Pasadena Symphony & Pops

Holiday Candlelight
2025-12-12 - 2025-12-13 | All Saints Church, United States
All Saints Church

December 12, 2025
7:00pm
December 13, 2025
4:00 & 7:00pm
Larry Blank, conductor
Sarah Uriarte Berry, vocalist
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
Donald Brinegar Singers
LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble Buy Tickets Pasadena’s most beloved holiday concert is back again with 3 performances! Top off your holiday season in the architecturally exquisite All Saints Church, with vocalist Sarah Uriarte Berry joining an array of choruses and handbells for The Christmas Song, Silent Night, Sleigh Ride, We Need a Little Christmas, Hallelujah! and more of your favorites, all performed by candlelight.
Seats sell out quickly, so get your tickets now!
ArtistsLarry BlankResident Pops Conductor Sarah Uriarte BerrySoloist LA Bronze Handbell EnsembleLos Angeles Children’s ChorusDonald Brinegar Singers SPONSORS

Mendelssohn & Meyer
2026-01-24 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

January 24, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
Mendelssohn The Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave)
Edgar Meyer Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 “Scottish” Buy Tickets Embark on a rich musical journey as Mendelssohn’s evocative “Scottish” Symphony captures the misty beauty of the Highlands, and violinist Tessa Lark brings you through fields of Southern bluegrass with fire and finesse for Edgar Meyer’s genre-blending concerto.
Join us one hour before the performance for Insights – a free pre-concert dialogue with KUSC Host Brian Lauritzen and Music Director Brett Mitchell. Learn about the works being performed and get a behind-the-scenes look at our guest artists and conductor. ArtistsTessa LarkViolin Edgar MeyerComposer Brett MitchellMusic Director Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:
Barbara Mann Steinwedell

Insights Sponsor:
Alan Fisher, MD
& Hear MD

Tchaikovsky Pathétique
2026-02-21 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

February 21, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano
Jeffrey Nytch Beacon
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique” Buy Tickets Delight in the elegance of Mozart’s 23rd Piano Concerto, shimmering with grace and lyrical beauty at the hands of the electrifying Michelle Cann. Then, plunge into the emotional depths of Tchaikovsky’s haunting “Pathétique” Symphony for a gripping journey exploring love, despair and fate.
Join us one hour before the performance for Insights – a free pre-concert dialogue with KUSC Host Brian Lauritzen and Music Director Brett Mitchell. Learn about the works being performed and get a behind-the-scenes look at our guest artists and conductor. ArtistsJeffrey NytchComposer Michelle CannPiano Brett MitchellMusic Director Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:
Marlene R. Konnar & John D. Baldeschwieler

Insights Sponsor:
Alan Fisher, MD
& Hear MD

Dvořák New World Symphony
2026-03-21 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

March 21, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Juan Pablo Contreras, composer & special guest
Bernstein Three Dance Variations from Fancy Free
Juan Pablo Contreras Symphony No. 1
“MyGreat Dream” (co-commission)
Dvořák Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” Buy Tickets Be among the first to experience acclaimed composer Juan Pablo Conteras’ first symphony, capturing his journey to becoming a composer and a US citizen, and get lost in one of the most popular symphonies of all time – a tribute to the American spirit. ArtistsJuan Pablo ContrerasComposer & Special Guest Brett MitchellMusic Director Video Sponsors
Individual Concert Underwriter:
The Executive Committee of the
Pasadena Symphony Association Board of Directors

Insights Sponsor:
Alan Fisher, MD
& Hear MD

Beethoven Eroica
2026-04-25 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

April 25, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Julian Schwarz, cello
Quinn Mason Heroic Overture (Overtura Eroica)
Jennifer Higdon Cello Concerto (West Coast Premiere)
Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” Buy Tickets A grand display of musical innovation across centuries, with the west coast premiere of Grammy-winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s cello concerto, and the bold spirit of Beethoven’s ground-breaking Eroica Symphony—revolutionary, heroic and full of power.
Join us one hour before the performance for Insights – a free pre-concert dialogue with KUSC Host Brian Lauritzen and Music Director Brett Mitchell. Learn about the works being performed and get a behind-the-scenes look at our guest artists and conductor. ArtistsBrett MitchellMusic Director Julian SchwarzCello Quinn MasonComposer Jennifer HigdonComposer Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:
Linda & William Krantz

Insights Sponsor:
Alan Fisher, MD
& Hear MD

America @ 250
2026-05-30 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

May 30, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Alec Baldwin, narrator
Terrence Wilson, piano
John Williams Liberty Fanfare
Gershwin Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra
Copland Appalachian Spring Suite
Copland Lincoln Portrait Buy Tickets
The season closes with a celebration of American orchestral music – John Williams, Gershwin and two seminal pieces by Copland. Terrence Wilson dazzles on Gershwin’s vibrant Concerto in F and acclaimed actor Alec Baldwin brings a distinctive voice to Copland’s ode to Lincoln. It’s a season finale you won’t want to miss!
Join us one hour before the performance for Insights – a free pre-concert dialogue with KUSC Host Brian Lauritzen and Music Director Brett Mitchell. Learn about the works being performed and get a behind-the-scenes look at our guest artists and conductor. ArtistsTerrence WilsonPiano Alec BaldwinNarrator Brett MitchellMusic Director Video Sponsors
Individual Concert Underwriter:
Georgianna Bray Erskine
In memory of her mother, Evelyn Bray, and in honor of
the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony Association

