Eight classical music luminaries from around the world arrive in Santa Barbara to perform best-regarded chamber works for strings and piano. Join us for 3 glorious concerts at 2 historic locations over 1 scintillating weekend in May.
Artfully curated by renowned music director/violist Heiichiro Ohyama and internationally celebrated violinist Benjamin Beilman, the chamber ensemble also includes classical music stars Lucille Chung (piano), Erin Keefe (violin), Masumi Per Rostad (viola), Robert deMaine (cello), Mayuko Ishigami (violin) and Christine J. Lee (cello).
During two stellar evenings at the Lobero Theatre, and a more intimate afternoon at the Natural History Museum, these musical artists will perform classical masterpieces by Dvořák, Bruckner, Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Mozart and Mendelssohn.
Friday, May 5 at 7 PM at the Lobero Theatre
Dvořák Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major OP. 81
Bruckner String Quintet in F major WAB 112
Saturday, May 6 at 7 PM at the Lobero Theatre
Debussy Sonata for Violin and Piano in G minor L. 140
Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello
Fauré Piano Quartet No. 2 in G minor OP. 45
Sunday, May 7 at 4 PM at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (Fleischman Auditorium)
Mozart String Quartet in D minor K 421
Mendelssohn String Quintet No. 2 in B flat OP. 87
Only 200 tickets available for the full 3-concert series.
Momentum Dance Company is elated to present its premiere showing at the Historic Lobero Theatre this June for its largest end of year gala yet! Celebrating nine years of dance, Momentum Dance Company will light up the Lobero stage with over 100 dancers this summer, presenting two hours of dance fun for the whole family! The Glow Gala combines tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and acrobatics into 44 numbers full of excitement and sure to get you out of your seat, and dancing along!
MDC has been providing the highest quality dance education in Santa Barbara for nine years and is pleased to present the hard work and dedication of its’ students and educators to the Santa Barbara community at the Lobero this summer. Momentum’s end of year gala combines dances from their nationally award winning competitive companies with their incredibly successful recreational program under one roof, for one night only!
Come enjoy the talent and inspiration of our dancers ages 3 – 18, with energetic, one of a kind dances that have not been performed ever before. Witness choreography from the entire Momentum Staff including, Landry Breaux, Christina Crocker, Mackenzie Groty, Jaylyn Vaughan, as well as Betsy Woyach, MDC’s owner and director. We can’t wait to share our love for dance with the Santa Barbara community this June!
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Roy Orbison Returns
by Gina Graham
February 3, 2023
Wiley Ray & the Big O Band, a nationally touring musical group paying tribute to one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time. Wiley, an expert on all things Roy, was a fan from the earliest days of Roy’s career. Roy Orbison Returns was created to introduce a new generation to Roy’s music with a fully scripted musical theater recreation of Roy Orbison’s 1980’s Black & White Night Concert era being faithful to Roy’s set lists & musical arrangements. The 90 minute show includes 30+ years of musical history from his earliest rockabilly through the ‘60s, ’70s & ‘80s, including Roy’s many collaborations.
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network celebrates its third Annual Eco Hero Award honoring Ecological Design Pioneers, John & Nancy Jack Todd.
Joining us to receive the award, John & Nancy Jack Todd will share their amazing partnership journey over five decades committed to the emerging field of ecological design, that uses human ingenuity to design a future in balance with nature, while healing broken ecosystems.
Founders of the New Alchemy Institute, later embarking on the ambitious Ark for Prince Edward Island project, today Ocean Arks, International with projects around the globe, including most recently participating with engineers & scientists in the revolutionary Green the Sinai project.
The Santa Barbara Permaculture Network Eco Hero Award honors those individuals who have committed themselves to work in service of the planet and its inhabitants for more than thirty years, with actual solutions and concrete ways forward that benefit many, often on a global scale, while demonstrating pathways forward for future generations. A robust Q&A will take place, especially encouraging youth to participate with their questions. A reception follows in the Lobero Courtyard.
