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School of Music Events
Parking Info for 2024-2025
Free parking is not available for ticketed events on campus.
Sac State uses virtual parking permits. To reserve a discounted $4 daily permit for the day of each event, use the link available on the music event page for each concert. Links are added by noon on each event day.
New Millennium Series
Save 25% over individual ticket prices with a Series subscription! $90 Adult, $75 Senior (60+)
Subscriptions include all four concerts at 7pm in the Capistrano Concert Hall:
Purchase Series Subscription
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $30 general, $25 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
American violinist Stella Chen garnered worldwide attention with her first-prize win at the 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition. Since then, she has performed with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony.
Ms. Chen will be collaborating with the "immensely talented" and "quietly powerful pianist" (New York Times) Gilles Vonsattel on works by Beethoven, Ravel, Stravinsky, and Cizner. Mr. Vonsattel, recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the Naumburg and Geneva competitions, has appeared with the Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Munich Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony.
02/04/25 Tickets
02/04/25 Event Page
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $30 general, $25 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
The distinguished Brentano String Quartet has been at the vanguard of American chamber music for more than 30 years, known for its stunning rapport and a rich, full ensemble sound. The program includes Beethoven’s early Quartet in B-flat major, with its unforgettable fourth movement (La Malinconia), and Brahms’ lighthearted third quartet. The centerpiece is a new work by esteemed Chinese-born American composer Lei Liang, whose music has been described as “hauntingly beautiful and sonically colorful” by the New York Times, and “brilliantly original and inarguably gorgeous” by the Washington Post.
03/04/25 Tickets03/04/25 Event Page
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $30 general, $25 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
The legendary pianist Gil Kalish joins forces with baritone Randall Scarlata presenting a program specifically prepared for our audience, to celebrate Kalish's 90th birthday. Their recording of Schubert's Winterreise was honored with a Grammy nomination for Best Classical Vocal Solo. Randall Scarlata's repertoire spans five centuries and sixteen languages.
Kalish’s profound influence on the musical community as a performer, educator, and recording artist has established him as a major figure in American music making. He was pianist of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players for 30 years and is currently an Artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He was previously a faculty member and Chair of the Faculty at the Tanglewood Music Center.
03/26/25 Tickets03/26/25 Event Page
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $30 general, $25 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
Owls is a fresh and original new string quartet collective featuring some of chamber music’s most creative voices. All of the ensemble’s repertoire is arranged specially for the group’s unusual forces of two cellists instead of two violinists, “a process that may account for Owls’ evident deep investment in each work they play” (The New York Times).
The program features two pieces by cellist Paul Wiancko (also of Kronos Quartet), alongside works by Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, minimalism pioneer Terry Riley, jazz legend Chick Corea, indie rock duo Trollstilt, and French Baroque composer François Couperin.
04/15/25 Tickets
04/15/25 Event Page
Faculty Recitals
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Hall 151 - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Faculty oboist Cindy Behmer (pictured) and bassoonist Michelle Keem present a joint recital.
Dr. Behmer performs regularly with numerous organizations in Northern California and Nevada, including Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, Broadway at Music Circus, Stockton Symphony, Reno Philharmonic, Modesto Opera, and Oakland Symphony. Michelle Keem is Principal Bassoon of the Santa Cruz Symphony and has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles across North America and Europe, including the Oregon Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Antwerp Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Olmos Ensemble.
Friday, April 18, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Hall 151 - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Faculty recital of pianist Kirsten Smith (pictured), with Jia-mo Chen, cello and Sam Weiser, violin. A winner of multiple competitions, Ms. Smith has been the recipient of awards, scholarships, and invitations to music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the Van Cliburn Institute. She has been chosen to premiere numerous new works from contemporary composers and has recorded several times for the Centaur label.
04/18/25 Tickets 04/18/25 Event Page
Monday, April 21, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Hall 151 - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Faculty Recital of classical guitarist George England. Dr. England was the recipient of a Fender Instruments Corporation Grant through the Berklee School of Music and honored with the prestigious Andrés Segovia Memorial Endowment at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). In 2005, George was selected to participate in the Grammy Foundation’s Master Class Sessions with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet in Beverly Hills. He is frequently engaged in projects with Backyard Baroque and Sinfonia Spirituosa in Sacramento, and as a soloist at Oregon State University.
Guest Artists
Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $20 general, $15 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
Visiting pianist Anton Nel performs works by Bach, Czerny, Toru Takemitsu, and Schumann.
