The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music proudly announces its grand finale event for the 2024 season, taking place on Sunday, August 11, at 7 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This symphonic journey, titled "Passage," features an exhilarating lineup of guest artists and premieres that promise to captivate and inspire audiences.

Highlighting the evening is violin virtuoso Philippe Quint, who will grace the stage with his exceptional talent. The program includes the West Coast premieres of four remarkable compositions, each bringing its unique cultural and musical narratives to the forefront.

The concert kicks off with "Baião N Blues" by Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad. This piece is a vibrant fusion of the traditional Brazilian Baião rhythm and the soulful essence of American blues, showcasing Assad's flair for blending diverse musical genres.

Following this, Belize-born British composer Errollyn Wallen's "Violin Concerto" will make its West Coast debut. This concerto, a product of a years-long collaboration with Philippe Quint, is deeply personal, reflecting Quint's childhood memories and showcasing his technical prowess and emotional depth.

American composer Pierre Jalbert's "Passage," also receiving its West Coast premiere, pays a modern tribute to Beethoven's Fourth Symphony. Jalbert's composition is a journey through contrasting movements, bridging centuries and evoking a profound sense of the present.

The finale of the evening, "Mariachitlán" by Mexican composer Juan Pablo Contreras, transports the audience to the vibrant streets of Jalisco, Mexico. This piece is a celebration of mariachi music, infused with the spirit and traditions of the region, and promises to end the festival on a high note.

The Cabrillo Festival's grand finale, "Passage," is a testament to the power of contemporary music to transcend cultural boundaries and connect people through the universal language of music. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of world-class performances and groundbreaking compositions.

EPSG:4326

Passage

Civic Auditorium Santa Cruz

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music proudly announces its 2024 season, featuring an exhilarating lineup that continues to push the boundaries of orchestral music. The highlight of the season is the "Creative Coast" event, set to take place on Saturday, August 10th, at 7 PM in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This event marks the debut of the Cabrillo Festival’s Creative Lab, a groundbreaking initiative that grants composers curatorial control to reimagine the orchestral experience.

"Creative Coast" will showcase two remarkable artists: Gabriel Cabezas, known for his mastery of the amplified cello, and Bora Yoon, a visionary vocalist and sound artist. The evening will premiere two significant works. The first, "Lost Coast" by Gabriella Smith, features Gabriel Cabezas in a cello concerto that captures the raw beauty and emotional turmoil associated with California’s northern coastline and the broader implications of climate change. Described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as "high-voltage and wildly imaginative," Smith's music promises to deliver an unforgettable auditory and emotional journey.

The second highlight of the evening is the world premiere of "PARHELION" by Bora Yoon. This piece is a testament to the Creative Lab's mission, utilizing the unique architecture of the Civic Auditorium to create an immersive sonic experience that transcends traditional concert norms. Through the collaboration with multimedia and design experts Joshue Ott of Interval Studios and Visual Endeavors, Yoon's composition will blend sound and light in an innovative performance that explores themes of time, seasons, and cycles. The orchestral movements will not only contribute to the music but also generate dynamic projections and interactive graphics, offering the audience a captivating fusion of sound, light, and movement.

Under the leadership of Music Director Cristian Măcelaru, the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra will bring these compositions to life, demonstrating once again the festival's commitment to presenting cutting-edge contemporary music. The "Creative Coast" event is a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of orchestral music and the powerful ways it can communicate complex themes of beauty, loss, and transformation.

Subscriptions for the 2024 season are now available. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a unique musical experience that celebrates innovation, creativity, and the enduring power of contemporary music.

Creative Coast

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is thrilled to announce its Student Staff Program, a unique and enriching music education opportunity for young adults aged 16-24. This free program is designed to immerse participants in the world of contemporary music, offering them a chance to interact with exceptional musicians, renowned composers, and experience the avant-garde music that defines the Cabrillo Festival.

Under the guidance of Music Director Cristian Măcelaru, guest composers, and orchestra members, students will have the opportunity to delve into the dynamic new music presented at the festival. The program includes stimulating workshops covering professional development and career guidance, allowing participants to gain insights into the music industry.

