It’s a New Year cornucopia of talent in January at La Jolla Music Society 54th season with concerts by the very best artists in opera, classical, piano, blues, and jazz, and a bilingual kids’ concert that will delight children and parents alike.

Davina and The Vagabonds

The New Year begins with the bluesy, blustery, bawdy and irresistibly fun Davina and The Vagabonds, who have carved a niche in the blues world with high-energy live performances and rollicking compositions.

Lead singer Davina Lozier’s voice and stage presence combine elements of boogie-woogie, ragtime, early rock, and beyond. A true original, she’s been compared to Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, and Betty Boop.

They’ll take over The JAI for two shows on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 6:30PM & 8:30PM. Cabaret-style seating with table service for food and beverages by Giuseppe’s at The Conrad makes the perfect atmosphere for this fun and intimate show.

Joyce DiDonato. EDEN tour

On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, LJMS is excited to be the first concert date on Joyce DiDonato’s EDEN tour, which will continue throughout North America and on to Europe. Fusing music, movement, and theater, EDEN is a breathtaking tour de force from acclaimed American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who is currently receiving rave reviews for her performances as Virginia Woolf in the premiere of The Hours at the Metropolitan Opera.

Traveling seamlessly through four centuries of music, including a new commission by Academy Award–winning composer Rachel Portman, EDEN is a searing and singular experience of hope and connection that celebrates the majesty, might, and mystery of nature.

Along with celebrated partners Il Pomo d’Oro and Zefira Valova, all making La Jolla Music Society debuts, DiDonato invites audiences to explore whether we are connecting to the pure essence of our being to create a new EDEN from within and plant seeds of hope for the future.

EDEN is a 2023 GRAMMY™  Nominee for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. For this performance, DiDonato will be joined by the Challenger Middle School Choir under the direction of Marielena Teng. Part of the ProtoStar Innovative Series, the performance is at 7:30PM in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall.

Leif Ove Andsnes returns to LJMS

Just named the No. 1 classical pianist of all time by ClassicalFM.com, Leif Ove Andsnes returns to LJMS after 20 years, on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 7:30PM in the acoustically perfect Baker-Baum Concert Hall. Andsnes brings us a program of lush, brooding pieces including the famed Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 31, with an unmatched wash of color and depth of sound.

The Norwegian virtuoso has won acclaim worldwide, in the world’s leading concert halls and with its foremost orchestras, while building an extensive, award-winning discography. The New York Times calls him “A pianist of magisterial elegance, power, and insight,” while The Wall Street Journal names Andsnes “One of the most gifted musicians of his generation.”

Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates 65th year

One of the world’s longest-running musical events, the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 65th year with a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble on tour, landing at the Balboa Theatre on Thursday, January 26 at 7:30PM, and joining La Jolla Music Society 54th Season.

Featuring Tony and GRAMMY® Award-winning NEA Jazz Master vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater alongside GRAMMY® Award-winning vocalist Kurt Elling and critically-acclaimed rising star saxophonist, Lakecia Benjamin, this stellar band is directed by visionary pianist Christian Sands and anchored by his longtime rhythm section, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.

MJF On Tour presents the artistry, spirit, and fun of the Monterey Jazz Festival to audiences far and wide with musicians who embody the Monterey aesthetic by performing music, both historic and new, that reflects the values and legacy of the Monterey Jazz Festival over the last 65 years.

123 Andrés

Back by popular demand, Latin GRAMMY® Award-winning teaching artists 123 Andrés (“uno, dos, tres, Andrés”) return for two shows in The JAI on Saturday, January 28, at 10AM & 11:30AM. Andrés and Christina get kids and families excited about learning and moving together in Spanish and English, singing, dancing, and sounding out as they compose an eclectic mix of sounds from all corners of Latin America. The husband-wife duo fuse folk-based rhythms like Vallenato and Champeta with upbeat pop, creating a winning combination for listeners of any age, featuring first-class musicianship and rich instrumentation. Come ready to wiggle and giggle!

