UC Santa Cruz Music Department is gearing up for a holidays filled with music

Check out the many upcoming music performances bringing together students and the local community

UCSC orchestra student playing

One of the most important aspects of a music education is the ability to perform. At the University of California, Santa Cruz the Music Department arranges numerous events every quarter to make sure students have opportunities to show their skills and gain valuable experience on stage.

Many of these performances feature professional musicians who often work in collaboration with the students. Experiencing these musical events is important both for music students and the wider UC Santa Cruz student body. They are cultural experiences that broaden the community and give the student body and the surrounding Santa Cruz area the opportunity to see one-of-a-kind performances.

Some highlighted events include Singing with Basie, an upcoming performance by the UCSC Jazz ensemble featuring Grammy Award winner Jamie Davis and Into the Woods (Act I), a three-time, Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.

“The Music Department has some two dozen classes that function as performance ensembles,and many of those ensembles can accommodate players of varying degrees of skill and experience,” says Amy Beal, the Chair of the Music Department. “We encourage all UCSC students to look into our ensemble offerings, and be sure to try out at least one while you are here.” 

All of the upcoming shows will be held at the Music Center Recital Hall. Many of them are free, and the few paid shows have tickets available on both the Eventbrite for the Music Department as well as the one for the Arts Division, which includes all upcoming Arts Division events. Beal encourages the community to participate saying, “It’s a great way to meet people, make friends, work with faculty who are great musicians themselves, and become a part of our community.” 

Recital: Gavin Pinnow

Sunday November 17, 2024

3:00 PM

Into the Woods (Act I)

Saturday November 23, 2024

1:00 PM

Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony

Sunday November 24, 2024

3:00 PM

UCSC Orchestra

Tuesday November 26, 2024

7:30 PM

UCSC Concert Choir

Friday December 6, 2024

7:30 PM

UCSC Chamber Singers

Saturday December 7, 2024

7:30 PM

Swinging with Basie

Sunday December 8, 2024

3:00 PM

A Celtic Christmas

Friday December 13, 2024

7:30 PM