THE CONRAD
Home of
Annual Impact
Abel Selaocoe
From the President & CEO
As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on our work and the role La Jolla Music Society plays in the cultural life of San Diego, and a recent trip to New York helped bring some of those thoughts into focus.
After attending a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Daniil Trifonov and Matthias Goerne, I walked to the backstage door and noticed posters for upcoming concerts. It was heartening to see that nearly every artist featured had performed at The Conrad, and a quick scan of Carnegie’s calendar confirmed even more. Although we already know the level of work we offer our stages, it was nice to see that validated at one of the greatest halls in the world.
From Daniil and Matthias to Beatrice Rana, Emanuel Ax, Yuja Wang, Alisa Weilerstein, Seong-Jin Cho, Hilary Hahn, Lang Lang, Pinchas Zukerman, the Balourdet Quartet, The Knights, Midori, James Ehnes, Alexandre Kantorow, Nobuyuki Tsujii, Dan Tepfer, Nicolas Altstaedt, Hayato Sumino, Bruce Liu … and that’s just Carnegie. The same would be true at Wigmore Hall in London, Boulez-Saal in Berlin, and any other storied international venues.
Our Artistic Director Leah Rosenthal continues to curate at an international level, while also identifying rising talent like Dmitry Shishkin, whose sold-out concert earlier this season was a standout, and artists who fall outside traditional genres.
This spring, I overheard a woman leaving a concert say to her companion, “Any night you come here, it’ll be that good.” That kind of trust is exactly what we aim to build—a trust that Leah’s work and SummerFest Music Director Inon Barnatan’s are achieving.
January 2026 marks my fifth year with LJMS. Even with the pandemic limiting performances for part of that time, I’ve attended more than 350 of our own concerts, not to mention the hundreds of Learning & Engagement events, nonprofit and private rentals, and nearly 70,000 global viewers of our SummerFest streams on Medici. tv. We may be relatively small with a budget of just under $10 million, but we remain nimble, responsive, and impactful.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. I remain deeply grateful for the leadership that preceded me and put us in a position to catapult to a higher level and for the staff and Board who have helped us achieve what we are today. What you will see in this report are the latest results of this vision and these efforts. Thank you for your support. I look forward to what we will be sharing with you in the year ahead.
Todd R. Schultz President & CEO
Vision Statement
To transform lives through the performing arts, serving as a beacon of world-class artistic excellence, innovation, and inclusivity.
Mission Statement
To enrich the evolving cultural landscape of San Diego by curating a dynamic array of world-class performing arts programming, create meaningful learning opportunities, and build connections between artists and audiences.
La Jolla Music Society
As one of Southern California’s leading presenters of premier performing arts, La Jolla Music Society contributes to San Diego’s cultural vitality year-round through a rich variety of presentations, including classical, jazz, global roots, contemporary music, and dance, at its state-of-the-art venue, The Conrad. In addition to robust educational programs and community outreach, La Jolla Music Society produces SummerFest, a four-week music festival featuring dozens of world-class artists and ensembles performing eclectic concerts and programs.
Land Acknowledgment
La Jolla Music Society acknowledges the ancestral, unceded territory of the Kumeyaay people, on which The Conrad was built. We hold great respect for the land and the original people of the area where our performing arts center is located. The Kumeyaay continue to maintain their political sovereignty and cultural traditions as vital members of the San Diego community.
Our Values
Excellence
At The Conrad, we deliver comprehensive excellence, from meticulous behindthe-scenes operations and impactful educational programs to the presentation of world-class artists, both established and emerging, in an acoustically superior and welcoming environment.
Integrity
We build enduring, trustworthy relationships by consistently delivering exceptional artistic experiences through ethical operations, transparent communication, and responsible resource management.
Collaboration
The Conrad is a collaborative and efficient workplace, empowering staff and resident companies to deliver outstanding artistic presentations and successful events, while also providing a seamless rental program, ultimately maximizing the organization’s impact through synergistic partnerships.
Creativity
The Conrad cultivates a supportive and innovative environment where staff creativity is celebrated, and artists are empowered to push boundaries and connect with audiences through worldclass programming and performances.
Culture of Care
Through the warmth and welcoming attitude of its staff, Board, and volunteers, The Conrad is a space where inclusivity, empathy, and a deep sense of belonging are evident and endemic for everyone. We work to create an accessible organization that removes historical barriers to engagement, where all races, ethnicities, cultures, physical/cognitive abilities, ages, genders, and identities are respected, ensuring the experience of attending an event is a positive one that exceeds expectations.
