Home of 24—25
THE CONRAD
Home of La Jolla Music Society
Mission Statement
To enhance cultural life and engagement by presenting and producing a wide range of programming of the highest artistic quality, and to make The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center a vibrant and inclusive hub.
La Jolla Music Society at The Conrad
As one of Southern California’s leading presenters of premier performing arts, La Jolla Music Society contributes to San Diego’s cultural vitality year-round through a rich variety of presentations, including classical, jazz, global roots, contemporary music, and dance, at its state-of-the-art venue, The Conrad. In addition to robust educational programs and community outreach, La Jolla Music Society produces SummerFest, a four-week music festival featuring dozens of world-class artists and ensembles performing eclectic concerts and programs.
Land Acknowledgment
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center acknowledges the ancestral, unceded territory of the Kumeyaay people, on which The Conrad was built. We hold great respect for the land and the original people of the area where our performing arts center is located. The Kumeyaay continue to maintain their political sovereignty and cultural traditions as vital members of the San Diego community.
Dear Friends,
At its very core, La Jolla Music Society is a service organization, working to benefit our community and the San Diego region. With a commitment to service front of mind, we are proud to serve four specific groups central to our mission.
First, we serve our audiences by offering performances by some of the world’s greatest artists. Inside this report you’ll see just a sampling of the exceptional artists that Artistic Director Leah Rosenthal brought to San Diego stages last year.
Second, we serve the community through our many Learning and Engagement programs, which are created to deepen participants’ understanding and appreciation of music—and touch audiences at all stages of life. We also open our doors to the public in numerous free concerts and events, helping to make The Conrad a vibrant cultural hub.
Additionally, we are here to serve the artists themselves. By providing a platform and an audience, they have the opportunity to hone their craft, share their artistry, and advance their careers. Lastly, we work to serve the art form itself—through our programming, we help keep these art forms thriving, evolving, and growing.
Achieving these goals requires myriad individuals, who work together toward a common goal. These are Board members, volunteers, donors, attendees, artists, teachers, production crew, tech specialists, administrators, marketers, fundraisers, and many more. Our work only happens through an inspiring collaboration and dedication to our mission.
With this report, we are pleased to announce that FY23—24 successfully closed in the black, a testament to the hard work of many. Thank you to everyone who helped make this past season a rousing success. As we look to the future, we encourage you to be part of The Conrad, home of La Jolla Music Society.
Todd R. Schultz President & CEO
“This season, we presented 98 performances across the Winter Season and SummerFest. From interactive jazz performances in The JAI to legendary classical performances in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, these performances brought artistic excellence, creative innovations, and outstanding entertainment to our San Diego audience. We are proud of every production, but below are some standouts.”
Leah Rosenthal, Artistic Director
Thibaudet-Batiashvili-Capuçon
October 13
We kicked off our Revelle Chamber Music Series with the world-renowned Thibaudet-Batiashvili-Capuçon trio. These three powerhouse performers appeared only on the most prestigious stages in California, and we were deeply honored that they would choose to make The Conrad a part of their year.
Mao Fujita
November 19
This 24-year-old pianist has already emerged as one of those special talents which comes along only rarely. His first performance at The Conrad, a part of the Discovery Series, was an astonishing hit, planting the seed for an ongoing relationship with our organization. His debut reminded us of Seong-Jin Cho’s Discovery Series debut in 2017, which was followed by a sold-out return to LJMS this December as part of the Piano Series.
Flor de Toloache
November 30
Flor de Toloache commanded The JAI with their edgy, versatile, and fresh take on traditional Latin American music. This performance also marks the beginning of our newest partnership with KPBS, who broadcast the performance on its network and streaming services.
Lakecia Benjamin
January 28
This rising star of the jazz world graced our audience with a soulful performance, skillfully blending conceptions of jazz, hip hop, and soul in a way that appealed to jazz traditionalists and progressives alike. We were proud to be a part of her journey towards revolutionizing jazz, which she is accomplishing not only through her sound, but through her position as a female star in a male-dominated genre.
Renée Fleming
February 14
Renée Fleming, one of the most beloved and celebrated singers in the world, together with our own SummerFest Music Director, Inon Barnatan, brought us the ultimate Valentine’s Day celebration. Presenting major stars in our intimate Baker-Baum Concert Hall is what we have dreamed of since The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center was just an idea. We look forward to bringing more of these once-in-a-lifetime experiences to our San Diego audiences.