Insights Sponsor:
Alan Fisher, MD
& Hear MD

Party at the POPS
2026-06-18
LA County Arboretum

JUNE 18, 2026
7:00-10:00pm
Join us on the POPS stage for an exclusive summer kick-off party!
Get ready for a fun-filled evening with fanciful cocktails, delectable hors d’oeuvres and a rare opportunity to take in the beautiful surroundings of the LA County Arboretum from the POPS stage. Step into the orchestra’s shoes and experience our breathtaking venue from their viewpoint. Enjoy an intimate sunset set with Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank on piano and the silky vocals of the stunning Morgan James, while gazing out over the lush grounds of the Arboretum and the San Gabriel Mountains.
Help us keep your favorite summer tradition alive at this one-of-a-kind fundraising event to support the POPS Summer Concert Series.
Tickets are extremely limited so be sure to save your spot today! BUY TICKETS SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Six complimentary tickets
Presenting Sponsor credit in digital and print invitation, event-specific media and signage
Premium event seating
A special meet and greet with the guest artist and Maestro!
On-screen recognition as major supporter at all POPS concerts
Ten complimentary tickets to a Symphony or POPS concert of your choice

Six complimentary tickets
Sponsor credit in digital and print invitation, event-specific media and signage
Preferred event seating
A special meet and greet with the guest artist and Maestro!
Video screen recognition as major supporter at all POPS concerts
Four complimentary tickets to a Symphony or POPS concert of your choice

Two complimentary tickets
Sponsor credit in digital and print invitation, event-specific media and signage
Four complimentary tickets to a Symphony concert

Two complimentary tickets
Patron credit in digital and print invitation, event-specific media and signage

$10,000 – GUEST ARTIST
$7,500 – FOOD
$5,000 – WINE & SPIRITS
$5,000 – EVENT UNDERWRITERS

BECOME A SPONSOR For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Liliane Ribeiro, Director of Development at
(626) 414-2198 or LRibeiro@pasadenasymphony-pops.org. ARTISTS Larry BlankResident Pops Conductor Morgan JamesSoloist

Star Spangled Salute To The Movies A Special Tribute to John Williams
2026-06-20 | LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91007, United States
LA County Arboretum

June 20, 2026
Gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking
Concert begins at 7:30pm BUY TICKETS Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank kicks off the season with epic scores from Superman, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Arc and Star Wars, and a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch with “Nobody Does it Better,” “The Way We Were” and more Hollywood blockbusters for an unforgettable evening celebrating American film music. Artists Larry BlankResident Pops Conductor Morgan JamesSoloist VideoSponsors

Dancin' In the Street: Music of Motown
2026-07-11 | LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91007, United States
LA County Arboretum

July 11, 2026
Gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking
Concert begins at 7:30pm BUY TICKETS Get ready to groove to the Temptations, Supremes and Stevie Wonder for this soulful celebration of legendary Motown artists. Hits like My Girl, I Feel Good and Superstition will have you singin’ and dancin’ All Night Long Artists Larry BlankResident Pops Conductor Shayna SteeleSoloist Chester GregorySoloist Terron BrooksSoloist VideoSponsors Institutional Concert Underwriter:

A Toast to the Rat Pack
2026-07-25 | LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91007, United States
LA County Arboretum

July 25, 2026
Gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking
Concert begins at 7:30pm BUY TICKETS Step back into the golden age of swing with the timeless hits of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald for a dazzling evening of swagger, smooth vocals, and big band swing with: My Way, Come Fly with Me, I’ve Got the World on a String, Ain’t that a Kick in the Head, Come Rain or Come Shine and so much more. Artists Larry BlankResident Pops Conductor Steve LippiaSoloist Carmen BradfordSoloist Todd MurraySoloist Video Sponsors Institutional Concert Underwriter:

Remember When Rock Was Young: The Elton John Experience
2026-08-15 | LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91007, United States
LA County Arboretum

August 15, 2026
Gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking
Concert begins at 7:30pm BUY TICKETS *Advanced lawn tickets have sold out, but will be available at the venue box office on Saturday, 8/15. An electrifying theatrical experience capturing the Rocketman’s music, costumes and charisma. From Bennie and the Jets and Tiny Dancer to Candle in the Wind and Crocodile Rock, this high-energy show brings Elton’s chart-topping hits to life with unforgettable flair.  Artists Larry BlankResident Pops Conductor Craig A. MeyerVideo Sponsors
Individual Concert Sponsor:
Rob Moore

Music of the Night: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Friends
2026-08-29 | LA County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91007, United States
LA County Arboretum

