We at Cabrillo Festival stand with our brothers and sisters across this nation who have stepped forward to say “NO MORE HATE!” We commit today to denying racism a foothold in our organization, to listening well to our communities, and to undertaking a fierce attitude of self-reflection and informed action, …read more »
Cabrillo Festival Stories
A growing collection of Cabrillo Festival stories, articles and content from current or recent seasons and our archives.
Archival Audio: Festival Influencers
Below you will find a collection of historic interviews, panel talks, and in-depth musical analysis that demonstrate the sweep of the Festival’s influence under artistic leaders Carlos Chavez, Dennis Russell Davies, Marin Alsop, and Cristian Macelaru; and composers Lou Harrison, Aaron Copland, John Adams and others. Composer Lou Harrison provides …read more »
Meet the Composers videos
The Muse Visits Santa Cruz
By Marilyn DuHamel This essay is part of my Wayfinder Series about people, art works, and events that can help us find our way in these lost times. The Muse recently revealed herself in the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, a sumptuous Dionysian feast lasting fourteen days in a humble …read more »
The Festival Through My Eyes: An Interview with In the Works Composer Maya Miro Johnson
On Tuesday, July 30th, I had the pleasure of attending In the Works, a concert which showcased the new compositions of three emerging composers: Costas Dafnis, Maya Miro Johnson, and Annika Socolofksy. Each work was performed twice with a different conductor. This gave concert-goers the opportunity to experience the variations …read more »
The Festival Through My Eyes: The Student Staff Program
If you attended any of the concerts this season, you likely received a program book from a person wearing a blue Cabrillo shirt. Chances are, this person looked to be around the age of a high school or college student, and was a member of the Festival’s Student Staff Program. …read more »
Wynton Marsalis and Cristi Macelaru In Conversation
Listen to a conversation with Wynton Marsalis, pioneering musician and 2019 Cabrillo Festival composer-in-residence. In this fascinating one-hour session, Marsalis and Cabrillo Festival Music Director and Conductor Cristian Macelaru share stories about collaborating on the Violin Concerto in D with Nicola Benedetti; Marsalis talks about growing up in New Orleans …read more »
The Festival Through My Eyes: Expressions of Community
During the open rehearsal of Concerto in D for violin and orchestra (2015), which will be a part of tonight’s concert, Wynton, Wynton gave the orchestra many notes which approached technical specificities through larger ideas having to do with the emotions behind the work, as well as the communal experience of …read more »
The Festival Through My Eyes: Works in Process
It is Thursday of the first week of the Festival, and there has been so much to take in that I’ve had trouble deciding where to begin this post. From Open Rehearsals to Student Staff projects, Megan Levad’s poetry workshop, and the astounding In the Works concert, this Festival is …read more »
The Festival Through My Eyes: The Place of the Civic Auditorium and the Space of the Listening Body
Part one: The Festival in Production We’re just one day away from the first Open Rehearsal, meaning, the Festival season is upon us! I’m working on this post today from the staff lounge, where I can inconspicuously listen to Michael Sheppard rehearse on the piano. I’d be lying if I …read more »
The Festival Through My Eyes: An Introduction
Coffee in one hand, bike helmet in the other, and a pounding chest accompanying my steps up the stairs and through the door, I enter the building which houses the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Office—my destination. In the entryway, I observe a row of potted and hanging plans which …read more »
David Murray and Elise Blake unbox 2019 music!
Cabrillo Festival Orchestra musicians come to us from across the country and beyond, where they play in some of the best orchestras around. Our music librarian, also based remotely, has the gargantuan task of acquiring, organizing, and distributing scores to all the players. Once the musicians receive their music, usually …read more »
Galen Lemmon Breaks it Down – Cabrillo Festival percussion
In 2014, documentary filmmaker Sasha Friedlander followed Cabrillo Festival’s principal percussionist, Galen Lemmon, as he prepared for the season—a Herculean task! Friedlander’s resulting short film reveals the complexities of contemporary orchestral percussion, ever-pushed to the limit by the wild imaginations of today’s …read more »
Reeding Time – Meet the Cabrillo Festival Oboes
In 2015, documentary filmmaker Sasha Friedlander spent some time with the Cabrillo Festival’s close-knit oboe section—Karen Wagner, Alexander Miller, and Paula Engerer. Friedlander’s resulting short film reveals the fascinating mysteries of this unique instrument, these remarkable players, and what Cabrillo Festival means to …read more »
Cristian Macelaru receives new European appointment
For Immediate Release CRISTIAN MĂCELARU TO BECOME NEW CHIEF CONDUCTOR OF WDR SINFONIEORCHESTER COLOGNE, GERMANY (May 2, 2018) – Cristian Măcelaru, 38, is to become the new Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester, one of Europe’s leading orchestras, effective with the 2019/2020 season. In September 2019, he will succeed the …read more »
For the Love of Lou
As we remember Lou Harrison on the occasion of his centenary there is great joy in seeing his music and his legacy remain very much alive around us. Lou forged his own path in the world, with great courage and conviction, and in so doing inspired so many to follow …read more »
Happy birthday, John Adams!
Composer John Adams has a long and mighty history with the Cabrillo Festival. Adams’ music was first performed here in 1978 by Kronos Quartet, followed by the Festival Orchestra’s 1988 performance of The Chairman Dances, conducted by Dennis Russel Davies. In 1991, Adams served as Music Director for a season, …read more »
Field Notes: Poet in Residence Gary Young
Gary Young Field Notes Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music 2016 On the streets leading to the auditorium, the jacarandas have stained the sidewalks blue. A late summer bloom of roses and lilies, hydrangeas and oleander has turned the city into a garden, riotous and alluring. Inside, the strings are warming …read more »
