Concerts

Monday, February 2, 2026
12 PM

Joshua White is an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer recognized as a DownBeat Rising Star on keyboards in 2023 and 2024, known for blending Western classical traditions with contemporary jazz and improvised music. A Southern California native and finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition, he leads a critically acclaimed trio and released Flora and Fauna: 9 Preludes for Solo Piano (Orenda Records, 2025). Drummer Tyler Kreutel, based in Southern California, began playing professionally after graduating from The San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts and California State University Long Beach, and is among the most in-demand drummers in the region, having performed with artists such as Gilbert Castellanos, Charles McPherson, Marshall Hawkins, and Joshua White. Bassist Luke Little brings a grounded yet exploratory approach shaped by classical and jazz training, early mentorship through the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, and performances throughout Southern California with musicians including Charles McPherson, Ethan Iverson, and Joshua White; he currently studies under bassist Luca Alemanno at San Diego State University.

Monday, February 9, 2026
12 PM

Lesi Mei has been involved in many fields—such as bioengineering and kinesiology—but piano and classical music have molded her into the person she is. In front of the keys, her background and personality manifest in dazzling virtuosity and stunning musicality. Trevor Haumschilt-Rocha is emerging on international stages and is heralded for his "reverberant, expressive baritone with outstanding diction" (Opera News) and "confident, robust Italian singing" (Times Union).

Saturday, February 14, 2026
6 PM & 8:30 PM (two shows)

*AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY*

Saturday, February 14, brings a special Valentine’s Day appearance by a favorite Athenaeum performer, Anat Cohen, with Quartetinho. The band plays two separate 75-minute performances, one at 6 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m. The word quartetinho is Portuguese for “little quartet,” although the players make a big, color-rich sound, each an ace on multiple instruments: Anat on various clarinets, Tal Mashiach on bass and guitar, Vitor Gonçalves on piano and accordion, and James Shipp on vibraphone and percussion. Their concerts showcase compositions by each member of the band and by the great masters such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Egberto Gismonti, Thelonious Monk, Augustín Barrios Mangoré, and more. The result is boundlessly melodic and lyrical.

Monday, February 23, 2026
12 PM

A musical prodigy born and raised in Italy, Chiara Capobianco began performing with orchestras touring all over Europe starting at age 15. Chiara studied classical piano, flute, and ballet before falling in love with the harp. Having lived abroad and performed across the globe, this international award-winning harpist is pleased to now call San Diego her home. Her eclectic musical talents along with her charming personality shine with local and global audiences alike.

Monday, February 23, 2026
7:30 PM

This special “lineage” program combines world-class performers and pedagogues in their debut performance as a trio, featuring romantic lyricism alongside playful folk melodies, culminating in Dvorak’s always riveting “Dumky” piano trio.

Monday, March 2, 2026
12 PM

Born and raised in a musical family, Giorgia Renosto is an Italian vocalist who entered the artistic world at the young age of 14. Highly exposed to classical music and opera by her grandfather, a clarinet player, she enriched her musical background with jazz by starting her formal training in Torino, Italy. Her ability to focus on various types of vocal styles inside the extremely diverse world of Vocal Jazz allowed her to capture elements of vocal technique from different sources of inspiration and at 17, she was selected as one of the winners of the “Giovani Proposte” of the Italian contest “Sanremo Giovani.”

Monday, March 9, 2026
12 PM

Originally from Nanning, China, Junwen began his piano studies at the age of nine and made his solo debut at thirteen. As a featured soloist, Junwen has collaborated with orchestras including the Central Texas Philharmonic, Penn State Philharmonic, and Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Jeffery Meyer, Michael Hall, Gerardo Edelstein, and Stefan Sanders. His interpretation of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra was broadcast on WSKG radio. Additionally, he was invited to present a solo performance on WRTI Classical Radio in Philadelphia, further establishing his reputation as a promising concert pianist and showcasing his growing presence in the classical music scene.

Monday, March 16, 2026
12 PM

Cracow Duo: Kalinowski & Szlezer concert tour is part of the Polish Music on Stage / U.S. edition project which is realized by the National Institute of Music, co-funded by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the ‘Inspire Culture Programme’. Presented in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York.

Monday, March 16, 2026
7:30 PM

We eagerly welcome pianist Conor Hanick to the Athenaeum for the first time for an adventurous solo recital featuring Charles Ives’s monumental first sonata and two Schubert Impromptus paired with a new revision of Samuel Carl Adams’s Three Impromptus (a West Coast premiere) inspired by Schubert. 

Wednesday, March 18, 2026
7:30 PM

*AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY*

Next up in the series, on Wednesday, March 18, is the return of another Athenaeum favorite, Norway’s Tord Gustavsen Trio, featuring Gustavsen on piano, Steinar Raknes on bass, and Jarle Vespestad on drums. Since the release of his first recording in 2003, on the landmark ECM Records label, Gustavsen created a new sound that commanded worldwide attention, an extraordinary achievement given the rich history of piano jazz. With only a few carefully chosen notes, he draws listeners into a musical world where melody is cherished as much as the freedom to explore textures and soundscapes. His bands unite beauty and emotional intensity in a unique, immediately identifiable Nordic jazz sound that has established Gustavsen as Scandinavia's leading jazz artist.

