Dare to Dream with Us in 2026
Colorful and Courageous—our 2025 season’s theme speaks to the courage it takes to stand in values and the vibrancy of our community, all made possible
General
Categories
A Friendly Update on 2026 Changes to Charitable Giving
We always want to keep our donor community in the loop, so we’re sharing some helpful guidance from our friends and Investment Advisors at Traveka
2025 Poetry- Inspired by the Season
Santa Cruz poet and longtime Festival friend Joan Zimmerman created a living collection of verse inspired by our season’s sounds. Her original poems and curated
HELP SAVE THE PERFORMING ARTS EQUITABLE PAYROLL FUND
On May 14, the Governor issued the “May revise” to the CA 25-26 budget. This revision included reverting $11.5 million allocated to the Performing Arts
Meet Our New Executive Director
Dear Friends of Cabrillo Festival, I am pleased to announce that D. Riley Nicholson has assumed his role as our new Executive Director, beginning this
2023 Poet-In-Residence and Community Poem Prompts
Poet-in-Residence FARNAZ FATEMI An Iranian American poet and writer, Farnaz Fatemi is Santa Cruz County Poet Laureate for 2023 and 2024. She is a founding
A Letter from Ellen
To my beloved community, After a profoundly rewarding career stewarding the Cabrillo Festival for more than three decades, I have decided now to step down
Music is a Heart Opener
Guest Blogger Kendall Grady speaks with Valerie Joi ahead of her Cabrillo Festival debut as narrator in The Battle for the Ballot.
Composers in Conversation Vol. 5 – Video
Maestro Cristi Macelaru continues our new monthly series LIVE on Saturday, July 3 at 11am PDT when he moderates this conversation between composers Karim Al-Zand, Missy Mazzoli, and Carlos Simon.
Composers in Conversation Vol. 4 – Video
Maestro Cristi Macelaru continues our monthly series when he moderates this conversation between composers John Corigliano, Peter Shin, and Gabriella Smith.
Composers in Conversation Vol. 3 – Video
Maestro Cristi Măcelaru continues our monthly Composers in Conversation series—this time one-on-one and back-to-back with Wynton Marsalis and Tan Dun.
Location Scouting for Gabriela Lena Frank’s New Work
Choreographer/dancer Molly Katzman and film crew Swan Dive Media went location scouting in preparation for the world premiere of composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s new work, Contested Eden.