from Vancouver, is making a spectacular return to Santa Barbara! Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music as some of Canada’s most talented musicians and vocalists bring to life your favourite Eagles hits, including classics like “Hotel California,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Take It To The Limit,” “Desperado,” “Life In The Fast Lane,” “Take It Easy,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” and more!

Take it to the Limit

The Wailin’ Jennys began as a spontaneous collaboration between solo singer-songwriters at a small guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. What started as a one-time event quickly evolved into a renowned folk trio composed of founding members Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta, and later, Taos-based Heather Masse. Their debut album 40 Days (2004) received widespread critical acclaim and earned them a Juno Award, launching them onto the international roots music scene. Appearances on A Prairie Home Companion helped boost their profile, leading to sold-out performances across North America and beyond. With their soaring harmonies and refined musicianship, the trio captivated audiences and critics alike.

The Wailin’ Jennys

Suzanne Vega will perform a career-spanning show including favorites like “Tom’s Diner,” “Luka,” “Marlene on the Wall,” and many more, plus songs from her latest album, Flying with Angels, which was released in May 2025 to critical acclaim. She will be joined on stage by her longtime guitarist, Gerry Leonard (of David Bowie fame), and cellist Stephanie Winters.

Suzanne Vega

Famed solo acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. The artist overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. When he picks up a steel-stringed guitar, his fingers race across the strings with uncommon speed, developing a deep, churning groove that can at times sound like several people playing at once.

An Evening with Leo Kottke

The Sphinx Virtuosi, a dynamic self-conducted chamber orchestra comprised of 18 accomplished Black and Latinx artists, returns to CAMA with a program titled Visions of Peace. Featuring acclaimed violinist Randall Goosby, the concert explores themes of resilience, peace, and shared humanity through a diverse range of musical voices. The Sphinx Virtuosi are celebrated for their “immeasurable power, unwavering command, and soulful beauty” (The Washington Post) and their commitment to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.

Sphinx Virtuosi

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