Music for All the Senses at Santa Cruz County Symphony

The Santa Cruz Symphony’s 2024-25 season kicks off on September 21/22 with new music composer Mason Bates’ electrifying Philharmonia Fantastique and Johannes Brahms’ majestic Symphony no. 1, along with a new full orchestra arrangement of Ceremonial Music by beloved local composer Martin Gaskell.

The Bates piece is a 25-minute concerto for orchestra and animated film, exploring the connection between creativity and technology. working through the various instruments of the orchestra, the vibrant musical guide to the orchestra blends sound and images, a collaboration between Mason Bates, Oscar-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom and animal director Jim Capobianco.

Balancing the program is the gorgeous Symphony no.1 by 19th century master Brahms.

On November 2/3, Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony no. 8 will be paired with the virtuosity of Santa Cruz Symphony Artist in Residence and Concertmaster Nancy Zhou performing Erich Korngold’s radiant Violin Concerto, in a concert that also includes the World Premiere of Spin by celebrated Aptos composer Josef Sekon. Korngold was an Austrian composer who pioneered Hollywood film music.

His Violin Concerto to be performed by the always astonishing violinist Zhou is one of the classic works for violin and orchestra. The concert features a work by Antonín Dvořák inspired by his native Bohemian folk music.

Those familiar with Dvorak’s well-known New World Symphony will be entranced by this joyful musical description of the natural world.

A brand new tradition—a Holiday Pops Concert —takes place on December 14/15 showcasing favorites from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, and other seasonal favorites.

The annual Family Concert on March 2 offers Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and includes a diverse selection of music performed in partnership with groups from the community.

On March 29/30 look forward to an exciting collaboration with Santa Cruz Shakespeare featuring eloquence, spoken poetry and program notes by the new SCS Artistic Director Charles Pasternak.

The theme will be illustrated by romantic melodies from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and Felix Mendelssohn’s musical depictions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Anna Clyne’s breathtaking Sound and Fury inspired by the ferocious and haunted world of Macbeth, completes this Shakespearean theme.
The season Finale on May 3/4 includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem. This towering masterpiece of choral and orchestral music was composed during Mozart’s agonizing final weeks, and remained unfinished at his death.

The music is known and loved by choral singers the world over, and has entered the popular consciousness thanks to the 1984 Oscar-winning film Amadeus, by Milos Forman.

In addition to the Mozart, the concert includes Björk’s Overture to Dancer in the Dark, a film by Lars von Trier. Björk’s music, which has won many international awards showcases a shimmering sonic brass chorale joined by tympani.

An exciting surprise will be a World Premiere of music composed by the Symphony Music Director Daniel Stewart, in a concert featuring Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Cheryl Anderson, joined by vocal soloists from the Metropolitan Opera.

And yes the wildly popular Spring Pops Concert takes place on June 7, ablaze with more magical music themes from soundtrack genius John Williams in a rousing conclusion to the Symphony’s 2024-25 season.

Throughout the season there will be ample opportunities to enjoy exceptional performances at smaller venues as part of our Musician Series.

Individual concert tickets are available now! For more concert info and links to buy tickets when they become available, check out our concerts and events page.

By Christina Waters