La Jolla Music Society Season 55 Renewal Brochure

THE CONRAD 2023—24 Meow Meow • Concerts @ The JAI

SEASON

Home of La Jolla Music Society

THE CONRAD 2023—24

OCTOBER

FLOR DE TOLOACHE*

LAKECIA BENJAMIN AND PHOENIX

ISATA KANNEH-MASON, piano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM

DECEMBER

FEBRUARY

THE MAGIC OF BUBBLES*

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO* 50TH ANNIVERSARY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023 • 7:30 PM Piano Series

THIBAUDET/BATIASHVILI*/CAPUÇON* TRIO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023 • 7:30 PM Revelle Chamber Music Series

MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO* & MARISOL “LA MARISOUL” HERNÁNDEZ* SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2023 • 3 PM Global Roots Series

LILA DOWNS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023 • 7 PM Special Event Balboa Theatre

BANDA MAGDA* FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

NOVEMBER TURN IT OUT W/ TILER PECK & FRIENDS* WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023 • 7:30 PM Dance Series Civic Theatre

AMERICAN RAILROAD SILKROAD ENSEMBLE WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS* FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 • 7:30 PM Global Roots Series Balboa Theatre

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023 • 10 AM & 11:30 AM ConRAD Kids Series The JAI

Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 • 7:30 PM Dance Series Balboa Theatre

SEONG-JIN CHO, piano

BALOURDET QUARTET

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023 • 3 PM Piano Series

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024 • 3 PM Discovery Series

DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

BLUE NOTE 85TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR* SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 • 7:30 PM Jazz Series

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

CONNECT TO THE CONRAD RENÉE FLEMING*, soprano & INON BARNATAN, piano

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2023 · 4 PM Free Community Event The Conrad

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

MATTHEW WHITAKER QUARTET*

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 • 8 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2023 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM

Special Event

Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

AROD QUARTET

JANUARY

Revelle Chamber Music Series

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2024 • 7:30 PM

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE TRIO*

PETER HILLARY* 70 YEARS OF EVEREST

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 • 7:30 PM

Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 • 4 PM & 7:30 PM

TATIANA EVA-MARIE & AVALON JAZZ BAND*

ANDY MANN* MAKING WAVES

ALISA WEILERSTEIN FRAGMENTS 2

Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

DISNEY PIXAR’S COCO LIVE-TO-FILM CONCERT* Special Family Event

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023 • 7:30 PM

A Changemaker Production Speaker Series

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

TONY SIQI YUN*, piano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 • 7:30 PM A Changemaker Production Speaker Series

ProtoStar Innovative Series Co-presented with the San Diego Symphony

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024 • 3 PM

MARCH

Discovery Series

LAWRENCE BROWNLEE*, tenor

MAO FUJITA*, piano

LUCAS & ARTHUR JUSSEN*

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024 • 7:30 PM

Discovery Series

Piano Series

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023 • 3 PM

2 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 • 7:30 PM

Recital Series Co-presented by San Diego Opera

All events are in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall unless otherwise noted.

MARIA IOUDENITCH*, violin & KENNETH BROBERG*, piano SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2024 • 3 PM Discovery Series

KRONOS QUARTET & SAM GREEN A THOUSAND THOUGHTS FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 • 7:30 PM ProtoStar Innovative Series

KINGS RETURN SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

MEOW MEOW* SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024 • 7:30 PM Jazz Series

ALPHABET ROCKERS*

ABEL SELAOCOE* & MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE*

PABLO FERRÁNDEZ*, cello

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 • 7 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024 • 7:30 PM

HERBIE HANCOCK

CHARLES & FRIENDS FEATURING JOHN BEASLEY AND THE NEXT GENERATION*

ProtoStar Innovative Series

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024 • 7:30 PM Jazz Series Balboa Theatre

DAYRAMIR GONZALEZ* & HABANA enTRANCé FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

HIROMI* sonicwonder

Recital Series

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

JIJI*, guitar SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024 • 3 PM Discovery Series

TERRY VIRTS* HOW TO ASTRONAUT

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024 • 7:30 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024 • 7:30 PM

HIROMI: THE PIANO QUINTET FEATURING PUBLIQUARTET*

BRUCE LIU*, piano

Jazz Series

A Changemaker Production Speaker Series

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024 • 3 PM

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024 • 7:30 PM

ProtoStar Innovative Series

Piano Series

YEFIM BRONFMAN, piano

JUNE

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024 • 7:30 PM Piano Series

LARRY & JOE*

NRITYAGRAM DANCE ENSEMBLE*

MAY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024 • 7:30 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 • 7:30 PM

Concerts @ The JAI The JAI

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 • 10 AM & 11:30 AM

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2024 • 3 PM ConRAD Kids Series

Dance Series

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024 • 7:30 PM Global Roots Series

RAY CHEN, violin & JULIO ELIZALDE*, piano THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 • 7:30 PM Recital Series

APRIL JAKUB JÓZEF ORLINSKI* WITH IL POMO D’ORO SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024 • 3 PM

KAKI KING*

FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2024 • 7:30 PM

JUNCTION TRIO CONRAD TAO, piano; STEFAN JACKIW, violin; JAY CAMPBELL, cello

CHARLES & FRIENDS FEATURING THE CHARLES MCPHERSON QUINTET*

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 • 3 PM Revelle Chamber Music Series

COMMUNITY ARTS OPEN HOUSE

SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2024 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM The JAI

*LJMS debut

Free Community Event The Conrad

QUATUOR ÉBÈNE*

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 • 7:30 PM

Dates, times, programs, and artists are subject to change.

Global Roots Series

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024 · 1 PM

BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL*

Revelle Chamber Music Series

CHRIS THILE

ConRAD Kids Series The JAI

Revelle Chamber Music Series

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024 • 7:30 PM

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

Dance Series Civic Theatre

858.459.3728 • 7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 • TheConrad.org | 3

Dear Friends, They say that age is just a number, but sometimes important anniversaries come along that are worthy of celebration. And in the coming season we have no fewer than three! The 55th Season of La Jolla Music Society, the 5th anniversary of The Conrad’s spectacular opening, and the 15th season with our fabulous Artistic Director, Leah Rosenthal.

