Press releases from the California Symphony.
August 5, 2019
The California Symphony Orchestra and Musicians Union Local 6 of the American Federation of Musicians have announced the ratification of a new, five-year musicians’ contract. This contract will run through July 31, 2023.
August 1, 2019
California Symphony and Music Director Donato Cabrera are now accepting composer applications for the orchestra’s highly respected and competitive Young American Composer-in-Residence program, for the period from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2023.
March 20, 2019
Bay Area connections abound in Connections, the California Symphony’s 33rdseason and its seventh under the baton of Music Director Donato Cabrera in a newly expanded season which Cabrera says is a step up artistically compared with previous seasons.
February 9, 2019
California Symphony celebrates music from the movies with two performances of ALL JOHN WILLIAMS at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Saturday, Mar. 16 at 8pm and Sunday, Mar. 17 at 4pm, featuring some of the prolific American composer’s best known and most beloved works.
January 24, 2019
California Symphony and Music Director Donato Cabrera present Symphony Surround—the organization’s annual special event and fundraiser benefitting the orchestra and its music education programs, Saturday, June 8, 2019, at the Chabot Space and Science Center. This is the third year in a row that the California Symphony will present its acclaimed Symphony Surround format, where guests enjoy a uniquely immersive orchestra experience as they dine literally surrounded by musicians. Taking advantage of the location, the event also features a bonus “surround” performance in the 360-degree domed planetarium, with visuals timed with the music.
January 2, 2019
The California Symphony kicks off 2019 with two performances of A TANGO WITH MOZART at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 8pm and Sunday, Jan. 20 at 4pm. Concertmaster Jennifer Cho takes center stage as soloist in Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla’s seductive, tango-laced Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, which includes playful references to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 is one of three final symphonies delivered in quick succession towards the end of the composer’s life.
November 8, 2018
California Symphony gets $1,000,000 boost for its endowment, its largest gift ever, and raises a further $500,000 to meet fall fundraising goal. The gift more than doubles the organization’s endowment, now approximately $1,800,000 with this addition, which promotes financial security for the organization’s future.
August 20, 2018
2018-19 California Symphony season opener Beethoven & Bernstein features a return visit for internationally renowned pianist Charlie Albright, playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and a celebration of beloved works by American icon Leonard Bernstein, including Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. Three Latin-American Dances for Orchestra by California native Gabriela Lena Franks rounds out a high-energy start to Donato Cabrera’s sixth season as Music Director with the California Symphony.
July 31, 2018
Music Director Donato Cabrera and Executive Director Aubrey Bergauer have both agreed to separate contract extensions. Plus, the California Symphony ends the 2017-2018 fiscal year with its third budget surplus of the last four years.
April 19, 2018
The $30,000 grant, made possible by the Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation, supports the launch of a pilot adult education program called Fresh Look: The Symphony Exposed, marketed in English and Spanish, with live on-site Spanish interpretation.
