Santa Barbara Symphony

Under the artistic leadership of charismatic Italo-Israeli conductor Nir Kabaretti, the Santa Barbara Symphony is consistently lauded for its unique ability to present brilliant concerts, engage the community, and deliver dynamic music education programs. The organization prizes innovation and artistic excellence and is widely recognized as one of the region’s premier cultural institutions. As the only music education programs tied to a professional symphony in our region, the Symphony’s award-winning Music Education programs serve over 7,000 students in Santa Barbara County through regular and special programming each year.

For 70 years, Santa Barbarans driven by passion and dedication to sharing excellence with others have been the backbone of the Symphony’s vision. The long-term investment in artistic excellence has paid tremendous dividends. Increasing production values, attracting talented soloists, and retaining high-caliber musicians is crucial to inspiring audiences.

It’s clear this community craves the highest quality concerts and that our children can be moved by the power of music. Santa Barbara Symphony is deepening its roots and expanding its impact as an integral part of the cultural life of Santa Barbara County. We will ensure that all community members are aware of Symphony programs and create opportunities for all community members to participate in Symphony activities. We will continue to diversify the Symphony audience and work towards building a financial foundation that enables us to operate with a higher tolerance for artistic risk and an ever-greater focus on artistic excellence.