SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — January 20, 2026 — The Santa Barbara Symphony announces that it has been selected by Classical California to broadcast four concerts in their entirety from The Symphony’s 2024/25 Season on SoCal Saturday Night, part of Classical California’s programming. The broadcasts will air weekly on Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, February 7-28, 2026, on 93.7 FM in Santa Barbara, kusc.org, kdfc.com, and across the Classical California network.
The four broadcasts will feature complete concert performances from The Symphony’s 2024/25 Season, all conducted by Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, and offering listeners a taste of the orchestra’s artistic range. For the Santa Barbara Symphony, the broadcasts represent a significant milestone—expanding its reach far beyond the concert hall and amplifying its presence on a well-known platform. “Classical California is proud to share the artistry of the Santa Barbara Symphony with listeners across our state and beyond,” said James A. Muhammad, President of Classical California. “By working together with our partners in the arts, we’re deepening our shared mission to make everyday life more harmonious.”
Classical California, a unified brand of Southern California’s KUSC and Northern California’s KDFC, is the nation’s largest classical music radio network, reaching millions of listeners across California and beyond, with a combined broadcast and digital audience of more than 2 million worldwide each month. Its signature program, SoCal Saturday Night, showcases performances from leading Southern California venues, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, placing the Santa Barbara Symphony among an elite group of ensembles regularly featured on the program.
“Over the past five years, our local community has signaled that Maestro Kabaretti’s programming connects and resonates, and we’re seeing that connection reflected in both growing attendance and donor support,” said Kathryn R. Martin, President and CEO of the Santa Barbara Symphony. “Being invited by Classical California for these broadcasts affirms that investing in artistic excellence not only benefits those in our community but reverberates far beyond the concert hall. It is especially meaningful to share the joy and goosebump moments — created by our musicians and live audiences — with listeners across the state and beyond.”
BROADCAST AND CONCERT SCHEDULE
CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA | SoCal Saturday Night
Saturdays in February | 7:00–9:00 PM
February 7, 2026 — TCHAIKOVSKY IMMERSION: The Full Story Behind the Fourth Symphony
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 20, 2024 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas, guitar
EMMA LOU DIEMER Homage to Tchaikovsky
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4
February 14, 2026 — The Seven Deadly Sins
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 3 PM
The Granada Theatre
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Storm Large, vocalist
The Hudson Shad Quartet
IBERT Divertissement
STILL Seven Little Pieces from The Black Belt
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum
WEILL / BRECHT The Seven Deadly Sins
February 21, 2026 — Brahms’ Requiem
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Magdalena Kuźma, soprano
Daniel Scofield, baritone
Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus
MAHLER Three Rückert-Lieder
BRAHMS A German Requiem
February 28, 2026 — Mozart Marathon|
Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 7:30 PM
The Granada Theatre
Nir Kabaretti, conductor – Amy Tatum, flute
Michelle Temple, harp – Jessica Guideri, violin
MOZART Overture to The Impresario
MOZART Concerto For Flute and Harp
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 4 in D
MOZART Symphony No. 35, “Haffner”
Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 3:00 PM
The Granada Theatre
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Lara Wickes, oboe
Natasha Kislenko, piano
MOZART Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
MOZART Oboe Concerto
MOZART Symphony in D, K 196 / 121
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K 488
Listeners who’d like to experience the Santa Barbara Symphony live, in-person, are encouraged to visit TheSymphony.org for the remainder of the 2025/26 Season, which includes one weekend concert per month, October through May. All concerts are performed on Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM at The Granada Theatre. The Symphony will also announce its 2026/27 Season lineup this February.
ABOUT CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA
Classical California is America’s largest listener-supported public media organization for classical music, reaching roughly 2 million monthly listeners worldwide. We are dedicated to making everyday life more harmonious. Classical California enriches lives and communities through our innovative on-air and in-person music experiences, making it accessible, entertaining, and relevant for audiences of all ages. Our broadcasts reach across California through eleven (11) radio transmitters, anchored in Los Angeles (91.5 FM) and San Francisco (90.3 FM) with additional signals in Santa Barbara (93.7 FM), San Luis Obispo (99.7 FM), Palm Springs (88.5 FM), Thousand Oaks (91.1 FM), the Tri-Valley region (89.9 FM), Silicon Valley (104.9 FM), Ukiah-Lakeport (92.5 FM), and Monterey (103.9 FM). Listeners can tune in through traditional radio, streaming on kusc.org and kdfc.com, smart speakers, and mobile apps. Classical California is a public service of the University of Southern California, one of the nation’s leading research universities, with a respected commitment to classical music, the arts, and the community.
ABOUT THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY
Now in its 73rd year, The Santa Barbara Symphony delivers artistic excellence, outstanding music education stewardship and programming, and community collaboration—all through symphonic music. Under the charismatic leadership of Maestro Nir Kabaretti as Music & Artistic Director since 2006, The Symphony is one of the region’s premier cultural institutions. This globally admired conductor and Santa Barbara resident invigorates audiences and musicians alike through his passion, creativity, and vast experience. As the only music education program tied to a professional symphony orchestra in the region, The Symphony serves more than 2,000 students annually throughout Santa Barbara County. While the Symphony continues to evolve, its commitment to bringing joy, engagement, and connection remains a steadfast pillar of its mission. This dedication was especially evident during the pandemic, when the organization not only thrived but also announced a historic milestone: Board Chair Janet Garufis and President & CEO Kathryn R. Martin, along with Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, made a five-year commitment to serve in their leadership roles. For more information, visit TheSymphony.org.
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