It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since this beautiful, state-of-the-art venue opened, a moment that has transformed our ability to serve the community around us. So much has changed in those five years, and we’re thrilled that you’ve been along for the ride.

Owning The Conrad has enabled us to more than double the number of concerts in our Winter Season, and you will see in this brochure the broad range of eclectic programming Leah has lovingly curated for you. Leah is unique in her keen understanding of so many genres and her extensive connections throughout the arts world, and we are the grateful beneficiaries with the opportunity to experience a myriad of renowned artists that she hand-picks—from superstar Renée Fleming and jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Branford Marsalis to Chris Thile, Rhiannon Giddens, Yefim Bronfman, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Tiler Peck, Lakecia Benjamin, the Jussen brothers, Meow Meow, and so much more.

Whether you’re a long-time veteran of La Jolla Music Society programming or a newcomer to our hall, we welcome you to any or all of our upcoming concerts. Our mission is to present the world’s most talented and exhilarating artists, and we hope you’ll come hear your favorites, as well as experience something new.

We look forward to seeing you often in the coming year!

Todd Schultz President & CEO, La Jolla Music Society

4 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

Order Your Tickets Today: 858.459.3728 · TheConrad.org

Table of Contents

Browse this brochure to review the many options available ... and order today to secure your seats for some of the world’s greatest artists!

06 PIANO series

18 DANCE series

28 SPECIAL family event

ISATA KANNEH-MASON | SEONG-JIN CHO LUCAS & ARTHUR JUSSEN | YEFIM BRONFMAN | BRUCE LIU

TURN IT OUT W/ TILER PECK & FRIENDS LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO ĀHUTI: NRITYAGRAM DANCE ENSEMBLE BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL

DISNEY PIXAR’S COCO LIVE-TO-FILM CONCERT

20 SPECIAL event

THE MAGIC OF BUBBLES | ALPHABET ROCKERS | KAKI KING

09 REVELLE CHAMBER MUSIC series THIBAUDET/BATIASHVILI/CAPUÇON TRIO | AROD QUARTET JAKUB JÓZEF ORLIŃSKI WITH IL POMO D’ORO QUATUOR ÉBÈNE | JUNCTION TRIO

LILA DOWNS

29 THE ConRAD KIDS series 30 CONCERTS @ THE JAI

12 RECITAL series

21 JAZZ series

LAWRENCE BROWNLEE | RAY CHEN & JULIO ELIZALDE PABLO FERRÁNDEZ

BLUE NOTE 85TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET | HERBIE HANCOCK DAYRAMIR GONZALEZ & HABANA enTRANCé | HIROMI

BANDA MAGDA | FLOR DE TOLOACHE | DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS MATTHEW WHITAKER QUARTET | TATIANA EVA-MARIE & AVALON JAZZ BAND LAKECIA BENJAMIN AND PHOENIX | AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE TRIO KINGS RETURN | MEOW MEOW | DAYRAMIR GONZALEZ JOHN BEASLEY AND THE NEXT GENERATION | LARRY & JOE THE CHARLES McPHERSON QUINTET | AND MORE

24 GLOBAL ROOTS series

35 SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

13 CONNECT TO THE CONRAD RENÉE FLEMING & INON BARNATAN

MAO FUJITA | TONY SIQI YUN | BALOURDET QUARTET MARIA IOUDENITCH & KENNETH BROBERG | JIJI

MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO & MARISOL “LA MARISOUL” HERNÁNDEZ AMERICAN RAILROAD: SILKROAD ENSEMBLE WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO | CHRIS THILE

16 PROTOSTAR INNOVATIVE series

26 SPEAKER series

ALISA WEILERSTEIN | KRONOS QUARTET ABEL SELAOCOE & MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE HIROMI: THE PIANO QUINTET FT. PUBLIQUARTET

PETER HILLARY | ANDY MANN | TERRY VIRTS

14 DISCOVERY series

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PIANO series

“

A profound and greatly gifted artist who radiates warmth, joy and much-needed musical sunshine.”

– Gramophone magazine

ISATA KANNEH-MASON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture by Kristi Brown Montesano · 6:30 PM The eldest of the multi-talented, multi-award-winning Kanneh-Mason family, Isata Kanneh-Mason wowed audiences with her debut performance alongside her brother Sheku in the 2021–22 Season. Just days before performing at Carnegie Hall, she returns to The Conrad in a solo showcase with a gorgeous program of piano classics.

HAYDN Piano Sonata No. 60 in C Major, Hob. XVI/50 F. MENDELSSOHN Easter Sonata SCHUMANN Kinderszenen, Op. 15 CHOPIN Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58

6 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

LUCAS & ARTHUR JUSSEN

SEONG-JIN CHO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

Prelude Lecture by Kristi Brown Montesano · 2 PM

Prelude Lecture by Kristi Brown Montesano · 6:30 PM

With overwhelming talent and innate musicality, Seong-Jin Cho is one of the consummate talents and most distinctive artists of his generation.

“

The South Korean pianist possesses technique to burn. His tone is pearly and deep, capable of both haunting distance and grandeur.”

– The Arts Fuse

HAYDN RAVEL RAVEL MOZART LISZT

Piano Sonata in E Minor, Hob. XVI: 34 Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn Miroirs Adagio in B Minor, K. 540 Sonetto 47, 104, 123 del Petrarca and Après une lecture du Dante from Années de pèlerinage: Deuxième Année: “Italie”

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Dutch brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen have conquered the classical music scene with personality, charm, and exciting programs showcasing the unbreakable bond of their duets, whether on one piano or two.

On their way to Carnegie Hall, the dynamic and charismatic brothers make their California debuts and demonstrate why Pianist magazine called them “a photogenic pair of musical wizards.”

MOZART Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 SCHUBERT Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940 KULENTY VAN… STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring

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PIANO series YEFIM BRONFMAN FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture by Kristi Brown Montesano · 6:30 PM

LJMS welcomes back a legend of classical piano and dear friend of the company in a stunning program of great works.

