PRESS RELEASES
| The Soraya Kicks Off Jazz at Naz with a Duke Ellington Celebration
The fifth annual Jazz at Naz festival begins at The Soraya on Jan. 31 with Sacredness, led by 2026 GRAMMY® nominated Music Director/composer/arranger Gerald Clayton, choral ensemble Tonality, and vocalists Michael Mayo and Christie Dashiell. Internationally acclaimed and much sought-after educator, choreographer, and performer, Josette Wiggan rounds out the principal cast to bring dance into this celebration of Duke Ellington’s Concerts of Sacred Music. Less than 24 hours after their Sacredness performance, on Feb. 1, the principal cast will find out if they’ve won a GRAMMY in their nominated categories.
| The Soraya Celebrates Fifth Annual Jazz at Naz Festival
The fifth annual Jazz at Naz festival begins at The Soraya on Jan. 31 with Sacredness, led by 2026 GRAMMY® nominated Musical Director Gerald Clayton, choral ensemble Tonality, and vocalists Michael Mayo and Christie Dashiell.
| Celebrating 15 Years of The Soraya! Chicago Symphony Orchestra Makes Debut with Maestro Riccardo Muti
The world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), led by Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti, will make its debut at The Soraya with a program that includes Brahms's final symphony, Hindemith’s dramatic masterwork Mathis der Maler, and Strauss Jr.’s sweepingly romantic Overture to The Gypsy Baron.
| The Nazarian Family Announces the Fund for Artistic Innovation to Honor the Legacy of Thor Steingraber
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) announced today the launch of a new initiative to honor the legacy of Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber as he concludes his 12-year leadership of the institution currently celebrating its 15th anniversary. With key philanthropic leadership support from the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation and Milt and Debbie Valera, the Thor Steingraber Fund for Artistic Innovation will underwrite high-quality, original public performances that exemplify The Soraya’s artistic leadership and profile, preserving and perpetuating its commitment to new works, commissions, premieres, and major programs in scale or scope.
| Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular Returns to The Soraya for its 10th Celebration Featuring Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Pueblo Viejo with Special Guest Ximena Sariñana
The family tradition of attending a Soraya holiday event continues in the 2025-26 Season as The Soraya marks the 10th edition of Nochebuena with an extended schedule leading into the holidays. Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular will begin with two performances on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Dec. 21 at 2 p.m., and Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular features Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Pueblo Viejo with special guest vocalist Ximena Sariñana.
| GRAMMY Winner Gregory Porter Opens The Soraya’s Holiday Series
The time-honored tradition of attending a Soraya holiday event continues in the 2025-26 Season, as The Soraya continues its 15th Anniversary celebrations. Festive events for the season begin with GRAMMY®-winning jazz singer/songwriter Gregory Porter (Dec. 6) and continue with The Klezmatics (Dec. 7), the Christian Sands Quartet (Dec. 12-13), and four performances of the favorite Soraya Original Production, Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular, performed by Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Pueblo Viejo with special guest Ximena Sariñana (Dec. 20-22).
| The Soraya’s Resident Dance Company Ballet BC Returns with Ravel’s Boléro Reimagined in Shahar Binyamini’s BOLERO X, SWAY by Artistic Director Medhi Walerski, and a new work by Sofia Nappi
The Soraya continues its 2025-26 Season dance series with the return of resident company Ballet BC, presenting Shahar Binyamini’s BOLÉRO X, SWAY by Medhi Walerski, and a new work by Sofia Nappi that will make its U.S. debut at The Soraya. Medhi Walerski, artistic director of Ballet BC, will also be available for press interviews upon request and approval by the company.
| Portuguese Fado Singer Mariza Makes Her Debut at The Soraya on Nov. 6, in the Music Knows No Borders Series
The celebrated Music Knows No Borders series for the 2025-26 Season gets underway on Thursday, Nov. 6 when Portuguese fado singer Mariza makes her debut at The Soraya.
| FLY ME TO THE MOON: A TRIBUTE TO QUINCY JONES Featuring the Pacific Jazz Orchestra with special guests Ms. Lisa Fischer and José James
The Soraya will pay homage to the giant of American music, Quincy Jones, on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. The concert, featuring vocalists Ms. Lisa Fisher and José James, will be led by Chris Walden as conductor of his Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s 17-piece big band. This carefully curated concert will celebrate the artist’s work from the 1960’s to 1978, immersing audiences in the quintessential sounds of Quincy Jones.