For 71 years, the Santa Barbara Symphony has entertained Santa Barbara residents with dynamic concerts while enriching the community with a robust music education program that serves thousands of local students each year.
“The symphony fuels artistic collaboration and community impact through music,” said Kathryn Martin, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Symphony. “We believe the symphony is for everyone and designed to serve our community. Thanks to (music and artistic director) Nir’s leadership, we’ve created welcoming concerts that touch people’s hearts and move an audience.”
History of the Symphony
During its storied history, the Santa Barbara Symphony graced the stages of The Lobero Theatre, The Arlington Theatre, and The Granada Theatre in both the 1960s and early 1970s. In 2008, the company moved back to the Granada after the theater’s renovation.
“The elevated acoustics, state-of-the-art equipment, stellar facilities and professional staff at The Granada ensures that we can perform and sound our best, allowing us to create moments of awe and goosebumps for the audience,” said Martin.
The Santa Barbara Symphony has worked with world-renowned musicians like Benny Goodman, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, Grammy-winners, violinist Hilary Hahn and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and brilliant violinists Augustin Hadelich, and Nina Bodnar and Gilles Apap, both residents of Santa Barbara.
The group has debuted the works of many composers including; Sergio Assad, Jennifer Higdon, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Luis Bacalov. Legendary Hollywood composer Elmer Bernstein was one of several composers-in-residence throughout the years.
Dynamic Resident Conductor
In 2006, following a two-year global search, Nir Kabaretti was appointed as the Symphony’s Music Director and in 2008 added the title, Artistic Director.
Kabaretti’s illustrious career before joining the Santa Barbara Symphony includes positions with the Vienna State Opera, the Salzburg Music Festival, Teatro Real in Madrid, Israel Sinfonietta Be’er Sheva, Southwest Florida Symphony and Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence.
Under the direction of the charismatic conductor, the Santa Barbara Symphony elevated its stature in the music world and strengthened its ties in the community, collaborating with other local art organizations. Kabaretti also worked to enhance the symphony’s music education programming for young people in the region.
Music Education
The Santa Barbara Symphony’s music education programs are the only ones with ties to a professional symphony in the region.
“Music education is a part of our purpose,” explained Martin. “We want to be part of the fabric of our community and one of the ways we do that is to support our youth.”
The premier program offered is the Youth Ensembles Program, which helps young musicians develop their skills and network with other musicians. The Santa Barbara Symphony Youth Ensembles includes three full orchestras: the Camerata Ensemble, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Youth Symphony. Applications for the 2024/2025 program are currently open.
“Through the ensembles, kids have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, build their confidence, and learn about leadership and collaboration,” said Martin. “They put on three performances during the year and have opportunities to see the Symphony perform at The Granada.”
To expose younger children to the magic of classical music, the Santa Barbara Symphony employs its Music Van. The colorful vehicle is a fully decked-out music classroom that makes the rounds to elementary school third graders throughout the year.
“We bring docents and musicians and lay out all the instruments in the symphony and organized chaos ensues as the kids try them out,” said Martin. “For many kids, it’s the first time they’re holding an instrument and often they find their voice through it. I’ve seen shy kids walk in and go on to make the biggest noise in the room on a trombone or tuba.”
New Season
The Santa Barabara Symphony’s 2024/2025 season brings a host of world-class musical experiences to the region with classical and newer performances intertwined The season kicks off with a mix of the Symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and the world’s greatest classical guitarist of our era, Pablo Sainz Villegas presenting Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. The audience will be treated to complimentary champagne on opening weekend.
Season tickets start at just $27 and are available now.
