La Jolla Music Society’s March Lineup: From Jazz to Indian Classical at The Conrad

La Jolla Music Society is packing March with an impressive range of performances at The Conrad, and the lineup shows just how diverse the 57th season has become.

From jazz legends revisiting Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet to piano superstar Lang Lang and the Ravi Shankar Ensemble, there’s something happening almost every week that’s worth making the trip to La Jolla.

The Bad Plus Farewell Tour With Chris Potter and Craig Taborn

The Bad Plus teams up with acclaimed artists Chris Potter and Craig Taborn to revisit the formative repertoire of Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet.

This isn’t just a tribute to one of jazz’s most influential ensembles – it’s a continuation of the American Quartet’s spirit through fearless musical dialogue, emotional depth, and boundary-pushing improvisation.

The Bad Plus has announced that this will be their farewell tour, making it one of those performances you don’t want to miss.

📆 Thursday, March 12, 5:30 PM & 8 PM at Concerts @ The JAI

Free Courtyard Concert With Besos Jazz Trio

Besos Jazz Trio brings their vibrant mix of music and dance to the free Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series.

The worldly performers have been stirring up audiences since 2017, balancing traditions through Claudia Gomez’s percussion and tap dancing (rooted in Mexican ballet folklórico), Evona Wascinski’s classical virtuosity on upright bass, and Beston Barnett’s manouche guitar and five-language vocals.

Together, they improvise, sing, and dance through an eclectic mix of swing tunes, sambas, boleros, and musettes.

📆 Wednesday, March 18, 4:30 PM (Free Courtyard Concert)

Le Consort Takes You to the Baroque Era

Le Consort invites you to the baroque era with a whirlwind program spotlighting trio Sonatas by famous composers like Bach and Telemann alongside some unjustly neglected Baroque masters.

With two violins, cello, and harpsichord, the ensemble teleports you from the Venice of Albinoni and Gentili to the Naples of Porpora, with a visit to Telemann and Bach in Germany.

The program concludes with a magnificent setting of “Follia” – the era’s most recognizable melody that still resonates today.

📆 Friday, March 20, 7:30 PM at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

Augustin Hadelich and Francesco Piemontesi

Two artists at the top of their profession team up for an evening of sublime classical performance. The New York Times calls Hadelich “one of the most exciting violinists of his generation,” while Classical Explorer says Piemontesi is “one of the finest of young pianists and deserves to be fully recognised as such.”

The program features works by De Grigny, Debussy, Rameau, Poulenc, Kurtág, and Franck.

📆 Saturday, March 21, 8 PM at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

Doodle POP from South Korea

From BRUSH Theatre in South Korea comes Doodle POP, a touching and playful non-verbal show that follows a mischievous duo as they doodle their way into creating a whole imaginative world.

Live musicians perform the accompanying score and sound effects alongside stunning interactive animation projections, live whiteboard drawings, and an abundance of theatrical imagination. It’s the kind of performance that works for both kids and adults who appreciate creative storytelling.

📆 Sunday, March 22, 3 PM at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

WinterFest Gala and Lang Lang

The WinterFest Gala features international superstar Lang Lang in the intimate Baker-Baum Concert Hall. The evening includes a Champagne reception, live auction, and paddle raise, and Lang Lang playing selections by Chopin, followed by an elegant seated dinner and after-party celebration.

Proceeds benefit La Jolla Music Society’s Learning and Engagement and artistic programs.

The next night, Lang Lang performs at Jacobs Music Center with a program including works by Mozart, Beethoven, Albéniz, Granados, and Liszt.

As one of the world’s most influential and committed ambassadors for the arts, Lang Lang is equally happy playing for billions of viewers at major ceremonies or just for a few hundred children in public schools.

📆 WinterFest Gala: Wednesday, March 25 | Lang Lang Concert: Thursday, March 26

Ravi Shankar Ensemble

The Ravi Shankar Ensemble closes out the month with their debut tour. Curated by Ravi Shankar’s wife, Sukanya, and daughter, Anoushka Shankar, the program focuses on the maestro’s notable devotion to both tradition and creativity while building understanding and love of Indian classical music with audiences worldwide.

The concert weaves together elegantly designed visuals featuring rare audio and video materials from the Ravi Shankar archives alongside a dynamic selection of Shankar’s soul-stirring music.

📆 Sunday, March 29, 7 PM at The Baker-Baum Concert Hall