Concerts

Fridays, April 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2026
7:30 PM

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is pleased to present the 2026 spring season of the Acoustic Evenings concert series, beginning April 3. The Acoustic Evenings series at the Athenaeum showcases some of the finest acoustic musicians in San Diego. Multiple acts fill each program, and attentive audiences delight in the intimacy of the unplugged storytelling format. San Diego Music Hall of Fame founder Jefferson Jay organizes and hosts the series. The project advances the Athenaeum’s commitment to support diverse San Diego talent. Acoustic Evenings is an unforgettable and personal experience for San Diego music lovers. The series, continuing through April 24, is set in the Athenaeum’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room.

Friday, April 3, 2026
7:30 PM

This series begins on Friday, April 3, with Wax, Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar, and Jimmy and Enrique. Wax is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and comedian with a gold record and millions of YouTube views. Lisa Sanders and Brown Sugar are a San Diego–based duo known for their soulful country–bluesy Americana sound. Guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas bring world rhythms, including flamenco, salsa, and Brazilian, into their virtuosic performances.

Friday, April 10, 2026
7:30 PM

The series continues Friday, April 10, with Evans & Raney, Joel Rafael, and Gayle Skidmore. Evans & Raney make their Acoustic Evenings debut with powerful guitar and harmonica performances; Joel Rafael draws on more than 50 years of folk songwriting experience; and Gayle Skidmore brings multi-instrumental mastery and award-winning songwriting to the stage.

Monday, April 13, 2026
12 PM

The Schumaj Duo is made up of California and Baja California musicians bonded by their shared passion for music and relentless pursuit of artistic expression. Their journey, rooted in collaborative recitals and genre-spanning experimentation, has shaped a style that combines virtuosity with emotional depth. They strive to share music’s beauty through performances that resonate deeply, sparking inspiration and human connection.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
7:30 PM

The Diderot String Quartet will make their Athenaeum debut with a journey to 18th century Vienna, featuring masterpieces by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. One of the premiere ensembles performing on gut strings and historical instruments, this dynamic group (Adriane Post, violin; Johanna Novom, violin; Kyle Miller, viola; Paul Dwyer, cello) breathes new life into old works.

Friday, April 17, 2026
7:30 PM

The series continues April 17 with The Croome Brothers, Jefferson Jay with Monette Marino, and Les Afriks. An acoustic trio, The Croome Brothers blend roots sounds with rich harmonies. Jefferson Jay, founder of Acoustic Evenings, performs with world-class percussionist Monette Marino. Les Afriks deliver African and reggae-influenced music celebrating cultural heritage and community.

Monday, April 20, 2026
12 PM

Dmitry Kirichenko began his musical education under a Soviet system that selected only the best, most talented students for artistic study. At the age of 7, he was accepted into the Stolyarsky School of Music. Upon graduation he was accepted to the Moscow Conservatory for college level studies under Professor Zemliansky. One of the leading educational institutions in the world, the Moscow Conservatory is reserved for the most talented music students.

Friday, April 24, 7:30 PM: Luciana Souza & Marcel Camargo—New Moon (at Scripps Research)

Wednesday, May 27, 7:30 PM: Peter Erskine Trio with Alan Pasqua and Scott Colley (at the Athenaeum)

The Athenaeum’s spring jazz series features return visits by two of our audience’s longtime favorite artists, Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza and drummer Peter Erskine. Each will present a new band with music from their latest album. Don’t miss these two special spring evenings of jazz!

Friday, April 24, 2026
7:30 PM

The series concludes on Friday, April 24, with Fred Benedetti, Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie, and Tim Flannery. Fred Benedetti is a classical and jazz guitarist who has performed internationally but is also a favorite local musician. Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie deliver boogie-woogie piano and powerhouse vocals. Tim Flannery blends storytelling, bluegrass, country, and rock into heartfelt performances.

Friday, April 24, 2026
7:30 PM

*AT SCRIPPS RESEARCH AUDITORIUM*

The series begins on Friday, April 24, at the Scripps Research Auditorium with the return of Grammy-winning vocalist Luciana Souza, of whom Billboard magazine wrote, “She continues her captivating journey as a uniquely talented vocalist who organically crosses genre borders. Her music soulfully reflects, wistfully regrets, romantically woos, joyfully celebrates.”

Monday, April 27, 2026
12 PM

Concert pianist Gustavo Romero is internationally renowned for his exceptional technical brilliance and interpretive depth and has gained an acclaimed reputation for his commitment to in-depth exploration of a wide variety of composers.

Monday, May 4, 2026
12 PM

Peter Sprague started playing guitar when he was 12 and attended a year of study at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Over the past decade, jazz pianist and Origin Records recording artist Danny Green has earned recognition as a bandleader and as a composer with a gift for spinning supple, absorbing narratives. Green’s growing portfolio of vibrant sounds—an enchanting mix of jazz, classical, and Brazilian rhythms—has captured the attention of critics around the world, including DownBeat Magazine, Jazziz, San Diego Union Tribune, the Boston Globe, and Public Radio International. It’s no small wonder that Green has earned two San Diego Music awards for Best Jazz Album and an additional award for Best Jazz Artist. Bassist Mackenzie Leighton is a bass player specializing in jazz and theater.