August 29th, 2026
Gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking
Concert begins at 7:30pm BUY TICKETS The season closes with an unforgettable evening of drama, passion and iconic melodies from Broadway’s legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber and his contemporaries – Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Kander and Ebb, Leonard Bernstein, Jerry Herman and more. Get ready for hits from Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, West Side Story, Les Misérables and all of your favorite Broadway tunes. Artists Larry BlankResident Pops Conductor Valerie PerriSoloist Hugh PanaroSoloist Scarlett StrallenSoloist Video Sponsors
Individual Concert Underwriters:
Jennifer and Shadi Sanbar
Vicky and Brad Schwartz

Brahms Symphony No. 1
2026-10-24 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

October 24, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Benjamin Beilman, violin
Joan Tower Made in America
Barber Violin Concerto
Brahms Symphony No. 1
We open the season with quite possibly the greatest first symphony ever written—placing Brahms in his rightful place as one of the world’s most beloved musical geniuses. Plus, Barber’s exquisite Violin Concerto performed by Avery Fisher winner Benjamin Beilman guarantees a grand opening night! BUY TICKETS ArtistsBrett MitchellMusic Director Benjamin Beilman Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:

Insights Sponsor:

Beethoven Symphony No. 7
2026-11-14 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

November 14, 2026
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Michael Kaufman, cello
Carlos Simon Fate Now Conquers
Elgar Cello Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No. 7
From the infectious energy of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony and Carlos Simon’s contemporary reimagining of this bold work, to the emotional depths of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, this program showcases the orchestra at its most powerful, with Principal Cellist Michael Kaufman taking center stage.
BUY TICKETS ArtistsBrett MitchellMusic Director Michael Kaufman Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:

Marlene R. Konnar & John D. Baldeschwieler

Insights Sponsor:

Holiday Look In Home Tour
2026-12-05 - 2026-12-06 | Pasadena Scottish Rite Center, 150 N. Madison Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
December 5 & 6, 2026
The 59th Annual Holiday Look In Home Tour will showcase the magnificent architecture and beautiful gardens of four elegant homes embellished by the talent of Pasadena’s finest floral designers.
Enjoy a feast for the eyes and ears as you leisurely stroll through the homes and gardens while docents point out interesting features accompanied by holiday music.
Visit our popular FREE Holiday Look In Boutique where you can mingle with friends and shop to your heart’s content at the Pasadena Scottish Rite Center from 9:30am – 5:00pm.

To view homes and for more information, click here.

BUY TICKETS

The Boutique Returns December 5-6!

Pasadena Scottish Rite Center

150 N. Madison Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101

Holiday Candlelight
2026-12-11 - 2026-12-12 | All Saints Church, United States
All Saints Church

December 11, 2026
7:00pm
December 12, 2026
4:00 & 7:00pm
Brett Mitchell, conductor
TBD, vocalist
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
Donald Brinegar Singers
LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble BUY TICKETS Pasadena’s most beloved holiday concert returns with three performances at All Saint’s Church! Kick off your holiday season in one of Southern California’s most beautiful churches with Pasadena’s premier orchestra joined by a vocalist and an array of choruses and handbells for all of your favorite holiday carols, all performed by candlelight.
Single Tickets on sale July 8. Subscribe today for the best seats. ArtistsBrett MitchellMusic Director LA Bronze Handbell EnsembleLos Angeles Children’s ChorusDonald Brinegar Singers SPONSORS

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
2027-02-13 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

February 13, 2027
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Clayton Stephenson, piano
Jennifer Higdon blue cathedral
Stravinsky Suite from The Firebird
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Stravinsky’s spellbinding Firebird Suite brings the legendary tale to vivid life with its shimmering colors and thrilling rhythms. Rachmaninoff’s lush and deeply romantic Piano Concerto No. 2 will sweep you away with its sumptuous melodies, leaving you breathless and asking for more.
BUY TICKETS ArtistsBrett MitchellMusic Director Clayton Stephenson Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:

Barbara Mann Steinwedell

Insights Sponsor:

Vivaldi Four Seasons
2027-03-20 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

March 20, 2027
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Simone Porter, violin
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks
Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Acclaimed violinist Simone Porter makes her triumphant return, bringing her technical chops and expressive panache to Vivaldi’s most cherished concertos, alongside Bach’s most beloved chamber work, in a performance full of energy and elegance.
BUY TICKETS ArtistsSimone PorterViolin Brett MitchellMusic Director Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:

Linda & William Krantz

Insights Sponsor:

Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich
2027-05-01 | Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, United States
Ambassador Auditorium

May 1, 2027
2:00pm & 8:00pm Brett Mitchell, conductor
Paul Huang, violin
Kevin Puts Millennium Canons
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5
The season closes with two monumental masterpieces – Tchaikovsky’s passionate exploration of love and longing, and Shostakovich’s powerful Fifth Symphony—a gripping journey from darkness to triumph.
BUY TICKETS ArtistsBrett MitchellMusic Director Paul Huang Video Sponsors
Concert Underwriter:

Susan and Bill Schieff

Insights Sponsor:
