Karen Ouzounian

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music proudly announces its 2024 season, featuring an exhilarating lineup of world and West Coast premieres. Under the baton of Music Director Cristian Măcelaru, the festival continues its tradition of presenting groundbreaking works with a concert titled "Unbound," set to take place on Saturday, August 3, at 7 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

This season's highlight includes the West Coast premiere of "The Golden Spike" by Daniel Kellogg, a piece commemorating the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad and its profound impacts. The festival is also thrilled to present the world premiere of "unbound: Phase 1" by Nathaniel Heyder, a work that marks a significant moment in Heyder's career and celebrates his receipt of the inaugural Emerging Black Composers Cabrillo Festival Prize.

Adding to the festival's rich tapestry of narratives, Lembit Beecher's "Tell Me Again" for cello, featuring virtuoso Karen Ouzounian, will have its West Coast premiere. This piece explores themes of immigration and heritage, drawing from Beecher's personal family history. The program is rounded out by Iván Enrique Rodríguez's world premiere of "Casting the Dice," a commissioned work that delves into the experiences of immigrants and refugees, narrated live by Rodríguez.

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music continues to be a beacon for new music, fostering a space for artistic and spiritual freedom through its support of emerging talents and commissioning of new works. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music that bridges histories, cultures, and personal stories, reflecting the unbound potential of contemporary composition.