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La Jolla Symphony & Chorus is going global with their 2026-27 season programming, showcasing international guest artists, a wide variety of music from across the world, and new premieres alongside timeless classical icons.
“Our new season, Forces of Nature, brings together the bold voices of contemporary composers with the enduring power of ambitious classical masterworks,” said Stephanie Weaver Yankee, Executive Director of LJS&C. “We strive to create programs that are both adventurous but still accessible. We offer community-minded pricing and educational discounts that make it easier for more people to experience the excitement of live symphonic and choral performance.”
Forces of Nature’s concert programming has been curated by music directors Sameer Patel and Arian Khaefi, who will both take the conductor’s stand multiple times throughout the season.
Highlights of the season include globally renowned guest artist Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, legendary maestro of the sarod, as part of a collaboration with UC San Diego’s Qualcomm Institute and Department of Music.
“Our 2026–2027 season is a celebration of the monumental and the modern, with music that explores the full spectrum of the human experience,” said Sameer Patel, LJS&C Music Director and Orchestra Conductor. “We are honored to bridge global traditions by opening with the legendary Amjad Ali Khan in a performance of his work Samaagam, and to welcome brilliant San Diego native Claire Chase for Saariaho’s Aile du Songe.”
This season will feature Mahler’s spectacular Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” being performed in December and conducted by Sameer Patel. A monumental work of symphonic and philosophical scope, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 unites orchestra, chorus, and soloists in a profound meditation on life, death, and transformation.
“Each three of our choral performances this season, including one of Mahler’s most beautifully written choral symphonies, deal with this notion of the soul,” said Arian Khaefi, LJS&C Music Director and Choral Conductor. “These works question the nature of inhabiting this world with one another, and we are singing for what we can be as a community.”
LJS&C also continues its partnership with UC San Diego for the upcoming season, performing at Mandeville Auditorium on campus and offering discounted student tickets.
“Alongside powerful symphonies by Mahler and Shostakovich, this season reinforces our commitment to the music of our time, showcasing the voices of Juhi Bansal, Grace-Evangeline Mason, and a world premiere from UCSD’s own Haihui Zhang,” said Patel.
LJS&C is a rare musical institution in Southern California, offering professional level performances with a full orchestra and chorus at affordable prices. During the upcoming season, the organization will continue to expand their free educational offerings and Tix4Kids program, which offers free concert tickets for kids and their caregivers.
Early-bird subscription packages are available now for LJS&C’s upcoming season. Tickets for individual concerts will be available later this year. Subscriptions can be purchased by visiting ljsc.org, calling the box office at 858-534-4637, or by writing to boxoffice@ljsc.org.
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