2026 Program Guide | Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

Cabrillo Festival has emerged as the nation’s leading orchestra devoted to modern symphonic repertory. The Festival’s core performance group is an ensemble of 70+ professional musicians who come to Santa Cruz from all over the world, often foregoing more lucrative engagements in order to volunteer their professional services in favor of the stimulation and challenge of the Cabrillo programs. Each player is a new music advocate and specialist in their own right. They represent the heart and soul of this organization, and for 64 years they have earned Cabrillo an uncompromised and prestigious reputation as America’s preeminent contemporary music festival. We invite you to join us in thanking each member of the orchestra for their generosity and dedication, and for the greatness of their spirit. “Nowhere is there closer bonding between audience, orchestra, conductor and live composer than at this Cabrillo Festival.” —ARTSSF.com CRISTI AND THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA (2025) Winner of the League of American Orchestra and ASCAP’s John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music, and winner of their Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music for 32 consecutive years (1982–2013). 29 CABRILLO MUSIC.ORG