More than a dozen San Diego-area arts groups will take part in the ambitious California Festival, a statewide celebration of music set for Nov. 3-19.
The 95 participating organizations from across the state include symphony orchestras, chamber music groups, jazz ensembles, choirs and more, with performances planned for more than 80 concert halls, campuses, auditoriums, clubs and more.
Conceived by three of the state’s top conductors, including San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare, the goal of the festival is to highlight the talents of musical organizations while incorporating works written within the past five years.
Among the local participants, the La Jolla Music Society will host two concerts as part of the festival, “American Railroad,” featuring Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens, on Nov. 10, and cellist Alisa Weilerstein, with “Fragments II” on Nov. 16.
Other local music organizations that are part of the festival include the Art of Elan, Camarada, Fortissima Collective, Hausmann Quartet, La Jolla Presbyterian Church concert series, Mainly Mozart, Project (Blank), San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir, San Diego Saints Choir, San Diego Master Chorale, San Diego New Music, San Diego Youth Symphony & Conservatory and UC San Diego.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen joined Payare in launching the California Festival. Each of the conductors’ organizations also are part of the fest.
The participating organizations have been charged with curating the new-music programs announced this week under the festival umbrella, in hopes of offering works “meaningful to their communities while expressing the inclusive, diverse creativity of California through multiple voices,” according to a statement by the La Jolla Music Society.
In total, the festival will include about 170 works composed since 2018 and 32 world premieres, performed by professional arts organizations as well as 14 youth orchestras. The composers, representing 24 nations, range in age from 27 to 97.
In a joint statement, Dudamel, Payare and Salonen said, “We are so proud to be joined by more than 90 partner organizations located in every region of the state for the inaugural California Festival; their participation turns our celebration into a true statewide effort that reflects the full spectrum of ideas, voices and cultures that call California their home. Every one of these institutions will be presenting music that they believe in, representing their unique communities with total artistic freedom.”