SCHUBERT SCHUMANN TCHAIKOVSKY

Sonata in A Minor, Op. 143 Faschingsschwank aus Wien Grand Sonata in G Major, Op. 37

BRUCE LIU FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture by Kristi Brown Montesano · 6:30 PM Bruce Liu took the classical music world by storm in 2021 when he won the First Prize at the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw. Performances around the globe followed, as well as an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. His LJMS debut brings us an exciting program showcasing his awe-inspiring technique.

HAYDN CHOPIN KAPUSTIN RAMEAU

“

A marvel of digital dexterity, warmly romantic sentiment, and jaw-dropping bravura.”

Piano Sonata in B Minor Hob.XVI:32 Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor Op. 35 Variations, Op. 41 Les Tendres Plaintes Les Cyclopes Menuets I et II Les Sauvages La Poule Gavotte et six doubles PROKOFIEV Piano Sonata No. 7

– Chicago Tribune

“

This is a pianist with a captivating musical personality.”

– Financial Times

8 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

REVELLE CHAMBER MUSIC series THIBAUDET/BATIASHVILI/CAPUÇON TRIO Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano; Lisa Batiashvili, violin; Gautier Capuçon, cello FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 6:30 PM

“

Among the constellation of young cellists, Gautier Capuçon shines brightly... A blend of impeccable taste, Romantic ardour, and technical aplomb” — The Telegraph

A powerhouse trio of acclaimed classical music performers! Piano superstar Jean-Yves Thibaudet, recognized as one of today’s finest pianists, has performed worldwide and recorded more than 50 albums. He is joined by Georgian-born German violin sensation Lisa Batiashvili and French cello phenom and multiple award winner Gautier Capuçon.

HAYDN Piano Trio No. 44 in E Major, Hob. XV/28 RAVEL Piano Trio in A Minor MENDELSSOHN Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66

“

[Batiashvili was] stylistically bang-on, culturally aware, fun and affection concealing outstanding technique.”

— The Strad

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REVELLE CHAMBER MUSIC series AROD QUARTET

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 6:30 PM

JAKUB JÓZEF ORLIŃSKI WITH IL POMO D’ORO BEYOND SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 2 PM

Early Music Concert Don't miss the opportunity to hear this popular countertenor highlight rarely performed early music repertoire with the acclaimed chamber orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro, in a program that includes works by Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Cavalli, Sartorio, and many more.

The Arod Quartet returns to La Jolla after their sensational Discovery Series debut in 2022. Based in Paris, the quartet first came to international attention when they won first prize at the 2015 Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition and the 2016 ARD International Music Competition. Praised by Gramophone for its “expressive flexibility and delicacy of detail and keen ear for balance and harmonic flux” and hailed by Le Monde as a “luxury instrument that many composers dream to seize.”

10 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

JUNCTION TRIO

QUATUOR ÉBÈNE

Conrad Tao, piano; Stefan Jackiw, violin; Jay Campbell, cello

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 6:30 PM

“

...they appear to have thrown away the semantic rulebook to create fresh, compelling sound worlds from the roots up… the Ébène evinces a musical grace, ingenuousness and simplicity that is deeply satisfying.”

— The Strad

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 2 PM

“

...these three are onto something special” — Boston Globe

HAYDN BARTÓK SCHUBERT

String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 20, No. 3 String Quartet No. 3, Sz. 85 String Quartet in G Major, D. 887

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JOHN ZORN IVES BEETHOVEN

Philosophical Investigations Piano Trio Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, “Archduke”

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RECITAL series RAY CHEN, violin & JULIO ELIZALDE, piano

LAWRENCE BROWNLEE, tenor SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Co-produced with San Diego Opera Prelude Lecture · 6:30 PM

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 6:30 PM

A star of the Metropolitan Opera, Lawrence Brownlee is a leading figure in opera, both as a singer on the world's top stages and as a voice for activism and diversity in the industry. Captivating audiences and critics around the globe, he has been hailed as “an international star in the bel canto operatic repertory” (The New York Times) and “one of the world’s leading bel canto stars” (The Guardian).

Ray Chen’s star has only risen since he debuted as an LJMS Discovery Series artist in 2011.

With a global reach that enhances and inspires a new classical audience, Chen’s remarkable musicianship transmits to millions, reflected through his engagements both online and with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world.

BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 8 in G Major, Op.30 STRAVINSKY Selections from The Fairy’s Kiss J.S. BACH Partita No. 3 in E Major for Solo Violin BRAHMS A Selection of Hungarian Dances (arr. Joachim and Kreisler) SARASATE Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20

RECITAL series

“

One of the most impeccable stylists on the opera scene” – Alex Ross, The New Yorker Prizewinner at the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition and SONY Classical exclusive artist, Pablo Ferrández is a captivating performer, whose combination of superb technique, spirit, expressivity and charm have wowed audiences around the globe.

12 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

“

Chen is that rara avis among rising classical stars: a superlative virtuoso who also happens to be a thoroughgoing artist.”

— Chicago Tribune

PABLO FERRÁNDEZ, cello THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Lecture · 6:30 PM

BRUCH BEETHOVEN RACHMANINOFF FRANCK

Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 Sonata in G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2 Vocalise Sonata in a Major for Violin and Piano (arr. for cello)

“

Pablo Ferrández is truly special… great sound, very refined vibrato, flawless left and right hand, and a true musician.”

— Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin

CONNECT TO THE CONRAD

RENÉE FLEMING, soprano & INON BARNATAN, piano ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 • 8 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL LJMS’ own SummerFest Music Director, Inon Barnatan, and America’s greatest living soprano, Renée Fleming, come together for a recital program that will be the ultimate Valentine’s Day celebration. One of the most beloved and celebrated singers in the world, Renée Fleming captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence, and has won every award and accolade HAYDN Together String Op. 76,one No.5 imaginable. she Quartet, and Barnatan, of the most sought-after classical BEETHOVEN QuartetaNo. 14 in C-sharp Minor,thrill, Op. and 131 inspire. pianists of our time,String will present program to captivate, DEBUSSY String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10

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DISCOVERY series MAO FUJITA, piano

TONY SIQI YUN, piano

First Prize, Concours International de Piano Clara Haskil in Switzerland

Gold Medal, First China International Music Competition

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Musical Prelude · 2 PM

24-year-old pianist Mao Fujita has already emerged as one of those special talents which comes along only rarely, equally at home in Mozart as the major romantic repertoire. Born in Tokyo, Fujita was still studying at the Tokyo College of Music in 2017 when he took First Prize at the prestigious Concours International de Piano Clara Haskil in Switzerland, along with the Audience Award, Prix Modern Times, and the Prix Coup de Coeur.

CHOPIN

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Musical Prelude · 2 PM

“

Tony is a true poet of the keyboard. Expressive, and with his own distinct voice, yet elegant and poised.”

– Pianist magazine

Polonaise in C-sharp Minor, Op.26 No.1 Polonaise in E-flat Minor, Op.26 No. 2 Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40 No. 1 Polonaise in C Minor, Op. 40 No. 2 Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, Op.44 Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op.61

LISZT

BRAHMS WAGNER/LISZT BEETHOVEN BUSONI SCHUMANN

Theme with Variations in D minor, Op. 18b Isoldes Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, S. 447 Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” Berceuse from Elegies, BV249 Symphonic Études Op. 13

Piano Sonata in B Minor, S.178

Gold Medal, First China International Music Competition

14 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

BALOURDET QUARTET SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Musical Prelude · 2 PM

“

The Balourdet Quartet were truly terrific during the festival—they bring total commitment, heart and musical conviction to everything they play, old or new."

— Inon Barnatan

MARIA IOUDENITCH, violin & KENNETH BROBERG, piano SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Musical Prelude · 2 PM First Prize, Ysaye International Music Competition Described as "phenomenally musical," (Daily Journal), dynamic young violinist Maria Ioudenitch has won multiple awards and is poised on the cusp of a major international career.

Gold Medal, 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition MOZART String Quartet No. 15 in D Minor, K.421 KARIM AL-ZAND Strange Machines BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59

JIJI, guitar SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Musical Prelude · 2 PM

“

Jiji is a breath of fresh air in the world of the classical guitar.”

– San Francisco Classical Voice

First Prize, 2016 Concert Artist Guild Competition A bold, compelling, South Korean virtuoso, at home on both classical and electric guitar, a champion of cutting-edge composers worldwide.

Praised by The Washington Post for her “mesmerizing” and “stirring” performances, Jiji is an exciting guitarist known for her virtuosity and command of diverse repertoire. Her concert programs range from traditional and contemporary classical to free improvisation.

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SCHUBERT BRAHMS L. BOULANGER N. BOULANGER POULENC RAVEL

Sonatina in G Minor, D.408 Violin Sonata No. 1 Nocturne Soleils couchants Violin Sonata, FP 119 Violin Sonata No. 2

SESSA ALBENIZ NATALIE DIETTERICH CASSEUS TANIA LEÓN GULLI BJORNSSON DAVID LANG MÁXIMO DIEGO PUJOL ARLEN DYENS PAGANINI

Occhi io vissi di voi (arr. Jiji) Asturias Abigail Yanvalloux, On Sunday, and Coumbite Bailarín Dynjandi New Commission* Verde Alma Over the Rainbow (arr.Jiji) Tango en Skai Caprice No. 24

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PROTOSTAR INNOVATIVE series

ALISA WEILERSTEIN FRAGMENTS 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Co-produced with the San Diego Symphony Renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein returns for the second installment of her groundbreaking, multi-year project FRAGMENTS. This remarkable concert weaves together the 36 movements of Bach’s solo cello suites with 27 newly commissioned works. The resulting collection is divided into six Fragments, each an hour long and blending five to six composers, to be released independently over several seasons—the first of these graced our stage in the 2022–23 season. Within each Fragment, individual movements from a single Bach suite are thoughtfully integrated with selected new works to create a new emotional arc. Enhanced by responsive lighting and scenic architecture, the music is performed without pause and without a program, making for a wholly original and immersive audience experience.

16 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

KRONOS FIVE DECADES EVENT Kronos Quartet and Sam Green: A Thousand Thoughts FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Sam Green (The Weather Underground), in collaboration with Emmy Award®-winning writer and editor Joe Bini (Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired, Grizzly Man), takes the stage with the legendary classical music group Kronos Quartet to create a “live documentary” that chronologically unfolds the quartet’s groundbreaking, continent-spanning, multi-decade career. Wildly creative and experimental in form, A Thousand Thoughts is a meditation on music itself—the act of listening closely to music, the experience of feeling music deeply, and the power that music has to change the world.

ABEL SELAOCOE & MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE SIROCCO SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 · 7 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

HIROMI: THE PIANO QUINTET FT. PUBLIQUARTET SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

“

Selaocoe has tapped into the magic of making every and all music come to life and find meaning and engagement with the audience, with fabulous success.”

– Number 9 Arts Reviews

A new project pairing her incomparable piano mastery with string quartet featuring PUBLIQuartet.

Sirocco is a celebration of folk traditions from around the world, led by the inimitable Abel Selaocoe, a musician described as “a star in the making,” (The Arts Desk) and UK-based Manchester Collective for a program that weaves between original settings of African music, Danish folk songs, and classical music like you’ve never heard it before. When this programme toured across the UK and Europe, critics described it as a “deeply moving” and “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

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In the two decades since Hiromi released her stunning debut album Another Mind, the Japanese pianist/composer has blazed an incandescent trail across the jazz scene. Her fertile imagination and boundless creativity seem to ripple out of her as effortlessly as her virtuosic pianism. Equally impressive in acoustic or electric settings, she delves into a different kind of fusion on her latest project that encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication.

