“The only American festival devoted to contemporary orchestral music.” -Mike Borella, Avant Music News
“One of the country’s leading presenters of new music.” -Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical
“The festival has championed not just new and experimental music but human rights, racial and gender equality, and inclusion.” -Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical
“For more than 50 years, this annual celebration of contemporary orchestral music in Santa Cruz has been the place to be for new music fans.” -Anne Schrager, San Francisco Chronicle
“. . .the annual Santa Cruz new-music bash has aficionados coming from far and wide to experience an array of artists and their latest works.” -Randy McMullen, The Mercury News
“. . .the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is not backing down from its historic commitment to the widest possible range of composers and performers.” -Lisa Hirsch, San Francisco Classical
“Cabrillo is delightfully informal.” -Lisa Hirsch, San Francisco Classical
“For 63 years, the Cabrillo Festival has been a bold champion of new music.” -Lisa Hirsch, San Francisco Classical
“. . .the importance of the Cabrillo Festival in providing these musical firsts cannot be overstated.” -Forrest Howell, I Care If You Listen
“The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music has always been adventurous, boundlessly creative, and boldly visionary.” -Forrest Howell, I Care If You Listen
“This year, the festival outdid itself as it celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of LGBTQIA Pride in Santa Cruz and the legacy of queer voices who have shaped the festival.” -Sarah Cahill, KALW
“The Cabrillo Music Festival opened its 63rd season — and reaching that number with such an uncompromising mission is an achievement in itself.” -Richard S. Ginell, Musical America Worldwide
“You never know what to expect. Any selection on the program could be dryly cerebral, passionately percussive, ethereally melodic, abstractly academic, monochromatically minimalist, or royall flushed with maximal color — maybe all in the space of one 20 minute sonic journey.” -Stephen Kessler, Santa Cruz Sentinal
“I’ve been variously provoked, inspired, bored, transported, annoyed, enchanted, tired, uplifted, amazed and baffled.” – Stephen Kessler, Santa Cruz Sentinal