For those interested in hands-on experience, the Student Staff Ensemble offers an invaluable opportunity for concert planning, preparation, and performance. Highlighting the program is the chance for students to present and perform a concert of original chamber works at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium during the festival season.

Program highlights include:
- Free admission to Cabrillo Festival performances, serving as ushers.
- Free workshops and discussions with world-class musicians.
- Opportunities to compose, perform, and/or conduct music for the Student Staff Ensemble concert.
- A variety of engaging social events.

Program requirements:
- Open to students aged 16-24 who are fully vaccinated (proof required).
- Participants must arrange their own housing and travel.
- Attendance at two mandatory orientations on Monday, June 13 at 10:30 am, and Saturday, July 23 at 10:30 am.
- Ushering at five Cabrillo Festival concerts.

The 2022 season of the Cabrillo Festival will run from July 23 to August 7. In line with CDC guidelines, the festival will implement safety protocols, including vaccination and boosting requirements for all musicians, artists, audience members, staff, hosts, and volunteers. Masking will be required indoors, and testing protocols may be implemented as necessary.

For young adults passionate about music, whether they are fans, beginners, intermediate, or advanced musicians, the Student Staff Program offers a profound experience in the contemporary music scene. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply through the provided interest form or call 831.426.6966 for more information.

Student Staff Program

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is thrilled to announce the return of its cherished free Family Concert, taking place on Sunday, August 4th at 1 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This year, the festival welcomes back the talented composer Greg Smith with his delightful symphonic exploration titled "VIBE." Known for his family-friendly compositions, Smith's work has become a mainstay in the genre, with many of his previous works premiering on the Festival stage.

After a four-year hiatus, the Family Concert promises an engaging and interactive afternoon perfect for concertgoers of all ages. It's an ideal opportunity to introduce children to the magic of live music in a fun and interactive setting. Attendees will enjoy a "Tour of the Orchestra," where families can learn about different instruments directly from members of the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra.

Donations are vital to keep these educational programs thriving. Your generosity helps bring the joy of music to families who might not otherwise have access, nurturing a lifelong love of music in future generations. Join us for an unforgettable experience that celebrates music, family, and community.

Family Concert

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music as we present "Philippe Quint In Concert" on Sunday, August 4th, at 7 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This season, the festival is thrilled to feature Grammy Award-nominated violinist Philippe Quint in a chamber recital titled "The Muse."

"The Muse" is not just a concert; it's a journey through the masterpieces of pioneering women composers who have left an indelible mark on classical music. Philippe Quint leads the audience through the works of Ethel Smyth, Clara Schumann, Nadia Boulanger, and Florence Price, celebrating their contributions as composers, mentors, and educators. These remarkable women shattered glass ceilings and transformed the landscape of classical music, extending their influence far beyond their compositions.

The program takes a deeply personal turn as it culminates with contemporary work by Quint's mother, the celebrated composer Lora Kvint. Additionally, the evening will feature compositions from today's leading female composers, including Lera Auerbach, Jessie Montgomery, and Errollyn Wallen, intertwined with poetry by Gertrude Stein and Lera Auerbach.

This concert is a unique opportunity to experience the power of music and storytelling, as Philippe Quint brings to life the legacy and creativity of these influential women. Their stories and compositions promise to inspire and resonate with audiences, making "The Muse" a highlight of the Cabrillo Festival's 2023 season.

Don't miss this extraordinary event. Secure your subscriptions today and be part of a night that celebrates the transformative power of music and the enduring legacy of women who dared to change the course of classical music history.

Philippe Quint In Concert

Join us for an engaging and enlightening event at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: "Meet the Composers." This much-anticipated gathering is scheduled for Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 1:30 pm, taking place at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. 

Under the moderation of Cristian Măcelaru, the esteemed Music Director and Conductor of the festival, attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in a panel discussion with a lineup of featured composers. This year, we are excited to welcome Stacy Garrop, Scott Ordway, Paola Prestini, and Iván Enrique Rodríguez to share their insights and experiences. 

The "Meet the Composers" event is designed to be both fun and informative, offering audience members the chance to participate in a Q&A session with these contemporary music luminaries. This is a free event, open to all without the need for tickets, making it an accessible way for the community and visitors to connect with the world of contemporary music.

