“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This brand-new series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

Experience an extraordinary evening of music beneath the stars at La Casa del Zorro’s Stargazing Theater in Borrego Springs. Conducted by Steven Schick and performed by an Art of Elan Chamber Orchestra consisting of select members of the San Diego Symphony and other acclaimed artists from throughout the region, this special outdoor event features Olivier Messiaen’s monumental “From the Canyons to the Stars.”

Presented beneath the desert sky just after the October new moon, this monumental 90-minute orchestral masterpiece, written for the bicentennial of the United States in 1976 and inspired by the national parks of the American southwest, offers an unforgettable musical experience in one of Southern California’s most breathtaking landscapes.

Featuring acclaimed soloists including Conor Hanick, piano, and Fiona Digney and Andrew Watkins, percussion.

Acclaimed string quartet Brooklyn Rider performs its celebrated “Citizenship Notes” program in the intimate space of The JAI. Along with Carnegie Hall, Art of Elan served as a co-commissioner of this special project, which explores themes of civic engagement, belonging and shared responsibility through the music of Haydn, Beethoven and more contemporary voices. Listen to the live concert recording here.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This brand-new series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This brand-new series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

Art of Elan musicians premiere Young Artists in Harmony (YAH) student works in this free community concert that additionally offers a complimentary reception and a chance to meet the composers and musicians who bring these new works to life. 

About YAH: Now in its 11th Season, Art of Elan offers each spring and fall its acclaimed “Young Artists in Harmony” (YAH) program in partnership with the nationally recognized  A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a Creative Youth Development organization that believes in the power of the arts and creativity to literally transform lives. YAH consists of weekly Saturday workshops where high school and community college students have the opportunity to explore musical composition with professional musicians, to create and be part of a professionally recorded public performance, to meet and collaborate with other like-minded music students, and to build a musical composition portfolio. Participants in YAH receive weekly mentoring and coaching from professional Art of Elan musicians who workshop and provide feedback on student works. This unique program culminates each semester with a collaborative concert that showcases original compositions the students create over the 6-10 week period, performed by Art of Elan musicians. Each concert is professionally recorded and is available for free streaming and download on Instant Encore, as well as Art of Elan’s YouTube channel.

Art of Elan’s popular downtown series returns with music by the Danny Green Jazz Trio in collaboration with Art of Elan musicians. Over the past decade, jazz pianist and Origin Records recording artist Danny Green has earned recognition as a bandleader and as a composer with a gift for spinning supple, absorbing narratives. Green’s growing portfolio of vibrant sounds – an enchanting mix of jazz, classical, and Brazilian rhythms – has captured the attention of critics around the world, including DownBeat Magazine, Jazziz, San Diego Union Tribune, the Boston Globe, and Public Radio International, earning him two San Diego Music awards for Best Jazz Album and an additional award for Best Jazz Artist.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

In partnership with La Jolla Music Society’s ConRAD Kids Series

For this exciting North American première, Art of Elan affiliate artists bring to life selected works from Collective Wisdom, an album that explores how music can help people during hard times. Originally recorded by the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO Collective and developed in partnership with the Hush Foundation, the album includes works by Australian composers who completed residencies and workshops in adolescent health units. The resulting music is uplifting and inspiring, draws from many voices and life experiences, and is presented with multimedia elements, improvised dance and poetry.

For this exciting North American première, Art of Elan affiliate artists bring to life selected works from Collective Wisdom, an album that explores how music can help people during hard times. Originally recorded by the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO Collective and developed in partnership with the Hush Foundation, the album includes works by Australian composers who completed residencies and workshops in adolescent health units. The resulting music is uplifting and inspiring, draws from many voices and life experiences, and is presented with multimedia elements, improvised dance and poetry.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

Art of Elan returns to ICA North with a musical program that takes inspiration from the great outdoors, highlighting the ICA Sculpture Trail and its newest addition by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes: a sculpture titled "Hannah Arendt." This colorful concert explores finding beauty in unexpected places and includes a variety of music for strings, harp, percussion and trombone by Sarah Kirkland Snider, Daiki Kato, Gabriel Jenks and Caroline Shaw. The performance takes place in the upper gallery of ICA San Diego / North. Listen to the live concert recording here.

Tied to the powerful “Boundless Reflections in Southern California Landscapes” exhibit at Mingei, Art of Elan’s musical program invites deep listening and explores how music (and the arts in general) can capture the spirit of a place. Featuring music by Kian Ravaei and Dirk Michael Kirsch, among others, this program takes listeners on a kaleidoscopic journey through time and space. Listen to the live concert recording here.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

Jason Mraz Foundation proudly presents DREAM, a community concert event featuring five San Diego nonprofit arts organizations alongside very special musical guests, on February 14 and 15, 2026 at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Arms Wide Open, Art of Elan, Culture Shock San Diego, San Diego Young Artists Music Academy, and PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company will join Jason Mraz, MILCK, Raul Midón, Albert Posis, and friends on stage to shine a light on tomorrow’s artists and the importance of inclusive arts programming.

