Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Celebrating more than 60 years of presenting new works by living composers, led by Music Director and Conductor Cristian Macelaru

“Cabrillo Festival is like a crucible of creativity…and all of America’s orchestras look to what happens at Cabrillo because the Festival has really set the standard for fostering creativity and demonstrating an unbelievably genuine and rich relationship with its community.” —Jesse Rosen, President of the League of American Orchestra, addressing capacity crowd on Opening Night, 2016

The Cabrillo

Festival of Contemporary Music, even at a seasoned 61 years old, is all about the new—the here and now of contemporary works for orchestra. To quote Financial Times music critic Allan Ulrich, “…in the surf mecca of Santa Cruz, 75 miles south of San Francisco, the Cabrillo Festival has made the contemporary repertoire sound urgent, indispensable and even sexy.”

In late July and early August each year, audiences are joined by both preeminent and emerging composers, an orchestra of dedicated professional musicians, and renowned guest artists from across the globe to give voice to works which are rarely more than a year or two old, and sometimes still wet on the page. The opportunity for composers to work with musicians skilled and enthusiastic about bringing these new works to life, in the beautiful coastal, college-town of Santa Cruz, California, makes this an artistic paradise. With a professional training workshop for early career conductors and composers, open rehearsals almost daily, educational programming for all ages, the Church Street Fair showcasing Santa Cruz County performers and artists, and much more, the Cabrillo Festival has dozens of opportunities for meaningful engagement. In 2017 the Festival embarked on a new era of artistic leadership with the appointment of Music Director and Conductor Cristian Macelaru. Past music directors include Marin Alsop (1992-2016, now Music Director Laureate), John Adams (1991), Dennis Russel Davies (1974-1990), Aaron Copland (1978), Carlos Chavez (1970-1973), Gerhard Samuel (1963-1968). More information on the Festival’s history can be found at cabrillomusic.org. Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is a non-profit 501 (c)[3].

There’s just one week left till our Taste of the Festival event on June 20! Join us at scenic Bargetto Winery to raise a...
06/12/2026

There’s just one week left till our Taste of the Festival event on June 20! Join us at scenic Bargetto Winery to raise a glass, enjoy delicious bites, listen to live performances, and spend the afternoon in wonderful company as we celebrate and support the upcoming season of Cabrillo Festival! Tickets are available via our website at cabrillomusic.org

Can’t make it to the event– or want to get a head start on the festivities? Our silent auction is already live and ready to browse online at https://givebutter.com/c/2026-taste-of-the-festival-ln2z2h/auction! Whether you plan to join us for Taste of the Festival in person or will be cheering us on from afar, everyone has a chance to participate. Explore our exciting selection of auction items, including a luxury 10-day Bali getaway, a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra weekend with Music Director Cristi Măcelaru, a wine collection specially curated by our Board of Directors, and MORE! Pre-bid on your favorites and make an impact by supporting the music and programs that define Cabrillo Festival!

Prolific Grammy-Award winning composer Clarice Assad returns to Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music with a new world...
06/11/2026

Prolific Grammy-Award winning composer Clarice Assad returns to Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music with a new world premiere/ Festival commission for our 2026 season. Renowned for her musical scope and versatility spanning myriad genres, her works inspire and encourage audiences’ imaginations to break free from their often self-imposed constraints.

Assad returns to the Festival stage in tandem with violinist Philippe Quint to premiere her newly commissioned work, “Kontrol”, a multimedia experience wherein the orchestra becomes an active participant in the dialogue between human expression and machine-driven processes, blurring the boundary between performer and “algorithm”. Don’t miss this timely and thought provoking premiere on Saturday, August 8th at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

We are honored to share the news of an extraordinary legacy gift from longtime Cabrillo Festival supporter Gabrielle Sto...
06/10/2026

We are honored to share the news of an extraordinary legacy gift from longtime Cabrillo Festival supporter Gabrielle Stocker. Through our New Music Forever Endeavor planned giving program, supporters like Gabrielle help ensure that new music continues to be created, performed, and championed for generations to come.

We are deeply grateful to Gabrielle and to all those who have chosen to include Cabrillo Festival in their estate plans, creating a lasting legacy for composers, musicians, and audiences alike.