Nel, winner of the first prize in the 1987 Naumburg International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall continues to enjoy a remarkable and multifaceted career that has taken him to North and South America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa. He was also a prizewinner at the 1984 Leeds International Piano Competition in England and won several first prizes at the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition in Palm Desert in 1986. The New York Times referred ot him as "an uncommonly elegant pianist" and stated that he is "an expert interpreter of Romantic music".
Saturday, March 8, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $20 general, $15 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
Visiting artist Fanya Lin performs works by Philip Glass, Scriabin, George Crumb, Saint-Saüens, and featuring Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor.
A native of Taipei, Taiwan, Fanya is a top prizewinner of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Concours International de Piano France-Amériques, New York International Piano Competition, and Seattle International Piano Competition. Fanya earned her Doctoral Degree at the University of Minnesota under the guidance of Lydia Artymiw and her Master’s Degree at The Juilliard School with Professor Hung-Kuan Chen and Jerome Lowenthal. Currently, Dr. Lin is serving as the Associate Professor of Practice in Piano at the University of Arizona.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
The Ted Nash Trio performs, along with the Sac State Jazz Ensemble.
Nash, a long-standing member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, has become one of the most significant jazz composers of the 21st century. His recordings have received wide critical acclaim, appearing on the “best-of” lists in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Village Voice, and The Boston Globe. "Portrait in Seven Shades", his first big band recording, garnered two Grammy nominations.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $20 general, $15 senior (60+), $10 student (any school)
South Indian vocalist Vid. Saketharaman performs, along with Vid. Kamalakiran Vinjamuri (violin), Vid. Patri Satish Kumar (mridangam), and Vid. Sowmiya Narayanan (ghatam).
Saketharaman is one of the top performing musicians of Carnatic music in India, and is a prime disciple of Padmabushan Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman. He started learning Carnatic vocals from the late Srirangam Krishnamurthy Rao at the age of 4. Saketharaman has composed more than 100 Pallavis using rare talas, which are featured regularly in his concerts.
Student Ensembles
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our auditioned student Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Morse.
Thursday, March 6, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student big bands perform, under the direction of Dr. Greg Johnson and Duncan McElman.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student Concert Band performs, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Morse.
Sunday, March 16, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Sac State's University Chorale and Choral Union perform, under the direction of Dr. Brett Judson. With Dr. Ryan Enright, piano.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student Symphony Orchestra performs, under the direction of Ryan Murray.
Thursday, April 24, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student big bands perform, under the direction of Dr. Greg Johnson and Duncan McElman.
Friday, April 25, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student Opera Theatre program presents their spring production of staged scenes.
Saturday, April 25, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student Opera Theatre program presents their spring production of staged scenes.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student Concert Band performs, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Morse.
Friday, May 2, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student vocal jazz ensembles perform, under the direction of Gaw Vang Williams.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Sac State's University Chorale and Choral Union perform, under the direction of Dr. Brett Judson. With Dr. Ryan Enright, piano.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our auditioned student Symphonic Wind Ensemble performs, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Morse.
Thursday, May 8, 2025 - 7pm
Capistrano Concert Hall - $15 general, $10 senior (60+), $5 student (any school)
Our student Symphony Orchestra performs, under the direction of Ryan Murray.
Music Staff & Student Fee Payer Free Tickets
Music Staff & Student Fee Payers, your free ticket offers are available by using your "My Sac State" login credentials (single sign-on) and adding your Student or Employee ID number as the promo code when asked.
- Start here
- Select Music Fee Payers or Faculty Staff Offer
- Select Event
- Enter your Sac State Student/Employee ID number
- Select Find Tickets
- Select tickets needed
- Free offers include: One (1) ticket per Music Fee account; Up to two (2) Music Faculty tickets
- Additional purchased tickets may be added here
- Click "Text My Tickets" check box while completing transaction if you'd like a link to download your tickets sent directly to you by text
- Complete transaction, logging in with your Sac State Credentials (if not already logged in)
- Add tickets to your Apple or Google wallet
If you weren't texted the link, there are two other options to locate your digital tickets- Locate the email titled "Your Mobile Tickets Have Arrived" and click the hyperlinked text towards the bottom (the title of the event you're attending) in order to access your digital tickets
- OR Add to Wallet links can be found in the Menu under My Account > My Upcoming Events
- Present QR code at the concert to enter
Stay informed:
Please visit csus.edu/music for updates on all things related to the School of Music including a listing of free student degree concerts and any telecast information. Want to know more about upcoming New Millennium Concert Series offerings? Visit their website here.