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DANCE series TURN IT OUT W/ TILER PECK & FRIENDS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023 · 7:30 PM CIVIC THEATRE Prelude Interview hosted by Molly Puryear · 6:30 PM

“

50TH ANNIVERSARY LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 · 7:30 PM BALBOA THEATRE Prelude Interview hosted by Molly Puryear · 6:30 PM

The ballerina who can stop time” — The New York Times

“

Mixing technical skill with slapstick hilarity, the Trocks are as engaging as ever.”

— The Guardian

Award-winning New York City Ballet principal dancer, choreographer, actress, author, curator and designer, Tiler Peck tackles the new role of director for Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends.

After its sold-out performances in New York and London, Turn It Out With Tiler Peck & Friends makes its West Coast premiere at the Civic Theatre. With her personal touches on every aspect of this unique evening, Peck has assembled some of today’s most exciting dance artists for a virtuosic and innovative program. including performances by Tiler Peck, MIchelle, Dorrance, Jovani Furlan, Christopher Grant and more and choreography by Alonzo King, William Forsythe, Jillian Meyers. You won't want to miss this special evening!

18 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

Look no further for top-notch ballet that’s also uproariously funny! The world’s foremost all-male comic ballet company, famed for performing en travesti and on pointe, is back with another sensational program spoofing some of your favorite works—for the first time in San Diego. The virtuosity and technical prowess of these dancers amaze even as they exaggerate the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance. As pioneers of diversity and acceptance, the Trocks’ mission continues: to bring the pleasure of dance to the widest possible audience.

ĀHUTI THE NRITYAGRAM DANCE ENSEMBLE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHITRASENA DANCE COMPANY ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024 · 7:30 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL The New York Times’ “Best Dance of the Year” Pick, 2015 & 2016

“

This is an ancient dance, joyously and sexily performed in the present tense… it is hypnotically lovely to watch.

The flow and precision of their movement makes you think of water, of unravelling silk.”

— The Guardian

BALLETS JAZZ MONTRÉAL DANCE ME MUSIC BY LEONARD COHEN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 2024 · 7:30 PM CIVIC THEATRE Prelude Interview hosted by Molly Puryear · 6:30 PM

“

Sensuous, sultry and stunning…

This is a wonderfully accessible show that will nourish your spirit with a perfect marriage of music and dance.”

— London Unattached

One of the premier Indian dance ensembles performing today, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble has the unprecedented distinction of making The New York Times’ “Best Dance of the Year” list two consecutive years in a row. More than a dance company, Nrityagram was founded as a Gurukula (school) devoted to Indian dance. The all-female ensemble’s daily life of intensive training and meditation brings to the stage compelling captivating performances that are at once sensual and lyrical, accompanied by live music.

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Under Louis Robitaille’s artistic direction, in collaboration with stage director Eric Jean and 14 dazzling dancers, three international choreographers—Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Ihsan Rustem—evoke in “five seasons” the grand cycles of existence, as captured in the music and poems of Leonard Cohen. The revered torch singer’s words find new expression through dance in this stylish, sexy, and innovative program, which received Cohen’s blessing before he passed.

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SPECIAL EVENT LILA DOWNS DOS CORAZONES: DÍA DE MUERTOS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2023 · 7 PM BALBOA THEATRE

Honor the traditions of Día de Muertos with LJMS favorite Lila Downs, one of the most influential and representative artists of Mexican music in Latin America. Known for the importance she gives to issues such as social justice within her music, Downs is a singular and powerful voice, both as a singer and an activist, bridging traditions from across the Americas, with influences ranging from folk and ranchera music from Mexico and South America, to North American folk, jazz, blues, and hip hop.

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HISPANIC

HERITAGE MONTH

JAZZ series

BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Interview hosted by Robert John Hughes · 6:30 PM

BLUE NOTE RECORDS 85TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Starring THE BLUE NOTE QUINTET

FEATURING GERALD CLAYTON, piano; JOEL ROSS, vibraphone; IMMANUEL WILKINS, alto sax; KENDRICK SCOTT, drums; MATT BREWER, bass SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Interview hosted by Robert John Hughes · 6:30 PM Led by six-time GRAMMY Award nominee Gerald Clayton, this supergroup honors the label’s rich history and showcases its roster of eclectic world-renowned musicians, including vibraphonist Joel Ross; saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer.

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BLACK

HISTORY MONTH

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis, NEA Jazz Master, GRAMMY Award winner, and Tony Award nominee, is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, this celebrated ensemble is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics.

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JAZZ series

JAZZ PIANO MINI FESTIVAL In honor of JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH In April, the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian celebrate Jazz History Month. To honor the legacy and history of this music, we have curated a weekend of performances by some of the most revered jazz pianists of our time as well as masterclasses, panel discussions and more taking place at The Conrad and throughout San Diego.

HERBIE HANCOCK

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024 · 7:30 PM BALBOA THEATRE Prelude Interview hosted by Robert John Hughes · 6:30 PM Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With an illustrious career spanning five decades and 14 GRAMMY Awards, including Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.

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DAYRAMIR GONZÁLEZ & HABANA enTRANCé V.I.D.A. FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024 · 6 PM & 8:30 PM The JAI

HIROMI

sonicwonder SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER- BAUM CONCERT HALL Prelude Interview hosted by Robert John Hughes · 6:30 PM

“

One of jazz piano’s most brazenly virtuosic players.”

— The New York Times

Cuban piano phenomenon Dayramir González began his professional career as a pianist and composer with former Irakere member Chucho Valdés’ Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble Diákara at the age of 16. Since winning Havana’s JoJazz festival in 2004 and 2005, González has gone on to win three Cubadisco awards for his 2007 debut album, Dayramir & Habana enTRANCé, and the 2013 Wayne Shorter Award for most outstanding jazz composer.

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Ever since the 2003 release of her groundbreaking debut, Another Mind, pianist Hiromi has astonished audiences with a creative energy that eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical, and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication. Taking the stage as part of the electrified four-piece ensemble sonicwonder, Hiromi builds on the spark of collaboration to create something magnificent.