Authenticity
The Conrad champions authenticity by fostering an inclusive space where genuine expression and diverse perspectives converge to create deeply meaningful and inspiring artistic experiences. This authenticity extends beyond the stage to ensure that institutional and personal connections are genuine and sincere.
Renée Fleming Inon Barnatan Alisa Weilerstein
Endea Owens
2024−2025 Season
La Jolla Music Society presented 85 performances across the Winter Season and SummerFest that brought artistic excellence, creative innovations, and outstanding entertainment to San Diego audiences. “
Each season, I embrace the challenge of curating La Jolla Music Society’s Main Season— crafting an eclectic, vibrant mix of the highest artistic quality ensuring something meaningful for every musical taste. I seek out global superstars, visionary innovators, and remarkable unknown emerging talents, balancing the timeless traditions of classical music with bold new genres and artistic voices from around the world.
At the heart of my curatorial approach is a deep belief in connection—an artist’s ability to move and inspire, whether through the intimacy of a recital, the generosity of a master class, or the sheer power of performance to tell stories and stir emotions. My ultimate goal is to shape a season that reflects and celebrates the diversity of our community, ensuring that The Conrad remains an inclusive, vital cultural home where everyone can see themselves represented and uplifted on our stages.”
−Leah Rosenthal, Artistic Director
Abel Selaocoe
October 24, 2024
ProtoStar Innovative Series
Abel Selaocoe brought us his dynamic and joyful fusion of Western classical music with South African traditions, featuring his virtuosic cello playing, singing, improvisation, and body percussion, creating a joyful and uplifting experience for the audience.
Fire Shut Up in My Bones
January 19, 2025
ProtoStar Innovative Series
The opera suite Fire Shut Up in My Bones had a profound impact on our audience by offering an immersive and transformative experience that was both a major cultural event and a deeply personal journey.
Barbara Hannigan & Bertrand Chamayou
December 5, 2024
Recital Series
“A spectacular performance of a virtuoso and demanding work, that highlighted the artist’s relevance.”
— Ramon Jacques, Pro-Opera AC
Martha Graham Dance Company
January 25, 2025
Dance Series
Seeing the Martha Graham Dance Company was an intense, visceral experience with powerful, primal movements, expressing the raw depths of human emotion and universal themes through fierce, technically astounding dancers.
Kodo One Earth Tour 2025: Warabe
February 6, 2025
Global Roots Series
The global rhythms and powerful arrangements of the world’s foremost taiko troupe never fail to bring the audience to its feet and thrill us to our very cores.
London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Antonio Pappano, chief conductor
Yunchan Lim, piano
Friday, February 21, 2025
Special Event
Sir Antonio Pappano, Musical America’s 2024
Conductor of the Year, lead a breathtaking performance of lyrical might alongside 2022
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition winner, Artist-In-Resident Yunchan Lim’s debut.
“
Yunchan Lim and the London Symphony, under the incisive baton of the orchestra’s Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, brought explosive energy to the impassioned gestures of this late Romantic concerto without overlooking the ingratiating charms of its impressive array of contrasting cantabile airs.”
— Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Dreamer’s Circus
February 26, 2025
Global Roots Series
San Diego audiences love Dreamer’s Circus’ contemporary, genre-bending fusion of traditional Nordic folk, classical complexity, jazz improvisation, and pop energy, performed with virtuosic skill and tons of heart.
Goitse
March 16, 2025
Concerts @ The JAI
It’s always a toe-tapping good time when Goitse brings its blend of traditional Irish music and modern sensibility to The JAI.
Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300
March 22, 2025
Revelle Chamber Music Series
The performance of Les Arts Florissants Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300 was a celebration of the beloved masterpiece’s 300th anniversary, featuring the renowned period-instrument ensemble and virtuosic violinist
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, reframing it in a fresh, historical light.
Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández
March 23, 2025
Dance Series
Ballet Folklórico de México brought us a dazzling and passionate spectacle of Mexican heritage, with vibrant costumes and intricate, high-energy choreography rooted in the traditional dances of different regions telling stories from pre-Columbian civilization to the modern era to life.
