Come celebrate the Monterey Symphony’s 80th Anniversary season opening concerts on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 3:00 PM with Music Director and conductor Jayce Ogren.

“We begin our 80th anniversary season with the world premiere of Anemology, a Monterey Symphony co-commission with the Seattle and Utah symphonies. This brilliant, colorful, and intoxicating new work pairs one of the greatest composers of our time, Steven Mackey, with one of the most dynamic soloists working today, saxophonist Timothy McAllister. It’s not to be missed, nor is Rachmaninoff’s dramatic and tuneful Symphony No. 2, one of my favorite pieces in the repertoire,” says Jayce Ogren.

“McAllister possesses a rare and special virtuosity which I’ve become familiar with through various collaborations over the past 20 years. His playing howls, grooves, flutters, and flows like the wind,” says Mackey. Mackey worked closely with McAllister during the composition process to explore the saxophone’s range of sounds, textures, and extended techniques, shaping the wind-inspired sound world the composer envisioned. “In Anemology, the saxophone soloist is the wind, and the orchestra is the landscape, topography, scenery, etc. that is stirred and animated by its movement,” says Mackey.

SATURDAY:

All Saturday night patrons are invited to an opening night pre-concert party in the Sunset Center lobby. Guests will be treated to live music, one complimentary glass of champagne, and a photobooth. The event is 6:00-7:30 PM and is included with all concert tickets. Additionally, a pre-concert lecture by Musicologist Christopher Anderson-Bazzoli with guest composer Steve Mackey will be held on Saturday, 6:30-7:00 PM in the Sunset Center auditorium.

SUNDAY:

The Symphony Lobby Sessions return this season with live music in the lobby from 1:30-1:50 PM. The October Lobby Session features Symphony principal bassoonist Anne Ranzani. Additionally, a pre-concert lecture by Music Director Jayce Ogren with guest composer Steve Mackey will be held on Sunday, 2:00-2:30 PM, in the Sunset Center auditorium.

About the Monterey Symphony: The Monterey Symphony was founded in 1946 and presents double weekend performances during the academic calendar, opening the season at Forest Theater, followed by six more programs at the Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For each program, the Symphony orchestra is comprised of 80 professional musicians from throughout California. The Symphony is committed to bringing people together through orchestral classical music and using the healing powers of music to transform lives. The Symphony actively engages patrons of all ages through a variety of partnerships and initiatives, including performances for thousands of local school children. Jayce Ogren, the Symphony's 12th Music Director, recently renewed his contract through 2030. The Symphony’s stated mission is to entertain and engage our community through musical performance and education. Monterey Symphony regularly receives national attention for the strength of its audience support, robust subscription renewals and audience retention.

Performances at Sunset Center, Carmel, San Carlos and 9th Ave.
www.montereysymphony.org