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GLOBAL ROOTS series MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO & MARISOL “LA MARISOUL” HERNÁNDEZ HEREDEROS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2023 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

HISPANIC

HERITAGE MONTH

AMERICAN RAILROAD SILKROAD ENSEMBLE WITH RHIANNON GIDDENS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023 · 7:30 PM BALBOA THEATRE

A new generation takes mariachi to new heights when Latin GRAMMY nominee Mariachi Herencia de México presents Herederos (The Heirs). Simultaneously honoring the past, celebrating the present, and creating the future of mariachi music, Mariachi Herencia de México brings an unforgettable night of Mexican music and culture to The Conrad. Their bilingual repertoire blends genres like bolero, cumbia, tango, and swing with lyrics that speak of the Latino and immigrant identity. The group emerged in 2016 from a program in the Chicago Public Schools and has gone on to record five albums, with hits topping the Latin streaming charts.

Conceived by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, Silkroad Ensemble is a model for cultural collaboration and the exchange of ideas, tradition, and innovation across borders. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director and 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens, Silkroad reaches new heights through a commitment to new music and arts education. Silkroad’s newest initiative, American Railroad, illuminates the impact of African American, Chinese, Irish, and Native American communities on the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad and America’s Westward Expansion.

24 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

Called by the late President Nelson Mandela “South Africa’s Cultural Ambassadors to the World,” the all-male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo came to international prominence after singing with Paul Simon on his smash hit 1986 album Graceland.

They have become internationally famous and have won multiple awards, including five GRAMMYs and receiving more GRAMMY Award nominations (19), than any World Music group in the history of recorded music. More than 60 years after their creation, the current members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo continue to live out the group’s mission of bringing peace and harmony to the world through musical performance of the highest quality.

CHRIS THILE

FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

MacArthur Fellow and GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter Chris Thile, whom The Guardian calls “that rare being: an all-round musician who can settle into any style, from bluegrass to classical,” and NPR calls a “genredefying musical genius,” is a founding member of the critically acclaimed bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek.

“

...the leading mandolin virtuoso of his generation” — The New York Times

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SPEAKER series A Changemaker Production

PETER HILLARY

ANDY MANN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

70 YEARS OF EVEREST

A true lifetime adventurer, Peter Hillary has been on 50 mountaineering expeditions around the world, including five on Mount Everest and the other six tallest peaks of the world, the “Seven Summits.” Peter chairs the Himalayan Trust, a nonprofit organization his father founded to provide health, environment, and education services for the people in the Himalayas. As the author of seven books about his life of adventure and hands-on philanthropy, Peter has stories to share! He’s also made numerous documentaries, including two for National Geographic, as he leads adventure travel expeditions worldwide.

26 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

MAKING WAVES: SUMMIT TO SEA

Experience the wonder of our underwater world through riveting stories by Emmy Award-nominated director, Nat Geo photographer, and accomplished musician Andy Mann. For the past decade, Andy has traveled the seven seas to show the interconnectedness of our planet.

His work has enabled the protection of large sections of wilderness, including the world’s largest Arctic National Park in Franz Josef Land.

TERRY VIRTS

HOW TO ASTRONAUT THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024 · 7:30 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Terry Virts retired from the space program after having achieved nearly everything he ever dreamed possible, including serving in the U.S. Air Force as an F-16 fighter and test pilot, piloting the Space Shuttle Endeavour, serving as Commander for the International Space Station, and conducting three spacewalks during a 200-day mission in 2014 and 2015. During his seven months in space, he took more than 300,000 photographs and hours of video—the most of any space mission before or since. These images form the backbone of the IMAX film A Beautiful Planet featuring Terry and narrated by Jennifer Lawrence, and were featured in National Geographic’s book View from Above. Join Terry to hear his reflections on spaceflight, stewardship of life on earth, and our place in the cosmos.

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SPECIAL family event

FEATURING ORQUESTA FOLCLÓRICA NACIONAL DE MÉXICO SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 · 3:30 PM (SPANISH) · 7:30 PM (ENGLISH) THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL Your family won’t forget Coco Live-To-Film Concert, a unique screening of the heartwarming smash hit film with composer Michael Giacchino’s musical score performed by the 20-member Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México. A Disney Pixar classic about a young boy discovering his family’s history and the power of music, Coco also features the Academy Award-winning song “Remember Me” by songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and additional songs co-written by Germaine Franco and co-director and screenwriter Adrian Molina.

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THE ConRAD KIDS series MICHELE CAFAGGI THE MAGIC OF BUBBLES

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023 · 10 AM & 11:30 AM The JAI

KAKI KING

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 · 10 AM & 11:30 AM The JAI

It’s all about the BUBBLES when Italian clown and actor Michele Cafaggi comes to town!

Michele Cafaggi studied acting, circus arts, mime, clowning, and theatrical improvisation between Milan and Paris and has performed in research theater and company theater. But he found his true calling when he became the first artist in Italy to develop a giant bubble technique to create an entire theatrical show dedicated to soap bubbles. Since 1993 he has performed as a street and theater artist in Italy and across four continents and 20 countries, collaborating with theatres, youth aggregation centers, retirement homes, prisons, schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. Now it’s time for his giant bubbles to take over San Diego!

ALPHABET ROCKERS

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2024 · 3 PM THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

GRAMMY WINNERS + FOUR-TIME GRAMMY NOMINEES BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM 2023

Alphabet Rockers make music that makes change! Founded by Kaitlin McGaw (she/her) and Tommy Shepherd (he/him/they), this intergenerational group creates brave spaces to shape a more equitable world through hip hop. You and your little ones will explore elements of hip hop together, have shared moments to express and uplift affirmations and reflections, and get your bodies MOVING in celebration and joy!

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“

There are some guitar players that are good and there are some guitar players that are really freaking good.

And then there’s Kaki King.”

