Announcing the 2026/27 Season

Timeless classics, bold new works, world-class soloists, and thrilling performances to excite, move, and connect us all.

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Northern Lights

Contemplative and calming music by Northern and Eastern European composers, featuring a grand symphony by Sibelius

Saturday, Mar. 21, 2026 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, Mar. 22, 2026 - 4:00 PM

Event Details

California Symphony's 40th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, April 18, 2026 - 5:00 PM

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Heroic Rachmaninoff

Rachmaninoff's dazzling piano concerto, Borodin's dramatic symphony, and a world premiere create a thrilling season finale

Saturday, May. 9, 2026 - 7:30 PM

Sunday, May. 10, 2026 - 4:00 PM

Event Details

"Hella fun"—SF Classical Voice

Explore Full Event CalendarExplore the 2025/26 Season

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The Symphony Blog

Program Notes — SCHUBERT IN VIENNA

Harmoniemusik in Vienna Music for wind band (harmoniemusik) was long a Viennese mainstay. In a land filled with music-loving aristocrats who couldn’t afford a resident full-time orchestra, a wind ensemble…

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Meet Nathan Chan: Cellist, TikTok Phenom, & Prodigy That’s All Grown Up Now

SOLOIST NATHAN CHAN SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON REUNITING WITH MENTOR DONATO CABRERA, PERFORMING GULDA’S CELLO CONCERTO AT SCHUBERT IN VIENNA, GROWING UP AS A MUSICAL PRODIGY, AND HOW TO GO VIRAL…

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Program Notes — BEETHOVEN’S EROICA

Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981) Overture (2022) Musicians come in all sizes, shapes, and skillsets. Some are one-trick ponies, but their tricks are really good. Others might encompass multiple disciplines –…

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Connect with us

California Symphony

californiasymphony

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Orchestra in the East Bay
📍 Walnut Creek, CA @leshercenter
Artistic and Music Director @donatocabrera
Composer in Residence @saadnhaddad

californiasymphony

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Feb 22

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✅ The truth? At California Symphony, you can clap when you hear something you like, sip your signature cocktail during the performance, come as you are, enjoy free pre-concert talks that explain everything, experience Donato's fun and engaging style, hear world premieres and living composers every season, and actually have fun. Join California Symphony at the Lesher Center for the Performing Arts. We like to do things a little differently at California Symphony—concerts should be fun!

✅ The truth? At California Symphony, you can clap when you hear something you like, sip your signature cocktail during the performance, come as you are, enjoy free pre-concert talks that explain everything, experience Donato`s fun and engaging style, hear world premieres and living composers every season, and actually have fun. Join California Symphony at the Lesher Center for the Performing Arts. We like to do things a little differently at California Symphony—concerts should be fun! ...

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californiasymphony

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Feb 18

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Blowing us away — one note at a time. 🌬️ 🎶 Favorite horn section moment? Drop it below. 👇 #LiveOrchestra #BayAreaArts #WalnutCreekArts

Blowing us away — one note at a time. 🌬️ 🎶

Favorite horn section moment? Drop it below. 👇

#LiveOrchestra #BayAreaArts #WalnutCreekArts ...

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Symphony Reviews

Here was another imaginative California Symphony production masterminded by Cabrera.

SF Classical Voice
California Symphony Leaves the Strings at Home

“It’s been on my wish list for a while — and now we’re finally doing it. It’s such a joyous, celebratory piece.”—Concertmaster Jennifer Cho

Mercury News
California Symphony concertmaster Will See Longtime Dream Come True

The chemistry between soloist and conductor was evident at every point, as Cabrera’s supple baton beautifully telegraphed Chan’s moves to the orchestra.

SF Classical Voice
Read the Review

Donato Cabrera celebrates 10 years of innovation at California Symphony

Mercury News
Read the Review

Walnut Creek has a genuine civic treasure with this orchestra.

SF Chronicle

It's a great orchestra. A great venue. If I could be part of one musical community in the Bay Area, the California Symphony would be it.

Dave Halligan from Berkeley

Hella fun

SF Classical Voice

It's one of the great pleasures of life, attending an evening at the California Symphony.

George Mathews, Subscriber

One of the region's most vibrant musical attractions.

Mercury News

Just a phenomenal performance. It will remain in my memory for the ages.

Mike B., Patron

The entire evening was fabulous. I especially liked and appreciated the brief introduction remarks by the conductor. Just a wonderful musical experience!

Barbara C., Patron

An intriguing mixture of the familiar, the newly-revived, and the new.

SF Classical Voice

Donato Cabrera has elevated the organization to one of the region's most progressive and consistently interesting outfits.

Mercury News

They take the stuffy edge out of the symphony.

Mike Elmore, Board Member

California Symphony certainly breaks the mold, as they expand their audiences for a much more inclusive environment so that everyone, of all socioeconomic classes, can enjoy.

Local Happenings Magazine