Paramount Quartet
Sona Jobarteh
April 15, 2025
Global Roots Series
April 11, 2025
In an electrifying and spiritual journey, Sona Jobarteh blended the traditional 700-year-old West African griot kora tradition with a modern, accessible sound, featuring her distinctive voice, infectious melodies, and a dynamic band.
Wynton Marsalis
Louis
May 18, 2025
Jazz Series
Led by jazz titan Joe Lovano, Paramount Quartet blended a modernist jazz core with hints of Americana, polyrhythmic and polyphonic approaches, and free-flowing improvisation.
Mutter-Fernandez-Bronfman Trio
May 3, 2025
Revelle Chamber Music Series
Jazz Series “
...the three internationally acclaimed soloists melded their instrumental voices... into an ensemble of rare beauty.”
— Eileen Wingard, San Diego Jewish World “
Marsalis graciously played the section man, allowing himself only one or two solos. They proved that Armstrong-caliber chops are alive and well. Marsalis surrounded himself with a true A-Team...”
— Paul Bodine, Classical Voice America
SummerFest 2025
Led by returning SummerFest Music Director Inon Barnaton, Milestones celebrated the defining moments of a creative life. Landmark performances—from Philip Glass’ Etudes performed by nine pianists to the moving pairing of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with Renée Fleming—highlighted music’s power to transform. With imaginative programs like Tasting Notes with Chef J. Kenji López-Alt and the genre-blurring Dance @ The JAI with Caleb Teicher, SummerFest once again proved to be a place where tradition meets innovation, and where audiences encounter both timeless works and bold new voices.
Caleb Teicher
Alisa Weilerstein
Inon Barnatan
Stephen Waarts
Cécile McLorin Salvant Nicolas Altstaedt
Renée Fleming, Alan Gilbert
Noah Bendix-Balgley, Jessie Montgomery
Longstanding
Partnership
with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
La Jolla Music Society continues the tradition of showcasing artwork from the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego collection as the featured image on SummerFest posters and programs. We value our long partnership and appreciate the opportunity to share exquisite works, such as this year’s piece, Ruth Asawa’s Desert Plant.
SummerFest Highlight Synergy Series: The Glass Menagerie
A remarkable event took over the Baker-Baum stage as nine world-renowned pianists took turns performing the stunning Études by Philip Glass. San Diego Story’s Ken Herman called it “an exhilarating, challenging musical journey,” which “took but a few minutes under three hours, but the rapt engagement of the La Jolla SummerFest audience…encouraged Barnatan’s impressive cadre of virtuoso pianists.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Luke Shulze wrote, “[The] thoughtfully curated presentation of Philip Glass’s complete Piano Etudes at the Baker-Baum Recital Hall offered an important chance to witness the evolution of Glass’s style and consider his place in the music of our time… [it] was exceptionally smart and effective in its stage direction.”
Ying Li Timo Andres
Melonie Grinell, Matthew Aucoin, Ying Li, Steven Osbourne, Inon Barnatan, Conor Hanick, Timo Andres, Jeremy Denk, Juho Pohjonen
SummerFest by the Numbers
· 20 Concerts in four weeks
· 89 Pieces performed
· 92 Piano tunings
· 97 Musicians, including 8 Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artists
· 103 Trips to the airport
· 281 Rehearsals … in 26 days!
· 732 Housing nights … thanks to 45 hosts!
· 4,097 Learning & Engagement event attendees—23% increase over 2024
· Largest number of piano benches on stage in one concert: 10
Farfy Foundation Fellowship Artists
For more than 35 years, students from the nation’s leading music programs have participated in one of SummerFest’s most enduring traditions—the Fellowship Artist program. A select group of emerging artists join us for the full four-week festival, studying and performing with some of the best artists in the world. Last year, 51 Fellowship Artist applications were narrowed down, and we welcomed the Hesper Quartet and the Larinae Ensemble to join us for the festival, studying and performing with some of the best.
Thanks to generous support from the Farfy Foundation, this program continues to thrive, nurturing emerging talent and inspiring audiences year after year.
Alan Gilbert, Inon Barnatan
Nicolas Altstaedt, Ricardo Morales
Michael Gerdes Jonnel Domilos
Hesper Quartet
Abeo Quartet
Larinae Quartet
Learning & Engagement
Education programs for students, artists, and audience members
Over the past year, we reached a record number of participants, engaging nearly 16,000 students and community members through our award-winning educational programs—roughly 4,000 more than previous years. Through these initiatives, we connected with a broader audience who may not have easy or regular access to the concert hall, offering unmatched opportunities for learning and discovery at no cost to them. With learning and engagement central to our mission, we collaborated closely with visiting artists and ensembles to develop outreach activities that showcased their distinctive talents and expertise, both at The Conrad and throughout the wider community.