– Dave Grohl A new LJMS commission sees one of the most acclaimed rock guitarists creating a show all about the wild and wonderful world of BUGS! Composer and musician Kaki King is considered one of the world’s greatest living guitarists, known both for her technical mastery and for her constant quest to push the boundaries of the instrument. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “a genre unto herself,” Kaki has released nine albums and toured extensively, presenting in such prestigious arts centers as the Kennedy Center, MoMA, LACMA, The Met and Smithsonian Design Museum. She has created music for numerous film and TV soundtracks, including August Rush and Into the Wild, for which received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Score. Now she brings her formidable talents to The Conrad in an exciting and fun show all about bugs, to delight kids and adults alike.

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CONCERTS @ THE JAI BANDA MAGDA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

DAVINA AND THE VAGABONDS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

“

Holiday Show

...an artist who fires on all artistic cylinders.”

— NPR

Even if you don’t speak any of the six languages the members of New York’s Banda Magda sing in, you still will be transported into beautiful imagery with tales of love and devotion, as strong as the bonds between the band’s diverse musicians. Led by firecracker performer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Magda Giannikou, Banda Magda moves from samba to French chanson, from Greek folk tunes to Colombian cumbia and Afro-Peruvian lando.

The incomparable Davina returns to The JAI for two fun holiday-themed shows like no other! Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, top musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. You’ll have a blast singing along with Davina to your holiday favorites.

FLOR DE TOLOACHE

MATTHEW WHITAKER QUARTET

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

“

Flor de Toloache stuns at the crossroads of fusion and mariachi girl magic.”

— NPR

The Latin GRAMMY Award–winning, all-female Flor de Toloache mixes tradition and innovation, breaking boundaries with its edgy, versatile, and fresh take on traditional Latin American music.

30 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2023 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM

“

Matthew Whitaker is music.

To see and hear him play is to know that divine talent exists.”

— Monifa Brown, WBGO

Phenomenal 22-year-old pianist Matthew Whitaker has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and now shares his irrepressible musicianship with his quartet in the intimate space of The JAI.

TATIANA EVA-MARIE & AVALON JAZZ BAND

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE TRIO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

DISCOVERY ARTIST

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

Growing up, Tatiana Eva-Marie was influenced by her father’s New Orleans jazz records and her mother’s heritage of Klezmer and Romany folk music. Acclaimed as a “millennial shaking up the jazz scene” by Vanity Fair, who included her in a list of rising jazz stars alongside Cyrille Aimée and Cécile McLorin Salvant, Eva-Marie’s original arrangements and lyrics are inspired by her French and Romany heritage and her love for the Parisian art scene of the 1920s to 1960s.

LAKECIA BENJAMIN AND PHOENIX

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM Voted “Rising Star Alto Saxophonist in the 2020 Downbeat Critics Poll and “Up and Coming Artist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association, charismatic and dynamic young saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin fuses traditional conceptions of jazz, hip hop, and soul. For this JAI debut, Benjamin features the quartet from her 2023 release Phoenix, an album that also featured cameos by some of Benjamin’s heroes including Wayne Shorter, Angela Davis, Dianne Reeves, and Patrice Rushen.

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“

One of the best singers around.”

— The Wall Street Journal

“

Akinmusire sounds less like a rising star than one that was already at great heights and just waiting to be discovered.”

“

Lakecia Benjamin plays jazz that is sprinkled with the rich flavors of funk and soul—she’s a crafty traditionalist who remains in step with the rhythms of the young generation.”

— Los Angeles Times

— The New Yorker

During his 15-year career, Ambrose Akinmusire has paradoxically situated himself in both the center and the periphery of jazz, masterfully weaving inspiration from other genres, arts, and life in general into compositions that are as poetic and graceful as they are bold and unflinching.

BLACK

HISTORY MONTH

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CONCERTS @ THE JAI KINGS RETURN

DAYRAMIR GONZÁLEZ & HABANA enTRANCé FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

See full description on p. 23

Kings Return made a triumphant SummerFest debut in 2021, bringing audiences to their feet with their a cappella stylings inspired by gospel, jazz, R&B, soul, and classical music. The group became internet sensations in 2016 when they started posting videos to social media from the stairwell where they rehearsed and now have more than 10 million views across digital platforms.

LARRY & JOE

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM Venezuelan joropo maestro Larry Bellorín and GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass and oldtime star Joe Troop from North Carolina are two virtuosic multi-instrumentalists who fuse their respective Venezuelan and Appalachian folk traditions on the harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, upright bass, guitar, and maracas to prove that music has no borders. Their bilingual program in English and Spanish includes storytelling, humor, and singalongs for a unique evening you won’t soon forget.

MEOW MEOW

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM “Post-post-modern diva” Meow Meow has hypnotized and inspired audiences globally with unique creations and sell-out seasons, from New York’s Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Bar Jeder Vernunft to London’s West End and the Sydney Opera House, specializing in the Weimar repertoire and French chanson. Named one of the “Top Performers of the Year” by The New Yorker, this spectacular artist has been called “sensational” (The Times), a “diva of the highest order” (New York Post), and “a phenomenon” by the Australian press.

“

The hour with Larry & Joe was sort of like being in the eye of a hurricane. Beauty and order in the heart of chaos.”

“

— Austin Chronicle

There is, in fact, nothing that this woman cannot do.”

— The Telegraph

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AND MORE TO COME IN The JAI

JAZZ @ THE JAI GUEST CURATOR CHARLES & FRIENDS FEATURING JOHN BEASLEY AND THE NEXT GENERATION SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 • 6 PM & 8:30 PM

Our inaugural Jazz @ The JAI Guest Curator, legendary award-winning saxophonist Charles McPherson, and John Beasley, two-time GRAMMY winner, pianist, and composer, curate a program from Duke Ellington through the eras of jazz up to what’s happening now. John Beasley is joined by a roster of rising star jazz artists.

John Beasley, piano; Giveton Gelin, trumpet; Erena Terakubo, alto saxophone; Russell Hall, bass; Anthony Fung, drums

CHARLES & FRIENDS FEATURING THE CHARLES McPHERSON QUINTET SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2024 • 5 PM & 7:30 PM Our jazz Guest Curator Charles McPhersons’ New York band performs all over the world and is acclaimed by audiences everywhere. Now the internationally renowned legend brings the best jazz musicians on the scene together for two intimate shows in The JAI, celebrating their new CD release.

