The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Marks Its 70th Anniversary

The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus is set to make history with Legacy: On the Shoulders of Giants, a powerful concert featuring UC San Diego composers Anthony Davis and Jiyoung Ko.

As part of its milestone season, the ensemble will be honored with an official proclamation of La Jolla Symphony & Chorus 70th Anniversary Day presented by City Council President Joe LaCava during the Sunday performance.

A Program Rooted in Innovation

Known for pushing artistic boundaries, the symphony will highlight the work of two remarkable UC San Diego composers.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Anthony Davis, a faculty member and the Cecil Lytle Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in African and African American Music, brings Notes from the Underground, a thought-provoking piece inspired by Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man.

Emerging composer Jiyoung Ko, currently pursuing a Ph.D. at UC San Diego, will debut Leaf by Leaf, Dream by Dream, a world premiere inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Leaf by Niggle. Ko’s composition was made possible through the Nee Commission, supporting new voices in contemporary music.

Classical Meets Contemporary

Complementing the modern works, the program features orchestral masterpieces by Igor Stravinsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Stravinsky’s Petrouchka brings vibrant storytelling through music, while Rimsky-Korsakov’s selections from The Invisible City of Kitezh add a touch of mythical grandeur.

The fusion of contemporary and classical compositions embodies the symphony’s long-standing mission to celebrate musical innovation.

See you there!

You can enhance their experience with a free pre-concert lecture 30 minutes before each performance.

The performances will take place on February 1 and 2 at UC San Diego’s Mandeville Auditorium. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $45, are available here.

For those looking for a behind-the-scenes experience, an open dress rehearsal will be held on January 31 at 7 PM, free and open to the public.

See you there, San Diego!