Across our Winter Season and SummerFest, we presented more than 140 free programs—including Preludes, Open Rehearsals, Encounters, Artist Lounges, and Masterclasses—that enriched our community’s understanding and appreciation of music and performance.
Manny Cepeda Orchestra
Inon Barnatan SummerFest Fellowship Artists
Sabrosas Latin Orchestra
Robert John Hughes, Joe Lovano
Leah Rosenthal, Inon Barnatan
Kristi Brown-Montesano
Free Tickets for Students
Through our Education Ticket Program, we provided complimentary tickets to students and families across San Diego County, reflecting our commitment to making world-class music and dance accessible to all. Nearly 1,000 tickets are distributed each year, valued at $60,000
“Listening to this music kind of made me feel some sense of unity, and contentment with the way everyone put so much emotion into their connection with the artist onstage.”
—
Sofia, 10th grade
Free Tickets for Veterans
We’ve expanded our reach through a partnership with VetTix, an organization that provides free tickets to veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. This year, 675 tickets were distributed, valued at $40,500.
“Thank you La Jolla Music Society for making the tickets to the show available for me and my family. My kids were exposed to music talents that they normally would not have seen, had it not been for your generous gift.”
— William, US Marine Corps (Veteran)
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concerts Series
The free Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concerts welcomed community members of all ages and backgrounds from across the city, bringing together audiences and local artists of exceptional caliber in the picturesque courtyard of The Conrad. We welcomed nearly 2,000 guests during the last season, and surveys show about half the attendees had never been to The Conrad before.
Sabrosas Latin Orchestra
Leonard Patton Trio
Ed Kornhauser
Artists in Schools
Our Discovery Series features the rising stars of classical music—artists who have achieved early success yet are still on the cusp of broader recognition. Each season, one artist or ensemble is selected as LJMS’ Education Ambassador, leading two days of meaningful community engagement across San Diego.
Last season, the American Patchwork Quartet (APQ) served as Education Ambassadors-in-Residence. Clay Ross and Harini (Rini) Raghavan worked with 169 fourth-and fifth-grade students from Oak Park Elementary School during their two-day residency. Facilitated by local expressive arts educator Elizabeth Tobias, students created vibrant collages featuring positive messages and imagery, inspired by the quartet’s unique blend of traditional and contemporary musical styles.
The completed mural now brightens the halls of the school, and a slideshow documenting the creative process was presented prior to each APQ public performance at The Conrad—linking the classroom experience directly to the concert hall.
Jess Gillam Alphabet Rockers and TranscenDANCE
Randall Goosby, Zhu Wang
Harini Raghavan, Clay Ross
Community Music Center
For more than 25 years, La Jolla Music Society has operated its award-winning Community Music Center (CMC) in Logan Heights, offering free after-school music instruction for students in grades 4–12.
Operating each September through May, the CMC provides free instruments and free group lessons three days a week across seven different instrument families. Students who meet attendance and proficiency milestones over two years earn a new instrument to keep for life.
All students perform in two recitals each year, an achievement that builds confidence and pride. With the support of a dedicated and qualified nine-member teaching staff, the CMC continues to transform young lives through music-making, building essential skills in discipline, teamwork, and creativity.
This year, LJMS awarded 18 instruments and provided 1,320 hours of instruction. 83% of CMC families indicate that their household income is under $35,000 per year (full-time at minimum wage in San Diego).
Prime-Time
Last year, LJMS partnered with the San Diego Unified School District’s Prime-Time Program to launch a new mariachi and ballet folklórico enrichment initiative. Designed to extend arts access during after-school hours, the program provided engaging, culturally relevant music and dance experiences for elementary and middle school students.
LJMS was contracted by ten schools to lead eleven 10-week programs, each culminating in daytime educational assemblies that featured performances by Prime-Time students alongside the Community Music Center’s advanced mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Águila.
VAIL MEMORIAL FUND
TERRA LAWSON-REMER San Diego County Supervisor, District 3
JOE LACAVA City of San Diego Councilmember, District 1
Yunchan Lim
Alisha Gaddis