In adherence to public health and safety guidelines, we will be requiring proof of full vaccination for all attendees, staff, and artists. Additionally, masking will be mandatory indoors at all times to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone present. For those unable to attend in person or preferring to join remotely, a livestream option will be available, ensuring no one misses out on this exceptional dialogue.

For further details on how to access the livestream and to stay updated on any changes to the COVID policy or event details, we encourage you to join our mailing list. Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the minds of some of today's most innovative composers at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

Meet the Composers

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.

Unbound

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music proudly announces its 2024 season opener, "PARADE," set to take place on Friday, August 2, at 8 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This remarkable evening marks the beginning of the Festival's 62nd season, under the baton of Maestro Cristian Măcelaru, featuring the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra.

The concert will showcase an array of West Coast and World Premieres by contemporary composers, reflecting on themes of community, solitude, and the transformative power of storytelling. The program includes Vivian Fung's "Parade," inspired by the San Francisco Lunar New Year parade, capturing the essence of community amid solitude and reflecting on the journey from isolation to togetherness experienced during the pandemic. Helen Grime's Violin Concerto, featuring the virtuosic talents of Leila Josefowicz, offers a mesmerizing experience of contrasts in a single continuous movement. Nina Young's "Tread Softly," commemorating the centennial of the 19th Amendment, reflects on the Women’s Suffrage movement and the ongoing struggle for gender equality and representation. The evening will also feature the world premiere of Karim Al-Zand's "Al Hakawati" (The Storyteller), with soprano Miriam Khalil, exploring the essence of storytelling through scenes from an opera in progress.

The event begins with an outdoor Pre-Concert Talk by Music Director/Conductor Cristi Măcelaru and guests, offering insights into the evening's program. A special alfresco dinner, prepared by Sunny’s Catering, will be served outside the Civic Auditorium, with advance tickets required for the meal.

This opening night promises to be a celebration of contemporary music, bringing together exceptional artists and premieres that reflect on significant themes of our time. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a unique musical journey that sets the tone for the Cabrillo Festival's 2024 season.

Parade 

**In The Works - Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music**

Join us for a captivating evening at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, showcasing the innovative "In The Works" concert. This special event is set to take place on Tuesday, July 30, at 7 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. 

"In The Works" is a unique concert that places you at the heart of contemporary music-making. The evening will feature new compositions by the talented under-30 composers Daixuan Ai, Nick Bentz, and Ella Kaale. These fresh works will be brought to life by the award-winning Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, under the baton of six emerging conductors. These conductors are all participants in the prestigious Cabrillo Conductors/Composers Workshop, a professional training program dedicated to the creation and performance of new music.

This concert offers a rare opportunity to experience the future of orchestral music through the voices of young composers and the interpretative variations of emerging conductors. It's a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the dynamic energy of contemporary music.

Admission to this extraordinary event is free, with no tickets required, making it accessible to all who wish to experience the cutting-edge of orchestral music. However, we encourage donations to support this free concert and the ongoing efforts of the Cabrillo Festival to nurture and promote new music and talent.

Don't miss this chance to witness the creative sparks fly at the Cabrillo Festival's "In The Works" concert. It promises to be an evening of exciting musical discoveries and a fascinating look into the future of music.

In The Works

Dan Caputo, a composer of instrumental and electronic music, explores the ways detailed aural textures and curious musical behaviors can elicit complex psychological responses. Măcelaru leads the Festival Orchestra in Liminal, a work that aims to reflect the psychological behaviors people experience during transitional states

Wild Geese

The second weekend of the Cabrillo Festival begins with works by Gabriella Smith, Julia Wolfe, Gabriela Ortiz, Robert Hughes, and Olga Neuwirth.

Gabriella Smith’s music is described as “high-voltage and wildly imaginative” (Philadelphia Inquirer), and “the coolest, most exciting, most inventive new voice I’ve heard in ages” (Musical America). Her work, f(x)=sin²x-1/x, draws inspiration from mathematical curves to build waves of musical energy

Rise And Fly

The San Francisco-based, Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet—David Harrington (violin), John Sherba (violin), Hank Dutt (viola) and Paul Wiancko (cello)—are the special guests for tonight’s concert. For nearly five decades Kronos Quartet has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be. Kronos is one of the most celebrated and influential groups of our era, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, releasing more than 70 recordings of extraordinary breadth and creativity, and collaborating with many of the world’s most accomplished composers and performers. Through its nonprofit organization

Kronos Quartet in Concert

Maestro Măcelaru leads the Festival Orchestra in works by composers Peter Shin, Carlos Simon, Andrea Reinkemeyer, and Tan Dun.