Jason Mraz Foundation proudly presents DREAM, a community concert event featuring five San Diego nonprofit arts organizations alongside very special musical guests, on February 14 and 15, 2026 at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Arms Wide Open, Art of Elan, Culture Shock San Diego, San Diego Young Artists Music Academy, and PASACAT Philippine Performing Arts Company will join Jason Mraz, MILCK, Raul Midón, Albert Posis, and friends on stage to shine a light on tomorrow’s artists and the importance of inclusive arts programming.

Art of Elan continues its partnership with UC San Diego’s ArtPower with a deeply personal, intimate program centered on the human voice entitled “Mayrig” (“mother” in Armenian). The show was created by internationally renowned musicians Karen Ouzounian and Lembit Beecher for cello with electronics, piano and vocals. The voices of Karen’s mother and grandmother are interwoven with original arrangements of Armenian music of her family’s past home of Anatolia, songs and stories drawn from their post-genocide home of Lebanon, and the beloved music of Charles Aznavour. Opening and closing the program is Marin Marais’ Les Voix Humaines, music from hundreds of years ago providing a window into the present. Listen to the live concert recording, here.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

Art of Elan’s popular Sounds & Swells series returns with newly commissioned surfing footage by Jimmy Wilson and other filmmakers, celebrating the natural beauty of the California coastline and its epic “swells” that draw surfers and visitors from around the world. This unique program pairs stunning videography with live classical music performed by the Hausmann Quartet, creating an immersive experience that captures the rhythm and energy of the ocean. Listen to the live concert recording, here.

Art of Elan musicians premiere Young Artists in Harmony (YAH) student works in this free community concert that additionally offers a complimentary reception and a chance to meet the composers and musicians who bring these new works to life. 

About YAH: Now in its 11th Season, Art of Elan offers each spring and fall its acclaimed “Young Artists in Harmony” (YAH) program in partnership with the nationally recognized  A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a Creative Youth Development organization that believes in the power of the arts and creativity to literally transform lives. YAH consists of weekly Saturday workshops where high school and community college students have the opportunity to explore musical composition with professional musicians, to create and be part of a professionally recorded public performance, to meet and collaborate with other like-minded music students, and to build a musical composition portfolio. Participants in YAH receive weekly mentoring and coaching from professional Art of Elan musicians who workshop and provide feedback on student works. This unique program culminates each semester with a collaborative concert that showcases original compositions the students create over the 6-10 week period, performed by Art of Elan musicians. Each concert is professionally recorded and is available for free streaming and download on Instant Encore, as well as Art of Elan’s YouTube channel.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

Taking inspiration from Mingei’s “Inside the Design Center” exhibit, which highlights mid-century design and craft, this musical program showcases works by Ernest Bloch and Jessie Montgomery (two compelling musical voices born 100 years apart), as well as music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw. Jessie Montgomery’s innovative approach to composition, blending classical, folk, jazz, and contemporary influences, recently earned her the honor of being Performance Today's 2025 Classical Woman of the Year. The award recognizes her significant contributions to classical music and her influence on the next generation of musicians. Listen to the live concert recording here.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

As one of La Jolla Music Society’s inaugural resident companies, Art of Elan will present three concerts throughout the season at the The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla. This opening concert in the intimate cabaret space known as The JAI will feature three gorgeous works from the late 19th/early 20th century:  “A Night Piece” for flute and string quartet by Arthur Foote, the Ginastera Duo for Flute and Oboe, featuring San Diego Symphony principal players Rose Lombardo and Sarah Skuster, and the beloved Debussy String Quartet. Listen to the live concert recording here.

Presidio Winds, the resident woodwind quintet of the San Diego Winds, features Pamela Martchev - flute, Sarah Skuster - Oboe, Terri Tunnicliff - Clarinet, Ryan Simmons - Bassoon, and John Degnan - Horn. Presidio Winds has been featured in performances at San Diego Summer Music Institute (SDSMI), PLNU’s Cultural Events Music Series, Thursdays@Cuyamaca Series, and Around Town with Marketa at the Pt Loma Assembly Hall.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.

This Midday Music event features affiliated Art of Elan artists, including Hanah Stuart, violin; Alex Greenbaum, cello; Andrew Hayhurst, cello; Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, double bass; and Max Opferkuch, clarinet.

“Midday Music” is a free, lunchtime concert series held in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library, taking place on select Fridays throughout the year in the Shiley Special Events Suite on the top floor of the Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, where concertgoers are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy carefully curated chamber music along with gorgeous views of the city. This series and partnership is dedicated to the memory of James R. Dawe, a longtime arts advocate in San Diego and supporter of public libraries.