Community Calendar

Santa Barbara Symphony- Beethoven Piano Concerto Marathon
All Five Beethoven Piano Concertos in Two Different Programs Over One Weekend

Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 18, 2026 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

Alongside his Symphonies, the Piano Concertos of Beethoven have been towering masterworks for two centuries. Nir Kabaretti and The Symphony present all five of Beethoven’s Concertos across a single weekend. From the youthful First Piano Concerto, composed at age 25, to the grand “Emperor” Concerto written in the war-torn Vienna of 1809. Each is performed by a medalist from a prestigious international piano competition.

The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Soloists, 5 winners & medalists of different international piano competitions
Dmitry Shishkin, Piano
Angie Zhang, Piano
Min Joo Yi, Piano
Evren Ozel, Piano
Jonathan Mamora, Piano

Repertoire
CONCERTO NO. 3 (Sat) Min Joo Yi (Music Academy of the West Solo Piano Concerto Competition)
CONCERTO NO. 4 (Sat) Evren Ozel (Cleveland International Piano Competition)
CONCERTO NO. 1 (Sun) Dmitry Shishkin (International Tchaikovsky and Geneva International competitions)
CONCERTO NO. 2 (Sun) Angie Zhang (American Piano Awards)
CONCERTO NO. 5 (Sun) Jonathan Mamora (Palm Springs International Piano Competition)

For more info and tickets, visit: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/beethoven-concerto-marathon/

Santa Barbara Symphony- Romantic Hollywood
Valentine’s Weekend!

Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

Valentine’s weekend brings the sweep of cinema’s most romantic melodies. A concert of love themes, stories, and songs from Hollywood classics: Out of Africa, Dr. Zhivago, To Kill a Mockingbird, and more!

The Artist
Richard Kaufman, Conductor

For more info and tickets, visit: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/romantic-hollywood/

Santa Barbara Symphony- Romantic Hollywood
Valentine’s Weekend!

Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

Valentine’s weekend brings the sweep of cinema’s most romantic melodies. A concert of love themes, stories, and songs from Hollywood classics: Out of Africa, Dr. Zhivago, To Kill a Mockingbird, and more!

The Artist
Richard Kaufman, Conductor

For more info and tickets, visit: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/romantic-hollywood/

Santa Barbara Symphony- Bella Italia

Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

A five-century survey of Italian classics. From Vivaldi’s perennial The Four Seasons, to Puccini’s youthful Capriccio Sinfonico (an early working of tunes to later appear in La Bohème!) to Respighi’s thunderous The Pines of Rome with brass blazing from the four corners of The Granada Theatre. And discover a recent, lively concerto by Christian Carrara inspired by the dazzling Red Ferrari Accordion.

The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Hanzhi Wang, Accordion

Repertoire
VIVALDI | “Winter” from The Four Seasons
CRISTIAN CARRARA | Red Ferrari Accordion Concerto
(co-commissioned by Santa Barbara Symphony, Orchestra della Toscana, Musica Insieme – Bologna, Richmond Symphony Orchestra & FVG Orchestra)
PUCCINI | Capriccio Sinfonico
RESPIGHI | The Pines of Rome

For more info and tickets, visit: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/bella-italia/

Santa Barbara Symphony- An American in Paris
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 19, 2025 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

Gershwin’s jazzy musical postcard, An American in Paris, highlights this program of America’s masters as the nation turns 250. Alexi Kenny, acclaimed by The New York Times for virtuosity that is “breathless and often daring” plays Barber’s haunting Violin Concerto. Charles Ives’ vibrant Three Places in New England presents portraits of patriotism. And the inner glow of Jennifer Higdon’s Blue Cathedral will soothe long after its sumptuous sound fades to silence.

The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Alexi Kenney, Violin

Repertoire
IVES | Three Places in New England
BARBER | Violin Concerto
JENNIFER HIGDON | Blue Cathedral
GERSHWIN | An American in Paris

For more info and tickets, visit: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/an-american-in-paris/

Santa Barbara Symphony- Mahler's Resurrection (SEASON FINALE)
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre

Attend "Conversations with KUSC" with on-air personality Jennifer Miller Hammel
Saturday Pre-Concert Chat | 6:30-7:00 PM
Sunday Pre-Concert Chat | 2:00-2:30 PM

A concert experience unlike any other. Nir Kabaretti leads the Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus, and soloists in Mahler’s monumental Symphony Number Two. The awe-inspiring “Resurrection” Symphony is a must-see concert event that will bring the 2025-26 season to a triumphant, roaring close!

The Artists
Nir Kabaretti, Conductor
Johanna Will, Soprano
Felicia Gavilanes, Mezzo-Soprano
Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus

Repertoire
MAHLER | Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”

For more info and tickets, visit: https://thesymphony.org/concerts-events/orchestra-concerts/mahlers-resurrection/