LJMS debuts Johan Dalene & Giorgi Gigaashvili

The month comes to a close with the LJMS debuts of two brilliant rising stars of classical music, violinist, Johan Dalene, and pianist, Giorgi Gigaashvili. First Prize Winner at the 2019 Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition and a 2019–2021 BBC New Generation Artist, 20-year-old Swedish phenom Johan Dalene delights audiences with his refreshingly honest musicality. He’s already performing in some of the great halls of Europe, tackling the great works in the violin repertoire. Don’t miss this chance to see a rising star on the ascendance.

This Discovery Series program on Sunday, January 29, at 3PM in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall includes challenging works by Arvo Pärt, Lera Auerbach, Grieg, Brahms, and Ravel.

The La Jolla Music Society 54th season continues:

February 2023

Kodo One Earth Tour: Tsuzumi | Special Family Event
Saturday, February 11, 7:30PM
Balboa Theatre

National Geographic Live Presents: “Life on the Vertical with Mark Synnott”* | Speaker Series
Thursday, February 16, 7PM

Aris Quartett* | Discovery Series
Sunday, February 19, 3PM

Quartetto di Cremona* | Revelle Chamber Music Series
Friday, February 24, 7:30PM

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano | Piano Series
Sunday, February 26, 7:30PM

March 2023

Maria Schneider Orchestra* | Jazz Series
Sunday, March 5, 6PM

Igor Levit, piano | Piano Series
Thursday, March 9, 7:30PM

Alisa Weilerstein: Fragments Co-production with San Diego Symphony | ProtoStar Innovative Series
Tuesday, March 14, 7:30PM

Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion | Global Roots Series
Saturday, March 18, 7:30PM
Balboa Theatre

Samara Joy* | Concerts @ The JAI
Sunday, March 19, 5PM & 7PM
The JAI

Scott Silven,*, mentalist | Concerts @ The JAI
Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, at 3PM and 6PM
The JAI

April 2023

Chucho Valdés Quartet* | Jazz Series
Saturday, April 1, 7:30PM

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre | Dance Series
Tuesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 5, 7:30PM
Civic Theatre

Yo-Yo Ma, cello, and Kathryn Stott, piano | Recital Series
Thursday, April 6, 7:30PM
Civic Theatre

Emerson String Quartet Farewell Season Tour | Revelle Chamber Music Series
Sunday, April 16, 7:30PM

Midori 40th Anniversary Celebration | Recital Series
Thursday, April 20 and Friday, April 21, 7:30PM

Van Cliburn Gold Medal Winner Yunchan Lim* | Discovery Series
Sunday, April 23, 3PM

Alice Sara Ott*, piano | Piano Series
Friday, April 28, 7:30PM

Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles* and the Villalobos Brothers* | Global Roots Series
Sunday, April 30, 3PM

May 2023

Pianimal* | The ConRAD Kids Series
Saturday, May 6, 10AM and 11:30AM
The JAI

Brooklyn Rider* and Magos Herrera* | ProtoStar Innovative Series
Saturday, May 6, 7:30PM

New Century Chamber Orchestra*, with Daniel Hope*, violin and music director | Revelle Chamber Music Series
Friday, May 12, 7:30PM

Cinema Verismo with Mak Grgic* | Concerts @ The JAI
Saturday, May 13, 6:30PM and 8:30PM
The JAI

Complexions Contemporary Ballet: Star Dust from Bach to Bowie | Dance Series
Saturday, May 20, 8PM
Civic Theatre

National Geographic Live Presents: “Coral Kingdoms and Empires of Ice with David Doubilet* and Jennifer Hayes*” | Speaker Series
Thursday, May 25, 7PM

June 2023

BODYTRAFFIC* | Dance Series
Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2, 7:30PM

Jimmie Herrod* | Concerts @ The JAI
Sunday, June 4, 5PM and 7PM
The JAI

Subscriptions and Single Tickets

Series subscription packages start at $66. Single tickets start at $20. Compose-Your-Own subscriptions are also available with a 10% discount for any four concerts or more. Military and student discounts are available with valid ID. Please visit here for details and to purchase subscriptions or tickets.

Gift Cards

Give the gift of music and the performing arts with La Jolla Music Society’s Gift Card! Gift cards never expire, and they can be redeemed for any LJMS performance, whether at The Conrad, the Balboa Theatre, or the Civic Theatre. Gift cards may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 858-459-3728.

See you there, San Diego!