Our 2024 End-of-Year playlist takes inspiration from our 18th season’s Mosaic theme. Each of us at Art of Elan chose a piece of music centered around the idea of a “Musical Mosaic” with selections that feel like a tapestry—layered, complex, and rich, where each part adds to a beautiful whole.
We hope you enjoy!
Kate Hatmaker
Executive and Artistic Director
Shawn came to San Diego this past spring to perform on Art of Elan with Ocean Music Action, and while I was familiar with this piece before, I had never heard it with harp or seen it performed with children dancing to the music (as took place in the gardens at the San Diego Museum of Art for our free family concert).
It was truly one of the most uplifting moments of 2024 for me, and I’m certain it will put a smile on your face just listening to it.
Yann's Flight by Shawn Conley, Live at The San Diego Museum of Art
Fiona Digney
Managing Director and Producer
"Coming Together" by Frederic Rzewski is a powerful meditation on unity and perseverance, inspired by the words of activist Sam Melville. Its repetitive phrases and evolving patterns reflect the strength found in connection and shared purpose.
This resonates beautifully during the holiday season, a time when we gather with loved ones and celebrate togetherness. The music encourages reflection on the ways we support and uplift one another, even in challenging times. Its hopeful, rhythmic flow reminds us that coming together—whether as family, friends, or a community—is a timeless source of strength and renewal.
Coming Together by Frederic Rzewski
Emily Persinko
Personnel Manager and Marketing Associate
A choral composition, much like a mosaic, is made up of individual, unique elements that come together to form a unified, complex, and often beautiful whole. The voices combine to create something greater and more expressive than any single voice or note could accomplish alone.
Northern Lights by Ola Gjeilo and sung by Sjaella
Anahita Pestonjamasp
Accounting & Donor Relations Coordinator
Ludovico Einaudi's Divenire takes the listener on a journey through builds, releases, and consequential rebuilding. While the piano line frequently goes into ostinato, it always pushes forward and provides the strings space to soar. At other times, the strings give the piano space to reflect and settle before embarking upwards again. The moods oscillate between feelings of calmness, elation, and nostalgia; a reflection of the many facets of life.
Divenire by Ludovico Einaudi
Vince Martinez
Graphic Design & Marketing
A year ago, my 13-year-old daughter introduced me to Laufey, and I’ve been a fan ever since. In her performance of I Wish You Love with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Laufey transforms the jazz standard into something extraordinary. Her controlled vocals, pizzicato chords on cello, and the gradual build of the Symphony’s percussion, strings, and brass creates a true musical mosaic. What makes this connection even more special is that my daughter sees herself in Laufey—also half-Asian, a string player, and a musician pursuing her dreams—which inspires her to continue her own path in music.
Laufey & the Iceland Symphony Orchestra - I Wish You Love (Live at The Symphony)
Paige Kobdish-Raney
Development Director
The polyrhythmic songs and superb musicality of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is what drew me to this group as my end of year playlist pick. Polygondwanaland's guitar interplay, haunting melodies, and hypnotic rhythms come together in a funky, ethereal way to take the listener on a journey. Each of these components come together to create a musical mosaic and auditory landscape.
Polygondwanaland by King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard
Christine Martinez
PR Consultant
"Die with a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars was on constant repeat for me this year. It's a great duet by two headline artists who sing about loving each other to the very end. The song feels so cinematic - I can imagine the two mega-stars belting out this song while the world falls to ruins around them. "Die with a Smile" is so sweet and melodic, but also so serious and heavy in its lyrics - "our love is the only war worth fighting for." The performance reminds me of the great collaborations presented by Art of Elan this year, multi-layered, full of talent and challenging in their styles.
Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile (Live in Las Vegas)