Composer Peter Shin’s music explores matters of national identity, social belonging, and other contemporary issues and has been described as “entirely fresh and personal” (New York Times). The Festival Orchestra performs Shin’s Relapse, a reflection on the composer’s upbringing as a Korean American.

Tears of Nature

Meet the Composers panel discussion and Q&A, moderated by Cristi Măcelaru. This year Cristi will be joined by Sebastian Currier, Andrea Reinkemeyer, Peter Shin, Carlos Simon, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and Bora Yoon

Maestro Măcelaru kicks off the 61st season with an evening of West Coast premieres by composers Sarah Kirkland Snider, Jennifer Higdon, Sebastian Currier, and Bora Yoon.

Forward

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music as we present "Philippe Quint In Concert" on Sunday, August 4th, at 7 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This season, the festival is thrilled to showcase the Grammy Award-nominated violinist Philippe Quint in a chamber recital titled "The Muse."

"The Muse" is not just a concert; it's a journey through the masterpieces of pioneering women composers who have left an indelible mark on classical music. Philippe Quint, with his exceptional talent, brings to life the works of Ethel Smyth, Clara Schumann, Nadia Boulanger, and Florence Price, celebrating their contributions as composers, mentors, and educators. These women not only broke glass ceilings but also redefined the role of a muse beyond its traditional confines.

The recital takes a deeply personal turn as Quint performs contemporary pieces by his mother, the celebrated composer Lora Kvint. The program also features works by today's leading female composers, including Lera Auerbach, Jessie Montgomery, and Errollyn Wallen, intertwined with poetry by Gertrude Stein and Lera Auerbach, creating a rich tapestry of sound and emotion.

This event is a highlight of the Cabrillo Festival's 2023 season, offering a unique opportunity to explore the legacy and future of women in classical music through the lens of Philippe Quint's virtuosic performance. Don't miss this chance to experience the transformative power of music at one of the most anticipated concerts of the year.

Order your subscriptions today and ensure your seat for an evening of inspiration, reflection, and celebration at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

You’ll find yourself at the very center of contemporary music-making with a special free concert of new works performed by the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra penned by under-30 composers—Edward Babcock, Alistair Coleman, and Yanchen Ye, conducted by six emerging conductors, all studying in the Conductors/Composers Workshop

In the Works

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music proudly presents "In The Works," a special free concert event taking place on Tuesday, July 30, at 7 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. This unique concert showcases the innovative talents of under-30 composers Daixuan Ai, Nick Bentz, and Ella Kaale, whose new works will be performed by the award-winning Cabrillo Festival Orchestra. These compositions will be brought to life under the baton of six emerging conductors, all participants in the prestigious Cabrillo Conductors/Composers Workshop.

"In The Works" offers a rare opportunity to be at the heart of contemporary music-making, providing audiences with a chance to experience the future of orchestral music firsthand. The concert not only highlights the fresh voices of young composers but also explores the dynamic variations a conductor's interpretation can bring to a piece. This event is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the exciting directions in which orchestral music is heading.

Attendance is free, with no tickets required, making it an accessible event for all who wish to explore the cutting edge of contemporary music. The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music invites you to support this free concert with a donation, contributing to the ongoing success of programs like the Conductors/Composers Workshop that foster the development of new music and emerging talent.

Don't miss this electrifying evening where creative sparks fly, and the future of orchestral music is unveiled. Join us at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium for an unforgettable experience that promises to inspire and captivate.

In recognition of the important commitment made by our Annual Fund donors of $500 or more, we are thrilled to reprise our very special Donors Concert.  This intimate gathering allows a more personal opportunity for each of these talented artists to share more of themselves and their virtuosic playing. Cristi Măcelaru and the Cabrillo Festival Board and Staff want to celebrate the extraordinary dedication of our patrons and our orchestra!

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

Aug 11, 2024

Passage

Aug 10, 2024

Creative Coast

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music