Monday, May 4, 2026
7:30 PM

Specializing in the rich and varied “sound-world” of the late 17th century, the Artifex Consort (Malachai Komanoff Bandy, Rebecca Landell, and Eva Lymenstull, bass viols; John Lenti, theorbo; Ian Pritchard, keyboards) closes our season with works showcasing the viola da gamba as an ensemble instrument outside of the English consort tradition, during the height of its later flourishing in parts of England and Germany. The program features virtuosic music for two bass viols by Christopher Simpson and Johannes Schenck, alongside lush and ingenious—though little-known—works for three bass viols by Benjamin Hely and Johann Michael Nicolai.

Monday, May 11, 2026
12 PM

Dr. Yewon Lee is a frequently sought-after conductor and collaborative pianist on the operatic and concert stage. Prior to relocating to San Diego, Lee was Assistant Music Director of Opera at Baldwin Wallace University and Adjunct Professor at Kent State University. In the operatic world, she coached at Baldwin Wallace Opera Theater, National Opera Center, Aspen Opera Theater Center, and International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel, France, Italy, and Japan. Born in South Korea, Hyun-Jeong Ahn is an accomplished soloist and chamber musician with appearances across the United States, France, Germany, Czech, Spain, and Korea. Ahn was invited to give a solo and chamber recitals at venues such as Carnegie Weill Recital Hall (New York), Brahms House (Baden-Baden, Germany), Palffy Palace (Prague, Czech), Leith Symington Griswold Hall, Goodwin Hall, Friedberg Hall in Maryland, Studzinski Recital Hall in Maine, and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Smith Recital Hall, Smith Memorial Room in Illinois, Seongnam Arts Center, Ceramic Palace Hall, Youngsan Art Center, Ewon Art Hall in Seoul.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026
7:30 PM

*AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY*

Wednesday, May 27, brings the return of drummer Peter Erskine, with his new stellar trio featuring longtime artistic partner Alan Pasqua on piano and the celebrated bassist Scott Colley. One of the leading drummers in jazz, Erskine appears on 700 albums and film scores and has won two Grammy Awards and an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee School of Music. Fifty albums have been released under his own name or as co-leader. He has played with Stan Kenton’s and Maynard Ferguson’s big bands, Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Kenny Wheeler, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Brecker Brothers, The Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny and Gary Burton, and John Scofield, among others. He has appeared as a soloist with the London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Oslo, and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. 

Monday, June 1, 2026
12 PM

Sheer passion for chamber music drives Aviara Trio. Comprised of pianist Ines Irawati, violinist Robert Schumitzky, and cellist Erin Breene, this exciting ensemble has been making an indelible impression on the musical landscape of Southern California for the past ten years. Most recently, the trio was invited to perform on Celebrate LA, Los Angeles Philharmonic's 100-year anniversary celebration, at the Hollywood Bowl. With performance degrees from the Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Yale University, and Rice University, Ms. Irawati, Ms. Breene, and Mr. Schumitzky have studied and performed with some of the world’s finest musical pedagogues including Paul Katz, Claude Frank, Timothy Eddy, Fred Sherry, Joseph Silverstein, Jacques Israelievitch, Sally Thomas, Miriam Fried, Peter Oundjian, and the Juilliard, Miró, American, Tokyo, Cleveland, Borromeo, and Alexander Quartets.

Monday, June 22, 2026
12 PM

Dr. Yana (Zixuan) Yan is a passionate performer and educator who has given numerous concerts as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States and in China. Yana taught at Augustana College and Black Hawk College, IL as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Flute, and she was a Flute Instructor at Quad City Symphony. She was recognized as a successful director of the Augustana Flute Choir and recruited highly qualified flute students to the college. She has worked closely with K–12 school music directors and local youth orchestras and has given frequent master classes to high schools and colleges. She has appeared as a presenter at National Flute Association, Upper Midwest Flute Association, San Diego Flute Guild, and Florida Flute Association. She has also served as a judge in major competitions including Charleston International Music Competition, Young Artist Competition of Upper Midwest Flute Convention, LVMTA Bushell Competition, and major competitions in Illinois and Iowa. Her students have received academic and music scholarships and various accolades for their accomplishments. One of her college students recently won the annual Augustana Concerto Competition. Her pre-collegiate students have served as principal players in youth orchestras, youth bands, and have been selected to play with All-State Honor Orchestras. 

Monday, June 29, 2026
12 PM

From the city where they sun shines through the mist, Temecula, California, comes the jazzy folk duo Nathan & Jessie. Born of the individuals, Nathan Rivera and Jessie Andra Smith, this duo is a unique blend of jazzy folk and blues on resonator guitars and accordion, along with interesting interplay between male and female vocals. Often joined on tour and on recordings by their friends, Trevor Mulvey on Upright Bass, and Blake Armstrong on Drums.

Sunday, July 5, 2026
4 PM

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Sundays, July 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2026
4 PM

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Monday, July 6, 2026
12 PM

Known for her expressivity, virtuosity, and versatility, Indonesian-born pianist Ines Irawati is in demand both as a solo recitalist and a collaborative pianist. Ms. Irawati is currently serving as the music and artistic director of San Diego Opera's Young Artist Training Program, as well as its community outreach concert series, Opera Exposed! Concerts. She has served as a vocal coach and pianist at the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices, and she was the head vocal coach and collaborative piano faculty at Point Loma Nazarene University from 2004–2017.

Sunday, July 12, 2026
4 PM

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Sunday, July 19, 2026
4 PM

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Sunday, July 26, 2026
4 PM

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