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Athenaeum Mini-Concerts
Every Monday at 12 noon
Free concerts at noon every Monday year-round . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles . . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk, and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum (near the Rotunda) before noon. Seating is first-come; first-served. Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour. Donations are always welcome!
For more information, call us at (858) 454-5872.
The Mini-Concerts are supported, in part, by David and Joyce Abrams, Janet Allison, Jack L. Brown and Jan Chatten-Brown, Florence Riford La Jolla Community Fund, Edwin and Ruby Gin, Ronald Heller, Daniel and Mary Kelley, Laura and John Killmer, Luisa and Paul Larson, Rod Innes and Mary Jo McCall, Catherine and Bob Palmer, Rick Rand, Marit Roman, Jack and Patti Schwellenbach, David and Marcia Sleet, Sleet Music Performance Fund, Mina Taylor, Richard Vande Noord, Gianangelo Vergani, and Ann L. Zahner (in memory of Mary Ellen Fleischli).
JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS MUSIC ROOM
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
CONCERTS BEGIN AT 12 NOON.
DOORS OPEN AT 11:40 AM.
LAST ENTRY AT 12:10 PM OR ONCE CAPACITY IS REACHED.
Free admission.
Reservations are not necessary, but seating is limited.
Banner image: Barry Salwen
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).
Monday, February 16, 2026
There will be no mini-concert on Monday, January 19 in observance of President’s Day. Thank you for understanding, and see you next Monday!
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, 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 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 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.