Jakub Józef Orliński and Il Pomo d’Oro
April 7
Jakub Orliński, a young superstar countertenor, and Il Pomo d’Oro, a nonpareil early music orchestra, gave an astounding performance of exciting yet rarely encountered 17th-century Baroque music, broadened by unconventional lighting, costumes, and physicality. Orlinski dispelled any association with a demure vocal recital with his sprightly cartwheels and theatrical strolls through the aisles.
Abel Selaocoe and Manchester Collective
April 14
Abel Selaocoe and the Manchester Collective brought us an evening of innovation as they joyfully and energetically wove together African music, Danish folk songs, and classical music in a way that we had never heard before. It was captivating to audiences young and old. We look forward to hosting Abel again in our 2024–25 Winter Season.
Kaki King: BUGS
May 4
Kaki King delighted families with her first ever commission created for the ConRAD Kids Series. Inspired by her own children, Kaki King combined her masterful guitar playing with light and imagery to encourage children to think about nature, ecology and the animal kingdom.
Jazz Piano Mini Festival
April 17—21
Ballets Jazz Montréal
May 15
Fourteen dazzling dancers wowed audiences with their performance of “five seasons,” capturing the essence of the music and poems of Leonard Cohen. Their performance was a celebrated finale to the 2023 24 Dance Series, which saw larger audiences than any Dance Series since the opening of The Conrad.
This year saw the first ever Jazz Piano Mini Festival, which hosted a jam-packed weekend of panel discussions, master classes, Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concerts, and mainstage performances. Artists included the world-renowned Herbie Hancock, Dayramir González, and Hiromi, along with local legends Kamau Kenyatta, Melonie Grinnell, Ed Kornhauser, and more.
Herbie Hancock
Dayramir González
Hiromi
SummerFest 2024
July 26–August 24
Led by returning SummerFest Music Director Inon Barnatan, SummerFest 2024’s captivating theme, “Inside Stories,” transformed the festival into a vibrant canvas where emotions, tales, and the profound depths of human experience were painted in the universal language of music. With an exquisite lineup of world-renowned artists, we were transported into the heart of narratives that span the spectrum of life itself—stories of resilience, heartbreak, love, scandal, and triumph.
SummerFest by the Numbers
This year’s SummerFest was our most ambitious yet! Here’s a look at the numbers that tell the story of a festival made possible by the dedication of our incredible staff, artists, and volunteers.
· 80 Musicians, including 8 Fellowship Artists
· 21 Concerts in four weeks
· 24 Events streamed online with 3,729 views and counting
· 48 Learning & Engagement events with 3,320 attendees
· 60% Increase in average attendance of Open Rehearsals
· 328 Rehearsals
· 108 Pieces performed
· 78 Piano tunings
· 370 Usher shifts filled by 61 volunteer ushers
· 117 Airport trips
· 738 Housing nights … thanks to 49 Artist hosts!
· 7,436 Concert attendees
Augustin Hadelich, Inon Barnatan, Macintyre Taback
Abeo Quartet, fellowship artists
Masumi Per Rostad, violin
Stefan Jackiw, Andrew Wan, violins; Julie Albers, Sterling Elliot, cellos; Matthew Lipman, Jonathan Vinocour, violas
Jonnel Domilos, piano technician
Simone Porter, violin
Open Rehearsal
Our award-winning educational programs provided unmatched access and learning opportunities at no cost to over 12,000 students and community members in the past year. With learning and engagement at the heart of our mission, we worked closely with each visiting artist and ensemble to create outreach activities that highlighted their unique talents and expertise at both The Conrad and in the community.
Artist & Student Engagement
We brought up-and-coming artists from the Discovery Series directly into schools for intimate performances, Q&A sessions, and master classes —all provided free-of-charge to schools. These interactive experiences facilitated personal connections between students and artists. This program allows students who do not often see themselves represented in the arts to meet and learn from diverse artists from across the globe.
This year, the program introduced hundreds of San Diego children to live classical and jazz music, including a visit from Balourdet Quartet to Roosevelt Middle School for two sessions: a master class with the school's advance orchestra and a performance demonstration assembly for all the music students at the school.
