FALL 2026 CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
Calendar of Events
Join us for a season filled with music! celebrating the extraordinary depth and breadth of musical possibilities in the world of percussion.
September Thursday, Sep. 10, 7:30 pm | RH “Songs With(out) Words”
Thursday, Sep. 24, 7:30 pm | LT
Faculty Artists Shichao Zhang, piano Frederick A. Peterbark, tenor Featured works include Franz Liszt’s “Petrach Sonnets” for voice and piano and solo piano, as well as movements from Felix Mendelssohn’s “Songs Without Words,” and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise.” Tuesday, Sep. 15, 6:30 pm | LT
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Pacific Choirs Pacific Tenor-Bass Day participants Brett Epperson, conductor The program includes Isabella Leonardo’s “Momento Rerum,” Franz Schubert’s “Des Tages Weihe,” Tracy Wong’s “Riuh” (Chaotic Joy), Frieden Felix Mendelssohn’s “Verleih uns Frieden” and more. Saturday, Sep. 19, 7:30 pm | FSCH
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Pacific Jazz Ensemble and Pacific Jazz Ambassadors Joe Mazzaferro, director The program features a selection of Miles Davis’s original music. The Pacific Jazz Ambassadors is the university’s flagship jazz ensemble including Alejandro Martinez (alto saxophone), Leo Milano (tenor saxophone), Renzo Barajas Moreno (piano), Clair Reinhold (bass) and Joe Evans (drum set). Sunday, Sep. 20, 2:30 pm | FSCH Friends of Chamber Music present
Third Coast Percussion
The Grammy Award-winning ensemble has forged a unique path in the musical landscape with virtuosic performances
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Guest Artists Sylvia Cuenca’s Band: Bridging Generations Cuenca is an active drummer on the New York and SF Bay Area jazz scenes. Her band includes David Kikoski (piano), Wallace Roney Jr. (trumpet), Essiet Essiet (bass), Rico Jones (tenor saxophone) and Will Martins (percussion). Thursday, Sep. 24, 7:30 pm | FSCH “Hidden Echoes”
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Pacific Wind Bands
Vu Nguyen, conductor Robert Ponto, guest conductor The program explores how composers transform borrowed melodies and musical traditions. Works include David Biendenbender’s “Luminescence,” Lindsey Bronnenkant’s “Tarot,” John Mackey’s “Aurora Awakes,” Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E-flat and Charles Ives’s “Country Band March.” Legend FSCH — Faye Spanos Concert Hall RH — Conservatory Recital Hall LT — Long Theatre T Tickets needed — see back panel Cover (clockwise from top left corner): Pacific Wind Bands, Sep. 24, Nov. 9, Nov. 19 Heidi Moss-Erickson, soprano, Oct. 27 Brittany Trotter, flute/piccolo, Oct. 7 Sylvia Cuenca, drums, Sep. 24 Kevin Sütterlin, conductor, Oct. 8, Nov. 4 Pacific.edu/MusicEvents
Kyle Bruckmann, composer Oct. 7
Marcus Shelby, bass Oct. 21
Friday, Sep. 30, 7:30 pm | RH “Reflections from the Alps”
concerto soloist and solo recitalist on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Her studio recordings feature traditional and contemporary music.
Patricia Grimm, piano
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7:30 pm | RH
Faculty/Student Artists Sadie Glass, Ciera Alkhoury and Lily Walter, alphorns Inspired by a recent trip to the International Alphorn Festival in Nendaz, Switzerland, the program includes music from the festival and new works by Laura Nelson and Michele Fellmann.
October Monday, Oct. 5, 7:30 pm | RH
Pacific Jazz Combos
Joe Mazzaferro and Sean Britt, directors Jazz standards and original compositions by Pacific faculty and students. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7:30 pm | RH
Guest Artist Anna Marie Wytko, saxophone A globally acclaimed recording, performing and teaching artist, Wytko has performed as
Faculty Artists Kyle Bruckmann, oboe/English horn Brittany Trotter, flute/piccolo Electro-acoustic and acoustic solo and duo works by Kyle Bruckmann, Christian Glascock, Adolphus Hailstork, Kerrith Livengood, Paula Matthusen, Shawn Okpebholo, Tanner Porter and Kian Ravaei. Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 pm | FSCH “Strength and Renewal”
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Pacific Orchestras
Kevin Sütterlin, conductor In his debut as director of Pacific Orchestras, Sütterlin introduces a program of strength, resilience and renewal. Featuring the California premiere of Christopher Ducasse’s “Fòs nou” (Our Strength) alongside music by Stella Sung, William Grant Still and Jean Sibelius.
Pacific‘s Inclusive Music Initiative, Oct. 29
Tanner Porter, composer
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7:30 pm | FSCH
Faculty Artist Joe Mazzaferro, trumpet
Mazzaferro presents music from his upcoming album “Only Time Will Tell.” His guest artists are Pacific’s jazz studies alumni: Alex Reyes ‘14 (tenor saxophone), Nico Martinez ’22 (bass) and Malachi Whitson ’15 (drum set) with guest pianist Sterling Cozza. Friday, Oct. 16, 7:00 pm | FSCH
Documentary “Redemption Time” A multimedia performance film features poet Jimmy Santiago Baca and jazz violinist Christian Howes who with searing honesty and artistic brilliance reveal the trauma of incarceration and the redemptive force of art. Saturday, Oct. 17, 9:00 am | RH
Breaking Free: The Transformative Power of Music Improvisation In a series of workshops and master classes, acclaimed violinist and educator Christian Howes, along with a panel of musicians and
Nicky Sohn, composer
music therapists, explores the transformative potential of music improvisation. The day culminates with a concert featuring Howes and Pacific’s jazz faculty and students. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7:00 pm | Reynolds Gallery “Intoxic: Drugs and Culture”
Interdisciplinary Concert and Art Exhibition
Pacific Composition Studio and Pacific Percussion Ensemble collaborate with the Reynolds Art Gallery for an evening of drumming and original music compositions during this interdisciplinary exhibition. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7:30 pm | FSCH
Pacific Jazz Ensemble Joe Mazzaferro, director Marcus Shelby, bass
The program features baseball-themed music. Guest artist Marcus Shelby is a San Francisco-based bassist, arranger and composer.
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Brooke Miller, clarinet
Hassan Anderson, oboe
Oct. 26
Oct. 22 – 24, 7:30 pm Oct. 25, 2:30 pm | LT Pacific Opera Theatre presents
Nov. 12
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Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” James Haffner, stage and artistic director Eric Dudley, music director and conductor This classic Baroque opera tells a tragic story of the love between Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas, whose happiness is destroyed by deception and fate. Forced to leave Carthage, Aeneas abandons Dido, whose heartbreak culminates in one of opera’s most poignant final scenes.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7:30 pm | RH “Widening the Radius: Connections and Conversations Through Song”
Faculty Artist Heidi Moss Erickson, soprano Kurt Erickson, guest piano
The program reimagines the art song recital through conversation, connection and personal storytelling. Featuring works by composers across eras and nations, including original songs by Kurt Erickson, this husband-and-wife duo invites audiences to discover how music transforms individual stories into shared human experience.
Monday, Oct. 26, 7:30 pm | RH
Faculty Artists Brooke Miller, clarinet Patricia Grimm, piano
A diverse solo program of works for unaccompanied clarinet, clarinet and electronics and clarinet and piano. Works by Jean Ahn, Jenni Brandon, Sang Mi Ahn, Jesse Montgomery and Amanda Harberg.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:30 pm | RH Inclusive Music Now Concert Series
Tanner Porter and Nicky Sohn, guest composers
Through Pacific’s Inclusive Music Initiative in partnership with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, conservatory faculty, students and alumni perform works of Tanner Porter and Nicky Sohn.
Poiesis Quartet Nov. 1
November Sunday, Nov. 1, 2:30 pm | FSCH Friends of Chamber Music present
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Poiesis Quartet
The winner of the 2026 Cleveland Quartet Award and the First Prize and Commission Prize recipients of the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the string quartet focuses on expanding their repertoire with vibrant new works by emerging composers. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7:30 pm | RH
Guest Artist Pan Pacific Ensemble
A collection of daring soloists committed to performing music of Asian and American composers. The group is passionate about creating, promoting, recording and providing experiential opportunities for audiences across the globe. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7:30 pm | FSCH “A New Birth of Freedom”
Pacific Orchestras
Kevin Sütterlin, conductor
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Narrated by Dr. Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi, the program reflects on the nation’s ideals, dreams, struggles and continuing pursuit of freedom. Selections include the California premiere of Lawren Brianna Ware’s “The Moirai,” Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” and Margaret Bonds’ “The Montgomery Variations.” Monday, Nov. 9, 7:30 pm | Morris Chapel
Pacific Brass Chamber Night Sadie Glass, director
The program features small ensembles from Pacific’s trumpet, horn, trombone/euphonium and tuba studios. Music includes beloved classics alongside exciting works by living composers, highlighting the versatility and artistry of Pacific’s brass students. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:30 pm | FSCH
Pacific Percussion Ensemble Jonathan Latta, director
Celebration of the beauty and excitement found in the world of percussion. Works by David Hahn, Daiki Kato, Amadeo Roldan, Amanda Sycamore and Blake Tyson.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 pm | RH
Pacific Clarinet Studio Brooke Miller, director
Student artists perform a diverse solo repertoire. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7:30 pm | LT
Jazz Studies Faculty Artists
Original compositions and arrangements by Pacific’s jazz faculty.
Pacific Choirs
Sep. 15 and Dec. 4
Thursday, Nov. 19, 7:30 pm | FSCH “Dancing Gardens”
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Pacific Wind Bands SJ Delta College Symphonic Band Vu Nguyen, conductor M.J. Wamhoff, guest conductor
Thursday, Nov. 12, 7:30 pm | RH
Repertoire includes Alfred Reed’s Armenian Dances, Leonard Bernstein’s Candide Suite, Dennis Llínas’s La Chancla and other works.
Anderson has appeared with esteemed ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theater and The Harlem Chamber Players. He will perform solo and in collaboration with Pacific faculty artists.
Monday, Nov. 30, 7:30 pm | RH
Guest Artist Hassan Anderson, oboe
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2:30 pm | FSCH Friends of Chamber Music present
Michael Spencer Memorial Concert with The Ying Quartet This string ensemble occupies a position of unique prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today’s world. Monday, Nov. 16, 7:30 pm | RH “Poetic Fantasies”
Faculty Artist Shichao Zhang, piano
A solo program features Franz Schubert’s proto-Romantic odyssey, Frédéric Chopin’s dreamlike polonaise, Chen Yi’s folk-infused Variations on “Awariguli,” and Franz Liszt’s monumental Sonata in B minor.
Pacific Jazz Combos
Joe Mazzaferro and Sean Britt, directors Jazz standards and original compositions by Pacific faculty and students.
December Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2 7:30 pm | RH
Pacific Varied Ensembles
Featuring conservatory student performers Thursday, Dec. 3, 7:30 pm | RH
Pacific Composers: Fall Premieres Originals music composed by University of the Pacific and Delta College students. Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 pm | FSCH
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Pacific Choirs
Brett Epperson, conductor University Chorus, Pacific Singers and guest high school choirs share an evening of festive seasonal selections. Pacific.edu/MusicEvents
Pianist Shichao Zhang and tenor Frederick Peterbark
Ticket Information
Sep. 10
• Conservatory events: Pacific.edu/MusicEvents • Friends of Chamber Music events: chambermusicfriends.org • Day-of sales are at the venue, 30 min. before the event. Unless otherwise indicated, general admission to conservatory concerts/recitals is: • Free for all students with a valid student ID • Free for Pacific staff/faculty with a valid Pacific ID • Free for members of Pacific OLLI and Faculty Emeriti with a valid Pacific ID • $10 for seniors (65 and over) • $15 for all others Opera and special events: $15–$30 For tickets prices to Friends of Chamber Music events, visit chambermusicfriends.org. Schedule is subject to change at any time. For up-to-date information on events, visit Pacific.edu/MusicEvents.