The Soraya is many things: world-class artists and exciting breakout artists, classics, and creative new programs. Framing this work is our extraordinary venue on the CSUN campus, and always, there is our audience — you! No matter where we find ourselves in the coming months — safe at home or transitioning back into our lives and livelihoods — The Soraya will turn 10 this coming January. We will mark the anniversary by looking forward and looking back. During the coming month, we will start with a #PhotoADay from our archives. If the artists look familiar, we hope you enjoy reminiscing. If not, we hope you will appreciate a glimpse of the many faces of The Soraya.
A note of gratitude to our photographer Luis Luque who started with us as an undergraduate intern with The Soraya. He has brilliantly captured our history and spirit over many years.
July 28, 2020
In their first appearance together, father and son Bobby and Taylor McFerrin perform at The Soraya in March 2016.
July 27, 2020
DIAVOLO Architecture in Motion perfoming Humachina at The Soraya in Nov 2017.
July 26, 2020
Dick Van Dyke attends a performance of his fellow tapper, Savion Glover, at The Soraya in May 2016.
July 25, 2020
Yo-Yo Ma takes a bow after performing at The Soraya’s gala in May 2015.
July 24, 2020
Mike Starr strikes the iconic Gene Kelly pose in his Ovation Award-winning Singin’ in the Rain performance during the production’s opening night at The Soraya in April 2019.
July 23, 2020
A CSUN Dance student improvises on the set of Transit Space during Diavolo’s campus takeover in August 2015.
July 22, 2020
Afro-Peruvian singer Susana Baca and Magda Giannikou celebrate a cross-generational performance at The Soraya in February 2019.
July 21, 2020
Aida Cuevas sings to a sold-out crowd in Sept 2018 featuring Mariachi Juvenil Tecalitlán and CSUN Symphony.
July 20, 2020
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet dancers Anthony Tiedeman and Seia Rassenti performing Half/Cut/Split featuring Joyce Yang on the piano in April 2018.
July 19, 2020
Cuban jazz legend Juan De Marcos performs with his all-star band at The Soraya in Jan 2018.
July 18, 2020
Xin Ying of Martha Graham Dance Company performing the opening solo in “Chronicle” during the company’s premiere of The EVE Project on our stage in March 2019.
July 17, 2020
The Soraya’s arts education programs exist to engage, enlighten, and educate; serving nearly 10,000 K-12 students annually!
July 16, 2020
In The Soraya’s first fully staged Broadway production of Dreamgirls, Jasmin Richardson, Moya Angela, and Brittney Johnson perform the titular number in May 2016.
July 15, 2020
Flamenco powerhouse Farruquito transports the audience to Spain in a captivating performance at The Soraya in Nov 2019.
July 14, 2020
In February 2017, The Soraya Global Currents Festival features the Yuval Ron Ensemble performing Drawing Water in Joy, based upon the ancient water ritual of the Israelite tribes in Jerusalem.
July 13, 2020
Billy Porter closes the 2017-18 season with a spectacular tribute to Richard Rogers in June 2018.
July 12, 2020
Danny Elfman receives a standing ovation after the premiere of his first violin concerto Eleven Eleven featuring soloist Sandy Cameron and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in April 2019.
July 11, 2020
Anthony Tiedeman of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet dances in The Soraya’s reflecting pool as part of #CamerasandDancers in 2017.
July 10, 2020
Dancers from Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles take the stage for The Soraya’s annual holiday celebration of Nochebuena in Dec 2018.
July 9, 2020
July 8, 2020
July 7, 2020
Damian Kulash of OK Go performs in a flurry of confetti at The Soraya in Nov 2019.
July 6, 2020
Aparna Ramaswamy of Ragamala Dance performs with Silkroad Ensemble in “Arjuna’s Revelation” on our stage in April 2019.
July 5, 2020
In 2017, Brazilian dancer Amen Santo demonstrates maculele with Global Currents participants, using rhythm sticks to accompany their dancing.
July 4, 2020
Violinist Itzhak Perlman performs at The Soraya’s opening night in 2019.
July 3, 2020
Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center led an extraordinary evening in support of The Soraya’s arts education program in 2016.
July 2, 2020
In response to the California drought in 2017, The Soraya presented its first outdoor festival Global Currents to promote water conservation.
July 1, 2020
In August 2016, 300 lucky people got to witness Sting premiere new songs off his album 57th & 9th, during a private KCSN 88.5FM VIP Live Session.
June 30, 2020
A look back at Flamenco powerhouse Leilah Broukhim and her LA debut of Dejando Huellas (Traces) in 2017.
June 29, 2020
The Soraya is many things: world-class artists and exciting breakout artists, classics, and creative new programs. Framing this work is our extraordinary venue on the CSUN campus, and always, there is our audience – you! No matter where we find ourselves in the coming months – safe at home or transitioning back into our lives and livelihoods – The Soraya will turn 10 this coming January. We will mark the anniversary by looking forward and looking back. During the coming month, we will start with a Photo A Day from our archives. If the artists look familiar, we hope you enjoy reminiscing. If not, we hope you will appreciate a glimpse of the many faces of The Soraya.
A note of gratitude to our photographer Luis Luque who started with us as an undergraduate intern with The Soraya. He has brilliantly captured our history and spirit over many years.
We begin with a photograph of CSUN Dreamers, activist Dolores Huerta, Director Dan Guerrero, Musical Director José “Pepe” Martínez Jr., and Executive Director Thor Steingraber following the opening night of Mariachi Vargas’ opera Cruzar Cara de la Luna in Feb 2018.