Regarded as some of the finest players of their generation, Mighty Poplar features Andrew Marlin (Watchhouse), Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers), and Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon). The true spirit of bluegrass infuses their self-titled debut album, a new all-star roots project, coming March 31 on Free Dirt Records. The group has captured the fierce and playful energy of an all-night jam between old friends who just happen to be grandmasters of the music.
Though Pikelny, Eldridge, Garrison all knew each other from their early work with Punch Brothers, impromptu backstage jams with Marlin at festivals across the country were the key that unlocked the project. It’s clear that each player joined out of pure excitement to play music with each other. There’s a level of curiosity and engagement that’s only found at the highest echelons of music making. What sets Mighty Poplar apart from the members’ full-time endeavors is that this band offers the opportunity to play pure genuine bluegrass. Ultimately, there was a kind of joy and relief in coming back to their roots in celebration and camaraderie.
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JR De Guzman
by Gina Graham
January 27, 2023
Born in the Philippines and raised in California, JR De Guzman began performing comedy while working as a music teacher, which he quickly learned just meant teaching Taylor Swift songs to teenagers. He has entertained all over the world, having performed for Stand-Up Tokyo and ROR Comedy in Japan, the Jokers Ball in Indonesia, the Badaboom Comedy Series in Amsterdam, and countless other international shows. JR was the winner Stand-up NBC in 2016 & named as a prestigious “New Face” at Just for Laughs 2017. His quarter hour special on The Comedy Lineup is streaming NOW on Netflix, and he was just named one of Variety’s Ten Comics to watch 2022.
You must be 18+ to purchase tickets to this event.
Virtuoso Tari has created a symphonic arrangement of Star Wars themes into a captivating medley, which he has performed at the Lobero Theatre to standing ovations since 2017. He has now assembled the perfect show of memorable movie music, performing his exceptional arrangements of songs and themes from some of the greatest films of all time, including a medley of Godfather themes arranged for piano. As a guest performer, Lyric Soprano Jessica McKenzie will be accompanied by Mr. Tari on the piano, singing songs that were featured in famous movies over the last century. Join us to experience a high-level musical journey with two highly accomplished musicians. A delightful family event for those looking to escape into a world of magical cinema rhapsody.
Lyric Soprano Jessica McKenzie received her Master’s Degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in Vocal Performance in 2020 while studying under renowned soprani Marnie Breckenridge and Frederica von Stade. She has studied the roles of Susanna and Contessa from Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina from Die Zauberflöte, Lauretta from Gianni Schicchi, Rosalinda from Die Fledermaus, Leonora from Il Trovatore, and has premiered a new work by Scott Joiner as the title role of Heidi in The Shower. Additionally, she has hosted events for audiences in Italy, Austria, California, Alabama, Massachusetts, and private country clubs. During her free time, Jessica provides free music education through her Youtube channel, Soprano Notes, and creates opportunities to bring classical music to her hometown of Ventura County. jessicamckenziesoprano.com
Limit of 2 tickets per person on a first come, first served basis – tickets will be available for will call only on the day of performance, must present photo ID and original payment card
Important Day of show Info
Security will be screening all attendees
No backpacks or large bags allowed
Tickets will be available to pick up on Tues., Feb. 21 beginning at 4:30 pm
Valid ID and credit card used to purchase required to pick up tickets
Wristbands will be distributed to all ticket buyers
Wristband must be presented at doors for entry and re-entry to the theater throughout the night
The American singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and former professional surfer is known primarily for his work in the soft rock and acoustic pop genres. His first five major-label albums all climbed to platinum status, and the artist continued to find success in the 2010s with more well-received efforts. Jack’s eighth studio album and first full-length release in five years, Meet The Moonlight (2022), opens on a question about the strange complexities of human nature, and never lets up on its heartfelt push for deeper understanding. The new album ultimately affirms Johnson as an essential voice in elevating our perspective and subtly guiding us toward a more expansive state of mind.
Zach Gill, a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter most known for his work with ALO and Jack Johnson, has performed for presidents, with some of music’s biggest stars, appeared on numerous late night TV shows, and in historic venues throughout the world. He’s recorded music with or backed up every one from Jerry Harrison of The Talking Heads to Neil Young, and sung duets with Eddie Vedder and Aimee Mann.
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Go To Hale – Six Decades of Music
by Josh James
January 18, 2023
Celebrating 60 years of music in honor of the Lobero Theatre’s 150th Anniversary! Thousands of engaging live performances have taken place at the historic Lobero Theatre. In recognition of this monumental anniversary, Quipster Hale Milgrim (former President/CEO of Capitol Records) and music lover Richard Salzberg (aka Music Maniac), are crafting a very special program culled from their respective archives, showcasing live and sometimes rare concert clips from a wide variety of artists. The unifying theme of these inspiring and iconic musicians from the 1960s to present is that they have all played on the Lobero stage at some point in their careers. Proceeds support live music at the Lobero Theatre.
Legendary artist Graham Nash, as a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. He has seen rock history unfold at some of its seminal moments – from the launch of the British Invasion to the birth of the Laurel Canyon movement a year later. An extraordinary Grammy Award® winning renaissance artist – and self-described “simple man” – Nash was inducted twice into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, for his work with CSN and his work as a solo artist.
The original classic union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young) lasted but twenty months. Yet their songs are lightning rods embedded in our DNA, starting with Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” “Pre-Road Downs” and “Lady of the Island,” from the first Crosby, Stills & Nash LP and his iconic “Teach Your Children” and “Our House” from CSNY’s Déjà Vu.
Nash’s career as a solo artist took flight in 1971, beginning with two landmark albums, Songs For Beginners and Wild Tales which further showcased the depths of his abilities as a singer and songwriter, yielding such favorites as “Chicago/We Can Change the World” and “Military Madness”.
Graham Nash will be joined on stage by his longtime musical partners, Shane Fontayne (guitar and vocals) and Todd Caldwell (keyboards and vocals), performing favorites from across his sixty-year career.
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David Crosby and Friends
by Josh James
January 12, 2023
David Crosby 1941 ~ 2023
We are deeply saddened by the loss of legendary Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Famer David Crosby. He was a true friend to the Lobero and our hearts go out to his family, fans, and loved ones during this difficult time.
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Flamenco Arts Festival 2023
by Gina Graham
January 10, 2023
The Flamenco Arts Festival wishes to thank the Lobero Theatre Foundation, Old Spanish Days Fiesta,
and the Tourist Office of Spain in Los Angeles for their continued support! See special events and video at the end of the page.
On Stage: Alfonso Losa (dancer);Concha Jareño (dancer, guest artist); Francisco Vinuesa (guitarist, composer, musical director); Angeles Toledano (singer); Antonio Luque “Canito” (singer).
Artistic Direction and Choreography: Alfonso Losa, Rafael EstévezandValerianoPaños
Gala Performance: The show begins with an award presentation honoring Javier Rodríguez Mañas, Consul in charge of Tourist Affairs, Tourist Office of Spain in Los Angeles.
Flamenco: Espacio Creativo premieredin October 2021 at the Teatros del Canal in Madrid as part of the Suma Flamenco Festival and won the Critics’ Award of the XXVI Festival de Jerez.
We start from a whole, but in reality, we have nothing. Our heritage is immense, but each creation confronts us with the unknown: with something that needs to be born, and that we must discover. The seed of Flamenco: Espacio Creativo is simply my love for dance in its broadest and most respectful concept. This is the one major reason that led me to introspection, to rework my language, to rediscover and surprise myself. With Estévez & Paños, I immerse myself in poetry impregnated with new energies and concepts. I expose my body to unusual movements in my choreographic alphabet. I find in the other concomitant languages the natural and necessary extensions to harmonize my discourse. I am motivated by the complexity of contrasts and challenge myself to develop a palette of different emotions.
There is no transgression, but rather deep research in relation to what has already been created because the creative space of flamenco dance is like the universe: defined, but unlimited.
