Bringing Joy, Engagement, and Connection – Through Music

Music is the soundtrack of our lives. From the morning radio alarm, to the headphones fueling your run, to your favorite film, cartoons, and commercials, music—symphonic music—is everywhere.

The Santa Barbara Symphony shares the power of symphonic music with the local community and beyond. Conductor and Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti has been with The Symphony since 2006 and regularly collaborates as guest conductor with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras and opera companies. This year, Kabaretti leads The Symphony in its 70th anniversary season. 

Symphony President and CEO Kathryn R Martin indicates that this October to June season offers seven Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon concerts. Showcasing global guest artists, our own accomplished musicians, and Santa Barbara professional arts and nonprofit collaborations, these concerts feature diverse themes—with local connections—such as Wisdom of the Water, Earth, Sky; Planes, Trains, and Violins; and John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration. In addition, two one-night-only concerts are planned: New Year’s Eve with The Symphony and An Evening with Sinatra on June 15. According to Martin, the diversity of music is an important aspect of The Symphony.

“Nir’s programming is expansive and tailored for our community,” Martin says. “With influence from other musical genres and the talent connected to Santa Barbara, we—as a ‘local’ symphony orchestra—are able to create unique programs that are just not possible for others in our field to do.” 

Besides delivering world-class performances, The Symphony’s mission aims to inspire a passion for music in the next generation. The Symphony’s Youth Ensembles, serving elementary through high school, and wide-ranging youth education programs help to fulfill that mission. These are the only regional programs connecting students directly to a professional symphony orchestra. Needs-based scholarships funded each year through donations to The Symphony are one way students benefit from this connection. 

According to Dr. Nick Fuentes, Vice President of Community Education & Enrichment, the Music Van, a mobile music education classroom for area third-grade classrooms, is one of the more unique Music Education programs that The Symphony offers.

“The van is replete with instruments typically played by a symphony,” explains Fuentes. “The kids tactilely interact with the instruments and discover how they’re played. For many children, the Music Van experience is their first introduction to music and often inspires them to continue their musical journey.”

“We are very lucky to serve a community that sees art as important and understands that having a professional symphony orchestra adds a lot to the quality of the community,” notes Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti.