This season, California Symphony is celebrating 40 years of bringing orchestral music to audiences across the Bay Area, and its milestone year is packed with everything from beloved masterworks and world premieres to the return of a favorite holiday tradition.

To celebrate, Red Curtain Addict recently featured Donato Cabrera, Artistic and Music Director of California Symphony, on our weekly arts segment on KRON4’s Live in the Bay, where he shared what makes the orchestra special and gave us a look at what audiences can expect throughout the anniversary season. Click below to watch the full interview!

“The orchestra really does a great job of welcoming the community and making people feel comfortable,” Cabrera shared. “I’m really proud of that achievement.” And that welcoming spirit is part of what makes a California Symphony performance unique. The orchestra is intentionally breaking down some of the traditional barriers around classical music. 

Audiences can bring drinks to their seats, take a selfie, keep their phones on silent and even clap when they hear something they like. Each performance also includes a free 30-minute pre-concert talk for those who want to learn more about the music before the concert begins.

It all takes place at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, where California Symphony will present five main programs across its anniversary season, plus the return of its holiday concerts.

Here’s What’s Coming Up

Sibelius, Higdon & Bartók: American Connections | September 26–27, 2026

The 40th anniversary season begins with an American connection: every work on the program premiered in the United States. Cellist Julian Schwarz joins the orchestra for the Northern California premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Cello Concerto, which was written specifically for him, alongside Sibelius’s The Oceanides and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra.

From Tchaikovsky to Copland: Classical Contemporaries | November 7–8, 2026

This program explores musical connections across Russia and America. Clarinetist Cory Tiffin takes the spotlight in Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, originally commissioned by jazz legend Benny Goodman. The program also features Arensky’s tribute to his mentor Tchaikovsky, Barber’s beloved Adagio for Strings and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.

Holiday Traditions: Back by Popular Demand | December 18–19, 2026

Celebrate the season with the return of one of California Symphony’s festive traditions. Holiday Traditions will fill the Lesher Center with the sounds of brass, percussion, and organ, bringing together selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, traditional carols, and other seasonal favorites. Designed to capture the warmth and spectacle of the holidays, it’s an especially inviting concert for families, first-time symphony-goers and anyone looking to make live music part of their holiday celebrations.

Mozart and Haydn in Paris: Music of the Enlightenment | February 6–7, 2027

Step into the musical world of late 18th-century Paris, when the city was buzzing with new ideas, artistic experimentation, and cultural change. This program brings together Gossec, Mozart, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, and Haydn, highlighting composers whose music helped define the Enlightenment era. From the brilliance of Mozart to the groundbreaking work of Saint-Georges, the concert offers a fascinating glimpse into a moment when Paris was becoming one of Europe’s most influential musical centers.

Beethoven’s Second: Cowell, Adams & Beethoven: Masterful Mavericks | March 13–14, 2027

Three musical innovators meet in one program. San Francisco-born composer Henry Cowell opens the evening, followed by violinist Helen Kim performing John Adams’ Violin Concerto in celebration of the composer’s 80th birthday and Beethoven’s bold Symphony No. 2 will bring it home.

Pines of Rome: Orchestral Landscapes | May 1–2, 2027

California Symphony will close their 40th anniversary season with a musical journey through Spain, Mexico and Italy. Pianist Tanya Gabrielian joins the orchestra for de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain, followed by Manuel Ponce’s Chapultepec and Respighi’s spectacular Pines of Rome. The program also features a world premiere by Composer-in-Residence Paul Novak, beginning his three-season residency with the orchestra.

When asked what he’s most looking forward to this season, Cabrera admitted choosing a favorite concert is “like asking me who my favorite child is.” But there is one return he’s particularly excited about: California Symphony’s holiday concerts. “I think the fact that we’re starting up our Christmas concerts again after a long pause in December, that’s really exciting for me,” Cabrera shared. “To offer that to the community again.”

And that sense of community is a big part of what makes California Symphony’s 40th anniversary worth celebrating. Whether you’re a lifelong classical music fan or stepping into a concert hall for the very first time, this season offers an approachable way to experience the power of a live orchestra.

Bring the family and introduce a new generation to classical music. Turn a Saturday night into a date night at the beautiful Lesher Center for the Arts. Come for a composer you already know, or discover a piece of music you’ve never heard before. With programs spanning centuries, California Symphony is celebrating the music that has shaped the art form while continuing to invest in the composers and artists shaping where it goes next!

For 40 years, California Symphony has created a place for the Bay Area to gather, listen, and discover something new. Cheers to California Symphony on four incredible decades of music and community. Here’s to 40 more, and beyond!

Ready to experience the 40th Anniversary Season for yourself? Click here to explore the season and purchase tickets.