Your Seats Await – Experience Another Season of Symphony Magic

It was just a year ago last November that the Santa Barbara Symphony first took the stage with a rock band in a collaboration with the local Doublewide Kings for a rousing tribute to Van Morrison. The sold-out concert seems to have been a catalyst for The Symphony’s expanded role in the local music scene. Beyond its regular season programming, the local creative community is seeking out The Symphony for collaborations that include a tribute to The Band with the Doublewide Kings and the Granada, and a collaboration with the legendary Little River Band in June. The Symphony’s most high-profile performance to date was backing rock legends Alan Parsons, Kenny Loggins, and others at the massive One805LIVE! annual benefit concert benefiting local first responders at Kevin Costner’s Summerland estate in September.

“The versatility of our professional musicians opens up endless possibilities for collaboration,” says The Symphony’s visionary President and CEO Kathryn R. Martin. “It would have been so easy for us to say rock and roll doesn’t fit within our box. But Maestro Nir Kabaretti continually demonstrates how expansive symphonic music can be in evoking emotion and creating moments of transcendence. Something is building and percolating here in Santa Barbara, and we’re fanning the flames as an artistic resource to help fuel even more artistic collaborations.”

This expansion into new opportunities and connections in the community doesn’t mean that The Symphony is devoting less attention to its subscription season of classical orchestral concerts at the glorious Granada Theatre. In fact, it is because of the community’s investment in artistic quality and the season of monthly weekend concerts of classic repertoire that makes it possible for the regional orchestra to be a resource for other creative forces here in Santa Barbara.

“It’s a real win-win-win,” Martin says. “Symphony fans hear their beloved music, the musicians have more opportunities to play, and people who love all kinds of music get to hear The Symphony’s power and beauty in different settings.” 

The current 2024-25 season includes an exciting Mozart Marathon featuring eight of the composer’s masterworks performed over a weekend. There’s also a two-concert residency with legendary violinist Gil Shaham, who will perform three different concertos over two days, including a world premiere featuring his wife, fellow violinist Adele Anthony. Beloved works by Dvořák and Tchaikovsky will also be heard, while 18-year veteran Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti also conducts Brahms’ Requiem showcasing the vibrancy of the local choral community. The Symphony’s annual nod to Hollywood films boasts a centennial cinematic classic in Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush screening, while the ensemble performs Chaplin’s score live.

The organization continues to be devoted to local youth as the only music education program tied to a professional symphony orchestra in the region, one that serves more than 2,000 students annually throughout Santa Barbara County. 

“We believe The Symphony is for everyone as we grow the next generation of musicians and music lovers,” Martin says. “Our concerts and youth education programs aim to touch hearts, and lift up everyone on stage, and in the audience.”