PRESS RELEASES
| The Soraya Celebrates Its 2022-23 Season Opening Night
The Soraya kicks off its 2022-23 season with the celebrated sounds of four Jazz legends—tenor saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade —all trailblazers of the Jazz genre. A MoodSwing Reunion promises to be an unforgettable Signature Series performance, a once-in-a-generation celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of MoodSwing—the recording that changed jazz forever.
| The Soraya Presents the World Premiere of Treelogy
For thousands of years, California’s ancient forests stood as symbols of permanence. But the fierce wildfires that ravaged the state the last two years jeopardize the existence of these mighty trees, which are among the longest-living organisms on Earth.
| Tickets for The Soraya’s 2022-23 Signature Series Now on Sale to Members!
The Soraya continues to rollout news of its 2022-23 season following the recent announcement of its Premium Classical Series lineup. Now, tickets for the Signature Series are available to Members only through July 11, and will be available to the general public on July 12. The Soraya’s Signature Series of popular, Jazz, dance and select classical music events conveys the very soul of the company’s programming mission to produce and present diverse, unexpected, thought-provoking, and unique artists and art forms.
| Premium Classical Subscriptions on Sale Now thru May 24 ONLY
Subscription tickets to the 2022-23 Premium Classical Series of seven extraordinary concerts are on sale now through May 24 at The Soraya.org. Only Premium Classical Series subscribers will be guaranteed tickets to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert on Saturday, November 5 at 8pm.
| Rising Classical Music Star Étienne Gara Named Artist in Residence
One of the most promising new stars of classical music, Étienne Gara, violinist, and founder and artistic director of Delirium Musicum, has been named Soraya’s next Artist in Residence. To commence the two-year residency, The Soraya embarks on an epic journey by presenting MusiKaravan, a series of short films beginning May 6 at thesoraya.org, that follow Gara and fellow violinist YuEun Gemma Kim on a pandemic road trip as they safely spread music and joy, and celebrate the people who are “working hard to feed us physically and emotionally with quality products.”
| The Soraya embarks on an epic road trip with MusiKaravan!
Fasten your seatbelts as The Soraya is about to embark on a journey with MusiKaravan! the first project by The Soraya’s next Artist in Residence, violinist and founder of Delirium Musicum, Étienne Gara. Like many musicians facing the global pandemic, Étienne Gara and fellow violinist YuEun Gemma Kim – for the first time in their professional lives – found themselves with unlimited time and no performances on their schedules. So, for six months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Étienne and YuEun lived out of their vintage 1971 Volkswagen van and performed socially-distanced concerts for farm workers, winemakers, random passersby, and even the occasional Ostrich.
| Step Afrika! Returns to The Soraya with the West Coast Premiere of Drumfolk Chronicling and Celebrating the African-American Experience in America
Step Afrika!’s high energy, full-bodied percussive dance returns to The Soraya for the West Coast premiere of Drumfolk, the Company’s 25th Anniversary production now on tour. Inspired by the Stono Rebellion of 1739, Drumfolk explores this little-known event in history that would forever transform African American life and culture. When Africans lost the right to use their drums, the beats found their way into the body of the people, the Drumfolk. New percussive forms took root leading to the development of some of our country’s most distinct performance traditions like ring shout, tap, and stepping.
| The International Percussion Sensation STOMP Returns to The Soraya for Three Performances
After sold out performances in 2016, The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts is proud to welcome back the international percussion sensation, STOMP, for three performances on Saturday, February 15 at 3:00pm and 8:00pm and Sunday, February 16 at 3:00pm.
| Legendary Singer and American Icon Mavis Staples with Special Guest Singer-Songwriter Son Little for One-Night Only Concert!
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts and 88.5 FM present American icon and GRAMMY® Award-winner Mavis Staples for one-night only on Thursday, February 13 at 8:00pm. Mavis Staples also has the distinction of being in the Blues Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. GRAMMY® Award-winning producer and singer-songwriter Son Little will open for Staples.