Monday, March 23, 2026
12 PM

Raised in the Golden Triangle, on the border of Texas and Louisiana, Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters presents Gulf Coast Music—a gumbo of Cajun/Zydeco, Mardi Gras, and Texas Swing. They get folks up and dancing to bring in good times.

Monday, March 23, 2026
7:30 PM

*AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY*

The winter series concludes Monday, March 23, with a local debut by the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, featuring Wilkins on alto sax, Micah Thomas on piano, Ryoma Takenaga on bass, and Savannah Harris on drums. Wilkins burst onto the music scene in 2020 with the release of his Blue Note recording debut, Omega. October 2024 saw the release of Wilkins’ third album on Blue Note, Blues Blood. Accolades, awards, and critical acclaim have followed with each of Wilkins’ album releases. In 2020, Omega was named the best new jazz release by The New York Times and the best debut jazz album by National Public Radio (NPR). Two years later, Wilkins’ sophomore album on Blue Note, The 7th Hand, topped many year-end lists, including NPR, The New York Times, The Financial Times, and JazzTimes.

Thursday, March 26, 2026
7:30 PM

San Diego New Music and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library present an evening of contemporary music featuring Principal Flute of the San Diego Symphony, Rose Lombardo. The program includes works by Iannes Xenakis, Claude Debussy, Anastassis Philippakopoulos, Edgard Varèse, Matthias Pintscher, Jürg Frey, and Bunita Marcus, with more performers to be announced.

Monday, March 30, 2026
12 PM

Julia Umarova received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, and she is currently pursuing a Master's in Music Performance at San Diego State University. Her musical journey has included notable achievements, such as winning the Grand Prix at the Glazunov International Competition in Paris. With her foundational studies at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, Umarova has performed solo concerts in several countries, including Russia, Finland, Austria, Malta, Portugal, China, France, USA. She brings a diverse international experience to her music, increasing her passion for performance and music education. Umarova’s extensive teaching experience at the Harbin Conservatory of Music in China, in addition to her continuing professional and artistic development, makes her enthusiastic to share her holistic skill set and dedication to music education with her students.

Fridays, April 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026
7:30 PM

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is pleased to present the 2026 spring season of the Acoustic Evenings concert series, beginning April 3. The Acoustic Evenings series at the Athenaeum showcases some of the finest acoustic musicians in San Diego. Multiple acts fill each program, and attentive audiences delight in the intimacy of the unplugged storytelling format. San Diego Music Hall of Fame founder Jefferson Jay organizes and hosts the series. The project advances the Athenaeum’s commitment to support diverse San Diego talent. Acoustic Evenings is an unforgettable and personal experience for San Diego music lovers. The series, continuing through April 24, is set in the Athenaeum’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room.

Fridays, April 3, 2026
7:30 PM

This series begins on Friday, April 3, with Wax, Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar, and Jimmy and Enrique. Wax is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and comedian with a gold record and millions of YouTube views. Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar are a San Diego–based duo known for their soulful country–bluesy Americana sound. Guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas bring world rhythms, including flamenco, salsa, and Brazilian, into their virtuosic performances.

Fridays, April 10, 2026
7:30 PM

The series continues Friday, April 10, with Evans & Raney, Joel Rafael, and Gayle Skidmore. Evans & Raney make their Acoustic Evenings debut with powerful guitar and harmonica performances; Joel Rafael draws on more than 50 years of folk songwriting experience; and Gayle Skidmore brings multi-instrumental mastery and award-winning songwriting to the stage.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
7:30 PM

The Diderot String Quartet will make their Athenaeum debut with a journey to 18th century Vienna, featuring masterpieces by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. One of the premiere ensembles performing on gut strings and historical instruments, this dynamic group (Adriane Post, violin; Johanna Novom, violin; Kyle Miller, viola; Paul Dwyer, cello) breathes new life into old works.

Fridays, April 17, 2026
7:30 PM

The series continues April 17 with The Croome Brothers, Jefferson Jay with Monette Marino, and Les Afriks. An acoustic trio, The Croome Brothers blend roots sounds with rich harmonies. Jefferson Jay, founder of Acoustic Evenings, performs with world-class percussionist Monette Marino. Les Afriks deliver African and reggae-influenced music celebrating cultural heritage and community.

Fridays, April 24, 2026
7:30 PM

The series concludes on Friday, April 24, with Fred Benedetti, Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie, and Tim Flannery. Fred Benedetti is a classical and jazz guitarist who has performed internationally but is also a favorite local musician. Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie deliver boogie-woogie piano and powerhouse vocals. Tim Flannery blends storytelling, bluegrass, country, and rock into heartfelt performances.

Monday, May 4, 2026
7:30 PM

Specializing in the rich and varied “sound-world” of the late 17th century, the Artifex Consort (Malachai Komanoff Bandy, Rebecca Landell, and Eva Lymenstull, bass viols; John Lenti, theorbo; Ian Pritchard, keyboards) closes our season with works showcasing the viola da gamba as an ensemble instrument outside of the English consort tradition, during the height of its later flourishing in parts of England and Germany. The program features virtuosic music for two bass viols by Christopher Simpson and Johannes Schenck, alongside lush and ingenious—though little-known—works for three bass viols by Benjamin Hely and Johann Michael Nicolai.