La Jolla Music Society
SummerFest Returns to La Jolla
La Jolla Music Society’s annual SummerFest returns to The Conrad from July 26 to August 24, 2024, bringing the finest musicians in the world to La Jolla for four weeks of exciting concerts. Music Director Inon Barnatan, returning in his sixth year, has created an exciting program titled “Inside Stories.”
“This year, the festival becomes an amazing, colorful canvas, bringing to life stories, emotions and the experiences that make us human, all through the power of music,” Barnatan shared with GB Magazine. “With an incredible lineup of artists from around the world, we are diving straight into stories that cover everything life throws at us – be it resilience, heartbreak, love, scandal, or victory.”
The festival will host some of the finest musicians and performance artists from around the globe, including the much-anticipated debuts of the sensational vocal group VOCES8, guitarist Sean Shibe, and conductor Ludovic Morlot. We will also see the return of beloved artists like Augustin Hadelich, Tessa Lark, Alisa Weilerstein, Anthony McGill, Paul Watkins, and James Ehnes, among others.
Following his widely acclaimed debut at SummerFest last year, British composer Thomas Adès comes back as the composer-in-residence. He will be premiering new works, showing off his talents as both a pianist and a conductor, and taking over The Baker-Baum Concert Hall for a special evening he has curated.
The festival also includes jazz pianist Dan Tepfer performing a mesmerizing blend of jazz improvisation with algorithmic composition, where the piano interacts with visualizations and automated responses, creating a unique, live conversation between musician and technology, and jazz harp sensation Brandee Younger with her trio. Finally, building on the success of their “Counterpoint” program, pianist Conrad Tao pairs with dancer Caleb Teicher for a world premiere evening, celebrating the dialogue between tap dance and classical music.