A Special Highlight
One of today’s most celebrated ballet dancers, Tiler Peck, held a master class with young students from local ballet schools.
“
When the Balourdet Quartet visited us, we were sent into sections to help us learn how to play specific parts of the song Rondeau. I was struggling a bit with trilling on the D string, and I was helped a lot by the Violist of the group.”
— Juniper, 7th Grade, viola
Education Ticket Program
“Overall, this was a fun experience because I have never seen a professional cellist in person and to be able to work with one and have them help me and give me feedback was great!”
— Emma, 8th Grade, cello
The Education Ticket Program provided complimentary tickets to students from across the county with the opportunity to experience high-quality live art in their own backyard. Additional free tickets were distributed to student’s families, expanding access to the arts for entire communities. Concerts included an expansive array of genres, showcasing diverse artists from across the globe.
More than 1,000 tickets are distributed each year, valued at over $30,000.
Balourdet Quartet
Audience Education
Each year our audience education programs extend across both Winter Season and SummerFest, bringing our community more than 100 free opportunities to deepen their knowledge and understanding of musical history and performance. Every season these offerings include:
Preludes
Open Rehearsals
Encounters
Artist Lounges
Ticket holders are invited to hear musical and historical insights through engaging interviews and fascinating lectures before most performances. Some of this year's Preludes featured our partnership with the Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles, giving some of the top young artists today an opportunity to perform in our beautiful concert hall.
Open Rehearsals provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the intricate rehearsal process, giving audiences the opportunity to learn more by joining the conversation during post-rehearsal Q&As with the artists. Open Rehearsals are also live-streamed and remain available to view anytime in our Digital Concert Hall on our website.
SummerFest Encounters are free afternoon events, featuring intriguing lectures, discussions, performances, and diverse perspectives. They reveal fascinating insights into the ways in which music is being created, influenced, interpreted, and performed. Attendees at these events take a deep dive into music history, theory, and performance practice, guided by expert panelists and scholars.
The spark of creativity is unique for every person. Artist Lounges are intimate, in-depth conversations focused on the artist as an individual, allowing audiences to discover what drew our guests to their art form and what keeps them inspired.
Coaching Workshops, Master Classes, and SummerFest Fellowship Artist Program
Each SummerFest also brings a new group of Fellowship Artists to The Conrad. These artists, who are just starting their professional careers, are chosen by a selection committee to participate in this rigorous five-week program. They take part in Coaching Workshops and perform in Encounters and Musical Preludes during the festival, learning from and performing alongside top artists on The Conrad stages.
Quartet Integra
Allison Boles, Edward Dusinberre, Harumi Rhodes, Inon Barnatan
Alex Ross
Leah Rosenthal, Edward Dusinberre
Inon Barnatan, SummerFest Fellowship Artists
Community Music 25 Years of increasing access to music
In 2024, our after-school music program, the Community Music Center (CMC), celebrated 25 years of providing free, bilingual music lessons to San Diego youth. Operating in Logan Heights each September through May, students take group lessons three days per week and participate in ensemble practice on a fourth day. Classes are offered in piano, woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, vocal music, guitar, and ensemble practice is offered in mariachi, percussion, and jazz.
All instruction and instruments are provided free of charge, and students who meet attendance and proficiency requirements are awarded their instruments for life. The CMC provides not only lifelong music literacy but serves as a haven for at-risk youth, fostering student self-confidence, motivation, and belonging.
43%
of CMC families indicate that their household income is under $25,000 per year.
1,980 hours of instruction offered each year
Music Center music instruction
The CMC's contributions to greater San Diego have not gone unseen! The City of San Diego proclaimed May 22, 2024, as Community Music Center Day in recognition of the program's 25th anniversary; The County of San Diego honored CMC Music Director Serafin Paredes by naming May 20, 2024, as Serafin Paredes Day.
Beyond our artistic programming, we have proudly expanded our community offerings and have developed The Conrad into a welcoming community hub.
