Wednesday, August 12, 2026
7:30 PM

Step back in time and relive the unforgettable sounds of 1963—a year that changed music forever! From the sun-soaked Beach Boys, to the folk anthems of Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Trini Lopez … from the sweet sounds of girl groups like The Crystals, The Chiffons, and The Ronettes to the first wave of the British Invasion, the Beatles. 1963 was a turning point in popular culture.

Saturday, July 18, 2026
7:30 PM

*AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY*

Don’t miss this late-breaking addition to the Athenaeum’s summer jazz schedule, a special opportunity to experience the artistry of acclaimed jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini in an intimate duo setting with one of the West Coast’s finest pianists, Tamir Hendelman. A multi-Grammy–nominated singer, lyricist, arranger, and educator, Gambarini has been called “a true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae” (Boston Globe).

Monday, March 2, 2026
7:30 PM

*AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY*

Don’t miss this late-breaking addition to the Athenaeum Jazz series schedule, a unique opportunity to celebrate landmark jazz guitarist Bill Frisell’s 75th birthday this March! He comes to the Athenaeum’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Room with the new configuration of the Bill Frisell Trio, featuring Luke Bergman on bass and Tim Angulo on drums. Frisell’s career as a guitarist and composer has spanned more than 40 years and many celebrated recordings. Recognized as one of America’s most vital and productive performing artists, Frisell has contributed to the work of a staggering array of collaborators including Paul Motian, John Zorn, Elvis Costello, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Vinicius Cantuária, Marianne Faithful, John Scofield, Bono, and Brian Eno, to name only a few. This work has established Frisell as one of the most sought-after guitar voices in contemporary music.

Saturday, October 4, 2025
6 PM

As part of the San Diego French Literature and Arts Festival, Aleck Karis will perform “A French Emotional Journey,” a piano concert in the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, which will be followed by a reception.

Thursday, July 31, 2025
7:30 PM

A longtime friend of the Athenaeum Jazz program, pianist Kenny Werner returns to the library for a two-part lecture and concert. A discussion of his internationally influential book, Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, on Wednesday, July 30, is followed by a program of solo jazz piano improvisation on Thursday, July 31.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025
7:30 PM

A longtime friend of the Athenaeum Jazz program, pianist Kenny Werner returns to the library for a two-part lecture and concert. A discussion of his internationally influential book, Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, on Wednesday, July 30, is followed by a program of solo jazz piano improvisation on Thursday, July 31.

Friday, April 21, 2023
7:30 PM

Wilfrido Terrazas, Flautista, Compositor y Profesor de Música  en  UCSD, nos hablará del canto Cardenche, musica originiaria de los desiertos de México, una de las musicas mas melancólicas y enigmáticas del país. Además, nos deleitará tocando  su versión para flauta baja de “Yo ya me voy a morir a los desiertos”  Presentación moderada por Francisco Eme.

Wilfrido Terrazas, Flutist, Composer and Professor of Music at UCSD, will talk about the Cardenche song, music native to the deserts of Mexico, one of the most melancholic and enigmatic music of the country. In addition, he will delight us playing his version for bass flute of “Yo ya me voy a morir a los desiertos” Presentation moderated by Francisco Eme.

Thursday, March 23, 2023
7:00 PM

This is a series of concerts and listening events in which we will be listening to music performed by a local and or international band/performer. The concert and listening events will include a Q&A session and conversation to explain musical elements as well as concepts, techniques or the sociopolitical background of such music. The audience is invited to participate, ask questions and comment about the music presented.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023
7:30 PM

In a special two-part lecture-concert presentation, Baroque violinist and scholar Victoria Martino will perform J.S. Bach's Six Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, and discuss both the form and content of these seminal works in the context of the composer's life and legacy. This lecture-concert series is a unique opportunity to hear these celebrated compositions performed on an original period instrument from Bach's time, using a facsimile of the autograph manuscript.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023
7:30 PM

In a special two-part lecture-concert presentation, Baroque violinist and scholar Victoria Martino will perform J.S. Bach's Six Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, and discuss both the form and content of these seminal works in the context of the composer's life and legacy. This lecture-concert series is a unique opportunity to hear these celebrated compositions performed on an original period instrument from Bach's time, using a facsimile of the autograph manuscript.

Tuesday, March 7 & 14, 2023
7:30 PM

In a special two-part lecture-concert presentation, Baroque violinist and scholar Victoria Martino will perform J.S. Bach's Six Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, and discuss both the form and content of these seminal works in the context of the composer's life and legacy. This lecture-concert series is a unique opportunity to hear these celebrated compositions performed on an original period instrument from Bach's time, using a facsimile of the autograph manuscript.

Saturday, January 28, 2023
4 PM

Critics hailed her as a prodigy "well beyond her years", citing that Rossina was "an absolute star, bringing audiences to their feet." Rossina was then accepted to the Juilliard School of Music, at eleven years of age, where she premiered at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, with standing ovations to her performance of Chopin's First Piano Concerto. Rossina continued to tour extensively throughout Europe and Asia.

Sunday, January 15, 2023
4 PM

Join violinist Victoria Martino and pianist James Lent for a dazzling performance of Igor Stravinsky's complete works for violin and piano. This concert will replicate a recital program which the composer himself performed on tour with the violinist Samuel Dushkin. Featuring the virtuoso Duo Concertante, composed especially for Dushkin, and universally regarded as one of Stravinsky’s masterpieces, the concert will also include delightful “miniatures” and a number of suites that the composer arranged from his ballets. The performance will culminate in Stravinsky’s own violin/piano transcription of his magnificent Violin Concerto.

Friday, August 12, 2022
7:30 PM

The Harvard Din & Tonics are Harvard University’s signature jazz a cappella group. The Dins’ repertoire centers on the Great American Songbook, in particular, American jazz standards of the 1920s through the 1940s, as well as selections from other genres such as rock ‘n’ roll, disco, and folk. Their ever-growing repertoire and completely original musical arrangements draw sell-out crowds around the United States, including the White House and Carnegie Hall.

Friday, July 22, 2022
7:30 PM

Join Victoria Martino and James Lent, as they pay homage to retiring Executive Director Erika Torri in a performance of four beloved masterpieces of the classical violin repertoire.

ONLINE VICTORIA MARTINO LECTURE-CONCERT

On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of J.S. Bachʼs composition of his Six Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin in 1720, Baroque violinist and scholar Victoria Martino will provide the audience with a unique opportunity to hear these celebrated masterpieces of the violin repertoire performed from Bachʼs autograph manuscript on an original period instrument. She will intersperse her performance with lively commentary about Bachʼs life, circumstances, and ideas, as well as remarks and explanations about the specific musical structure and form of the individual pieces.

More info / Get tickets →

ONLINE VICTORIA MARTINO LECTURE-CONCERT

On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of J.S. Bachʼs composition of his Six Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin in 1720, Baroque violinist and scholar Victoria Martino will provide the audience with a unique opportunity to hear these celebrated masterpieces of the violin repertoire performed from Bachʼs autograph manuscript on an original period instrument. She will intersperse her performance with lively commentary about Bachʼs life, circumstances, and ideas, as well as remarks and explanations about the specific musical structure and form of the individual pieces.

More info / Get tickets →