Alfonso Losa: Heis the most genuine current representative of the Madrid school of flamenco dance and the necessary bridge between the masters and the new generations. In full artistic maturity Alfonso Losa has managed to articulate his own language with which he is able to transmit the most authentic concepts of traditional dance through the new dance codes of our days, of which he is one of the architects. Alfonso Losa has managed to harmonize the austerity, verticality, and elegance of the Madrid school with a vertiginous rhythm and prodigious body control. He is the most classical ofthe contemporaries and the most contemporary of the classics.
Awards such as “El Desplante” (Festival de La Unión), the “Premio Güito por Soleá” of the National Competition of Córdoba 2007, or the Best Dancer of the Spanish Dance and Flamenco Contest of Madrid (twice) endorse a career of progress that has been observed and valued by artists such as Morente, Tomatito, Gerardo Núñez, Enrique de Melchor, Niño Josele, Rubém Dantas and Montse Cortés, who have summoned his company on stage. A master of the great masters (who come to his classes from all over the world), Alfonso Losa is constantly searching for the immutable truths contained in flamenco and does not negotiate withfashions. He creates new schemes without breaking the mold. He builds without deconstructing. He works with authenticity. He dances as he is.
Events, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Pre-Concert Reception: FREE to ticket holders. Join us for the pre-concert celebratory reception starting at 6:00 pm, on the Lobero Esplanade, with complimentary drinks, light eats, and a performance by Sol y Lunares, Mizuho Sato (dancer) and Jesse Torre (guitarist). Doors open at 7:00 pm.
Gala After Party: This is a separate ticketed event and is immediately following the gala performance until midnight. Meet the artists and award recipient Javier Rodriguez Mañas, enjoy music, delicious Spanish cuisine, and a chance to win some great gifts from local businesses and organizations.
Tickets will be sold until 7:30 pm on August 4. This is a very popular event and space is limited. No-host bar. Only 120 tickets will be sold, so get your tickets early! Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Both special events are catered by L.A. Chef Roger Navas-Balladares, Savory Roads Catering.
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Alice in Wonderland – SSB Academy 2023
by Gina Graham
January 10, 2023
Join Alice on her journey into the magic of Wonderland! Featuring Academy dancers of all ages and State Street Ballet Young Dancers, this brand new ballet is an imaginative portrayal of the classic story by Lewis Carroll. The performance will showcase the talents of our ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theater, and hip hop dancers. Fun for the whole family!
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SSBYD – Celebration of Dance – 2023
by Gina Graham
January 10, 2023
State Street Ballet Young Dancers is the apprentice company to State Street Ballet, comprised of dancers ages 11-17. The performance will feature new works by choreographers including Chloe Babcock, Cecily MacDougall, Sabrina Mulac, Eva Stone, and Noam Tsivkin, as well as excerpts from Sleeping Beauty. Celebration of Dance will also feature the Santa Barbara High School Choir directed by Mary La Face.
Singer-songwriter Colin Hay is beloved for his intimate, confessional live shows. The artist has had a prolific career, both as the lead singer and principal songwriter for the GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-platinum selling band Men at Work, and a solo career that spans 25 years and 15 albums. This show will feature songs from his entire catalog, including latest releases “Now and the Evermore” and “I Just Don’t Know What to do With Myself,” engaging stories he is known for, and special rare accompaniment by his acoustic band.
“The former Men At Work frontman has transformed into a thoughtful and sophisticated contemporary songwriter.” – Washington Post
The most reliable way to purchase legitimate tickets at face value is to begin your search at lobero.org. From time to time, we do release tickets to authorized sellers such as artist fan clubs. If you are ever in doubt about a seller, please call our Box Office at (805) 963-0761.
If you purchase from any other vendor, your tickets may not be valid. If a show is cancelled or postponed, you may not receive proper notification or reimbursement. The Lobero Theatre is not responsible for tickets purchased through vendors other than our website or those sellers that we have authorized.
We’re a Green Theater
The Lobero is California’s only historic performing arts venue that is Green Business Certified!
As stewards of this beloved building, we are continually working on ways to reduce the theater’s carbon footprint and create a sustainable business model for the future.