The 2023–24 Winter Season was one to celebrate, as its beginning marked five years in our home, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. The journey toward building our very own performing arts center began in 2012 when we learned that Sherwood Auditorium, the performance space we had rented since 1968, would be torn down. Our initial shock quickly turned to excitement as we realized we had the opportunity to create a permanent home, enabling us to expand audiences and arts access to the entire community. Through the generosity and support of the community, alongside a foundational gift from the late Conrad Prebys, The Conrad was transformed from a dream into a reality, opening its doors to the public in 2019.
Since the opening of The Conrad, we have experienced unprecedented expansion and reinvention, growing from 78 LJMS performances and events in the 2019/2020 performance season to 218 events in the 2023/2024 performance season. With two new state-of-the-art performance spaces, The Baker-Baum Concert Hall and The JAI, we have pushed our creative limits, expanding our programming to new genres and introducing six new concert series, including the ConRAD Kids Series, the Protostar Innovative Series and the Global Roots Series. In the five years of performances at The Conrad, we have hosted nearly 200,000 audience members, and over 1,000 artists have graced our stages.
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series
The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series welcomes community members of all ages and backgrounds from across the city. Located in the picturesque courtyard of The Conrad, these free concerts showcase local musicians of the highest caliber in an accessible and family-friendly setting. Piloted in 2022, the series now features eight to ten concerts per year in genres including classical, jazz, mariachi, salsa, funk, and more. We welcomed nearly 1,700 guests during the 2023–24 season, and surveys show that newcomers to The Conrad make up roughly 50% of attendees.
Open Houses
The Community Arts Open House and Holiday Open House provide the community with free, hands-on arts and culture activities and performances designed for the whole family. These all-day festivals take place throughout The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and attract community members from across the city. Activities such as drum circles, dance classes, and instrument “petting zoos” offer guests immersive and kinetic ways to learn, explore, and build community through music and movement. Public performances by local artists, student ensembles, and partner nonprofits provide intimate and accessible live-art experiences while promoting both established and up-and-coming San Diego arts and culture practitioners. During the 2023–24 season, our Open Houses featured 15 local community partners and attracted more than 980 guests.
Community Rental Partners
In addition to expanding our own artistic and Learning & Engagement programming, the opening of The Conrad has allowed us to make our spaces available to nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other local arts leaders without their own permanent performance venues, contributing to enhanced diversity in artistic access for everyone in San Diego. Since 2019, 94 non-profit outside organizations have rented our space, including:
· Mainly Mozart
· Voices of Our City Choir
· Camarada
· San Diego Ballet
· City Ballet of San Diego
· Bach Collegium San Diego
· VAPA Foundation
· Challenged Athletes Foundation
· And many more!
Mainly Mozart
We are committed to celebrating the diverse community we serve and to making The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center a vibrant and inclusive hub. By exemplifying broad representation throughout the institution, it is our goal to dissipate traditional lines of separation, enabling audiences, artists, staff, donors, and students to connect with those who are different from themselves. We believe that through that connection—both on stage and off—we can enrich all our lives, broaden our experience, open our minds, and embody our mission.
In 2024, an IDEA Advisory Group of staff and board members was established with the purpose to create and advance action items that ensure the organization reflects the core principles of IDEA in every aspect of what we do. As part of this commitment, we have identified six key areas to be viewed through an IDEA lens: artistic programming, education programming, venue usage, audience, staff, and Board.
Our Goals:
Artistic
We will present artistic programming that represents the audiences we currently serve and hope to serve in the future.
Education
Our Learning & Engagement department will offer a broad range of education and community outreach programs that are inviting and inclusive; representative of the San Diego community; and accessible and affordable for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
Venue
The Conrad will actively pursue rental clients who represent varying backgrounds, including race, faith, and ability, and will work to ensure that licensees’ values align with our IDEA values and initiatives.
Audience
We will seek to attract an audience that reflects the broader makeup of the San Diego community and the diversity of the world around us.
Staffing
Our office and venues will be a working environment where everyone knows they are welcome and valued regardless of who they are or how they identify; where difference is encouraged; and where those differences help us learn from one another.
Board
We seek to develop a Board composed of individuals with a range of skills, perspectives, backgrounds and/or resources that promotes creativity and innovation; is open to varying opinions; and welcomes robust and respectful discussion.
Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
Brandee Younger
123 Andrés
Alphabet Rockers
Randall Goosby, Zhu Wang JIJI