Charles McPherson, saxophone; Terell Stafford, trumpet; David Wong, bass; Jeb Patton, piano; Lewis Nash, drums

La Jolla Music Society is proud to partner with GRNFC Hospitality Group, founded by one of San Diego's most established chef/restaurateurs, Giuseppe Ciuffa. Enjoy a savory small bites menu, delicious cocktails, and the opportunity to order before you arrive! Giuseppe's at The Conrad is the perfect culinary pairing to your musical experience.

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SEASON SPONSORS The wonderful array of musical activity that La Jolla Music Society offers would not be possible without the support from its family of donors, in particular our Pillar Members and Medallion Society Sponsors.

Pillar Members Brenda Baker and Steve Baum Raffaella and John Belanich Mary Ellen Clark Julie and Bert Cornelison Elaine Galinson and Herbert Solomon Joan and Irwin Jacobs

Angelina and Fred Kleinbub Dorothea Laub Vivian Lim and Joseph Wong Debbie Turner Sue and Peter Wagener

Medallion Society Sponsors Mary Ann Beyster Virginia and Robert Black Karen and Jim Brailean Silvija and Brian Devine Barbara Enberg Pam and Hal Fuson Buzz and Peg Gitelson Lisa Braun-Glazer and Jeff Glazer Margaret Stevens Grossman and Michael Grossman John Hesselink Teresa and Harry Hixson Theresa Jarvis Keith and Helen Kim Kathleen and Ken Lundgren

Elaine and Doug Muchmore Arlene and Louis Navias Peggy and Peter Preuss Don and Stacy Rosenberg Leigh P. Ryan Sheryl and Bob Scarano Neal and Marge Schmale Jeanette Stevens Gloria and Rodney Stone Susan and Richard Ulevitch Dolly and Victor Woo Anna and Edward Yeung Bebe and Marvin Zigman Anonymous

®

®

Listing as of April 2023

Contributions to LJMS help bridge the gap between income from ticket sales and the total cost to present the finest dancers and musicians, and bring free programs to schools and communities throughout the county.

Take action and make your support of LJMS known with a donation today. www.TheConrad.org/donate or call 858.459.3728 34 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center / Home of La Jolla Music Society

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 • 8 PM AT THE CONRAD PREBYS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Jiji

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LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY THE CONRAD PREBYS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 7600 FAY AVENUE, LA JOLLA, CA 92037

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Learn more by visiting TheConrad.org PHOTO CREDITS: Cover: Meow Meow © Harmony Nicholas; Pg. 4: T. Schultz © Darin Fong, L. Rosenthal © Sam Zauscher; Pg. 6: I. Kanneh-Mason © David Venni; Pg. 7: S. Cho © Holger Hage, L. Jussen, A. Jussen © Marco Borggreve; Pg. 8: Y. Bronfman © Dario Acosta, B. Liu © Yanzhang; Pg. 9: J. Thibaudet © Andrew Eccles, G. Capucon © J. Bort Warner, L. Batiashvili © Chris Singer; Pg. 10: Arod Quartet © Julien Benhamou, J. J. Orlinski courtesy of artist, Il Pomo d’Oro © Giulia Fassina; Pg. 11: Quatuor Ebene © Julien Mignot, Junction Trio © Shervin Lainez; Pg. 12: L. Brownlee © Shervin Lainez, R. Chen © John Mac; Pg. 13: P. Ferrandez © Igor Studio, R. Fleming © Andrew Eccles, I. Barnatan © Marco Borggreve; Pg. 14: M. Fujita © Dovile Sermokas, T.S. Yun © Dario Acosta; Pg. 15: Balourdet Quartet courtesy of artist, M. Ioudenitch © Nissor Abdourazakov, Jiji © Marty Bra; Pg. 16: A. Weilerstein © Marco Borggreve, Kronos Quartet © Jay Blakesberg; A. Selaocoe & Manchester Collective © Gaelle Beri, Hiromi © Mari Amita; Tiler Peck & Friends © Christopher Duggan, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo © Zoran Jelenic; Pg. 19: Nrityagram Dance Ensemble w/ Chitrasena Dance Company © Sujith Kumar, Ballets Jazz Montreal courtesy of artists; Pg. 20: L. Downs courtesy of artist; Pg. 21: The Blue Note Quintet courtesy of artists, B. Marsalis Quintet © Eric Ryan Anderson; Pg. 22: H. Hancock © Douglas Kirkland; Pg. 23: D. Gonzalez courtesy of artist, Hiromi © Muga Miyahara; Pg. 24: M. Hernandez courtesy of artist, Mariachi Herencia de Mexico, R. Giddens © Ebru Yildiz, Silkroad Ensemble © Rich Woods, Noir Prism; Ladysmith Black Mambazo courtesy of management, C. Thile © Josh Goleman; Pg. 26: P. Hillary courtesy of presenter, A. Mann, Polar bear © Andy Mann; Pg. 27: T. Virts © Terry Virts; Pg. 28: Disney · Pixar’s Coco © Disney/Pixar, Orquesta Folclórica Nacional De Mexico performers © Disney/Pixar; Pg. 29: M. Cafaggi © Pietro De Filippi, Alphabet Rockers © Steven Roby, K. King © Simone Cecchetti; Pg. 30: Banda Magda © Shervin Lainez, D. Lozier © Christi Williams, Flor de Toloache © Piero F. Giunti, M. Whitaker © Taylor Brandt; T. Eva-Marie courtesy of artist, L. Benjamin © Elizabeth Leitzell, A. Akinmusire courtesy of artist; Pg. 32: Kings Return © Bryson Gamble, Meow Meow © Karl Giant, D. Gonzalez courtesy of artist, L. Bellorin & J. Troop © Tommy Coyote; Pg. 33: C. McPherson © Tina Krohn; Pg. 35: Jiji courtesy of artist; BACK: The Baker-Baum Concert Hall © Steve Uzzell