Read the following article to learn more about Gabrielle’s remarkable legacy and the transformative impact of her gift for the local New Music community.

https://www.sfcv.org/articles/music-news/santa-cruz-musicians-receive-millions-dollars-gabrielle-stockers-will

Thrilled to join the visionary .macelaru and the for the USA 250 celebrations, performing Shades of Unbroken Dreams by ...
06/10/2026

Thrilled to join the visionary .macelaru and the for the USA 250 celebrations, performing Shades of Unbroken Dreams by my very good friend 🥳🎹

Written for me and inspired by the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, this powerful concerto invites us to reflect on diversity, equality, inclusion and the role we each play in shaping a better future. A work of hope, humanity and limitless possibilities, it remains as relevant and moving today as ever.

I can’t wait to share it with audiences in California for the West Coast premiere✨🎹🇺🇸

We’re thrilled to see two works from Cabrillo Festival’s 2026 season featured in Classical Voice America’s article on ne...
06/03/2026

We’re thrilled to see two works from Cabrillo Festival’s 2026 season featured in Classical Voice America’s article on new music being created for America’s 250th anniversary.

The article highlights composers who are reflecting on the American story—where we’ve been, where we are, and where we might go next. That spirit runs throughout this season’s theme, We the Dreamers, which explores imagination, resilience, and the power of envisioning a better future.

Take a look and join us this summer for a season of powerful premieres!

PERSPECTIVE – O Beautiful Unity by Leigha Amick, right, is among numerous works commissioned from a diverse array of composers, established and emerging, to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Single tickets for the 2026 Cabrillo Festival season are NOW ON SALE! Plan your Festival experience and secure your seat...
06/02/2026

Single tickets for the 2026 Cabrillo Festival season are NOW ON SALE! Plan your Festival experience and secure your seats today by visiting https://cabrillomusic.org/order-tickets/!

This summer’s CFCM season, We the Dreamers, explores imagination, resilience, and the evolving story of America through an all-premiere lineup led by our inimitable Music Director and Conductor Cristian Macelaru. With a remarkable roster of composers and guest artists this season, from emerging voices to iconic figures of contemporary music, each concert offers a chance to discover something new. Join us for a season that asks: who is the “we” of America— and who are we still becoming?

Indonesian born/ LA based composer and pianist Eunike Tanzil (.tanzil) makes her Cabrillo Festival debut as part of our ...
05/22/2026

Indonesian born/ LA based composer and pianist Eunike Tanzil (.tanzil) makes her Cabrillo Festival debut as part of our 2026 season, “We The Dreamers”. Known both for her artistry as well as her savvy social media presence, Tanzil uses her work to challenge outdated perceptions of the orchestral genre while building a vibrant community of music-lovers and learners. Her compositions, spanning genres from classical and jazz to world music, tell stories that resonate deeply with audiences.

Our 2026 season will feature the West Coast premiere of Tanzil’s piece, “Ascending Creatures.” Taking inspiration from the coordinated flight of birds, Tanzil explores individuality and unity through motion and sound in order to emphasize the power of collective movement and the power of “we.” Experience “Ascending Creatures” during our Grand Finale performance Sunday, August 9th at 7pm at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

Congratulations to Elim Chan in her appointment as Music Director at San Francisco Symphony! We are proud to have a part...
05/21/2026

Congratulations to Elim Chan in her appointment as Music Director at San Francisco Symphony! We are proud to have a part in Chan's story – she joined us in 2011 and 2013 for the Cabrillo Festival Conductors Workshop – further proof that our alumni go on to do great things, and we can't wait to see what new music she cooks up at SFS!

The Hong Kong-born conductor will succeed Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director, becoming the first woman to lead the orchestra in its 115-year history.

The Cabrillo Festival’s 2026 season, “We the Dreamers” (July 26–August 9, 2026), is honored to present the West Coast pr...
05/18/2026

The Cabrillo Festival’s 2026 season, “We the Dreamers” (July 26–August 9, 2026), is honored to present the West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’s () latest compostion, Symphony No. 15, a powerful work honoring the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. This piece closely aligns with the Festival’s 64th season theme, exploring the distance between national ideals and lived reality.

Drawing inspiration from Lincoln’s own words, including the Emancipation Proclamation and his reflections on law, power, and ambition, Glass’s symphony will feature GRAMMY Award-winning baritone Zachary James () bringing Lincoln’s words to life.

Experience the West Coast premiere and only the second performance ever of Symphony No. 15 during the Festival’s 2026 opening concert, “On Freedom” on Friday, July 31 at 8 PM at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

Address

147 S River Street Ste 232
Santa Cruz, CA
95060

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category