Celebrate New Year’s Eve With the Santa Barbara Symphony!

The Santa Barbara Symphony returns to its beloved New Year’s Eve tradition to dazzle audiences with the music of Gershwin and other celebratory symphonic favorites, on Friday, December 31 from 8:30pm-10:00pm at the Granada Theatre. Guests will also enjoy a champagne pour and festive party hats!

Pops conductor and host Bob Bernhardt returns, and will be joined by acclaimed baritone Cedric Berry, pianist Natasha Kislenko, and the full orchestra, to host an evening guaranteed to get the audience singing and dancing in their seats! 

“Santa Barbara is ready to celebrate!” said Kathryn R. Martin, President & CEO, “I can think of no better way to come together, safely, to say goodbye to a year of big challenges, and celebrate the possibilities of 2022!  This concert is joyous and celebratory, featuring audience favorites by Gershwin, movie music, and a salute to the Armed Services. It’s going to be electrifying!”

The concert features Cedric Berry, a bass-baritone known for his silken voice that captivates, and whose experience spans opera, Broadway, American songbook, jazz, and gospel. Santa Barbara audiences last heard him up close and personal in the Symphony’s pandemic “Fanfare” broadcast.   In addition to being a former Resident Artist with the LA Opera, he has performed with the Industry Opera, Long Beach Opera, Savonlinna Opera Festival of Finland, Banlieues Bleues Festival of France, and the Ravinia Music Festival, to name a few. Notable recent engagements include the role of Yusef in the world premiere of the Central Park Five opera. Berry serves as the program coordinator, manager, and student advisor for USC’s Film & Television Production Division. 

The Symphony’s very own Principal pianist Natasha Kislenko will wow audiences playing George Gershwin’s virtuoso variations on “I Got Rhythm”.  Kislenko made her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut after taking the Grand Prize at the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition in 1996. A prizewinner of several international piano competitions, she has extensively concertized in Russia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and across the Americas.

Bob Bernhardt returns as guest conductor for this festive New Year’s Eve tradition. Bernhardt celebrates a remarkable milestone this year with his 40th anniversary with the Louisville Orchestra. He is concurrently Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony (his 7th year) and Music Director Emeritus and Principal Pops Conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (his 29th year).  He has held Principal Conductor/Artistic Director leadership positions at the Rochester Philharmonic,Tucson Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Kentucky Opera, Amarillo Symphony, and the Lake Placid Sinfonietta. In the world of pops, he has worked with scores of stars from Broadway, Rock & Roll, and the American Songbook: from Brian Stokes Mitchell and Kelli O’Hara to the Beach Boys and Wynonna, to Jason Alexander and Ben Folds and has performed extensively with the Boston Pops.

New Year’s Eve with the Symphony is supported by Principal Concert Sponsor, Montecito Bank & Trust, and Baton Sponsor, Dr. Robert Weinman.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Santa Barbara Symphony – LIVE and in-person! Tickets can be purchased online here. For full details about the Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2021/22 season and to purchase season subscriptions or single tickets, please click here.