CABRILLO FESTIVAL of CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
July 27 - August 10, 2025
July 27 - August 10, 2025
Here, music becomes a living conversation — intimate, powerful, and deeply human.
The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music embarks on its 63rd season with a spirited celebration of courage and community. Five orchestral concerts showcase the multitude of color, nuance, and complex humanity contained in musical possibilities. Four Festival commissions and three world premieres will invite audiences into uncharted musical territories.
Honoring the 50th Anniversary of LGBTQIA Pride in Santa Cruz and the rich legacy of queer voices that have shaped the Festival, we are co-commissioning a powerful song cycle by Jake Heggie with text by Taylor Mac, and premiering a new Creative Lab by Darian Donovan Thomas that explores personal narratives of discovering self, love, and community.
We pay tribute to luminaries that have shaped the present, like trailblazers Lou Harrison, John Corigliano, & Jennifer Higdon, and introduce new voices that promise to transform music’s future. Guest conductor Daniela Candillari brings fresh perspectives to the first two concerts, with Music Director Cristian Măcelaru returning to shape the final performances.
The Festival opens our doors through our free Family Concert, open rehearsals, the Conductors/Composers Workshop, and other local events & partnerships inviting the community to be part of new music history. Composers in residence — including Missy Mazzoli, Stacy Garrop, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and more — provide personal context and connection into the music at hand.
New This Season - Festival Friends Add-On:
FESTIVAL FRIENDS package ADD-ON - Elevate your festival experience and support our music with our limited “Festival Friends Package”, the add-on that secures you premium reserved seating at our opening night picnic, provides a special toast to kick off our exciting 2025 season, a commemorative 2025 Festival tote, a signed 2025 Season poster, and special surprise treat(s)! By choosing this add-on, you’ll receive limited-edition mementos to remember cherished musical moments while showing your commitment to supporting our creative community.
Each pass applies to 1 person. Festival staff will have list of passholder names.
Please note: Programs are subject to change. No children under age six will be admitted to concerts (except for the Free Family Concert). Please silence your phones out of respect for the artists performing and fellow patrons. We encourage you to take non-flash photos and videos before or after the concert. You may take videos (under 30 seconds for copyright/legal reasons) and non-flash photos during free Festival open rehearsals. Always be mindful of your neighbors when using your camera. Tag us on social media! Please review General Event Policies for exclusions. All sales are final, no refunds.
The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music embarks on its 63rd season with a spirited celebration of courage and community. Five orchestral concerts showcase the multitude of color, nuance, and complex humanity contained in musical possibilities. Four Festival commissions and three world premieres will invite audiences into uncharted musical territories.
Honoring the 50th Anniversary of LGBTQIA Pride in Santa Cruz and the rich legacy of queer voices that have shaped the Festival, we are co-commissioning a powerful song cycle by Jake Heggie with text by Taylor Mac, and premiering a new Creative Lab by Darian Donovan Thomas that explores personal narratives of discovering self, love, and community.
We pay tribute to luminaries that have shaped the present, like trailblazers Lou Harrison, John Corigliano, & Jennifer Higdon, and introduce new voices that promise to transform music’s future. Guest conductor Daniela Candillari brings fresh perspectives to the first two concerts, with Music Director Cristian Măcelaru returning to shape the final performances.
The Festival opens our doors through our free Family Concert, open rehearsals, the Conductors/Composers Workshop, and other local events & partnerships inviting the community to be part of new music history. Composers in residence — including Missy Mazzoli, Stacy Garrop, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and more — provide personal context and connection into the music at hand.
New This Season - Festival Friends Add-On:
FESTIVAL FRIENDS package ADD-ON - Elevate your festival experience and support our music with our limited “Festival Friends Package”, the add-on that secures you premium reserved seating at our opening night picnic, provides a special toast to kick off our exciting 2025 season, a commemorative 2025 Festival tote, a signed 2025 Season poster, and special surprise treat(s)! By choosing this add-on, you’ll receive limited-edition mementos to remember cherished musical moments while showing your commitment to supporting our creative community.
Each pass applies to 1 person. Festival staff will have list of passholder names.
Please note: Programs are subject to change. No children under age six will be admitted to concerts (except for the Free Family Concert). Please silence your phones out of respect for the artists performing and fellow patrons. We encourage you to take non-flash photos and videos before or after the concert. You may take videos (under 30 seconds for copyright/legal reasons) and non-flash photos during free Festival open rehearsals. Always be mindful of your neighbors when using your camera. Tag us on social media! Please review General Event Policies for exclusions. All sales are final, no refunds.
Order Subscriptions and Single Tickets:
831-420-5260 | Tues-Fri Noon-4pm
307 Church Street | Santa Cruz, CA 95060
