Featuring Violin Virtuoso Alexi Kenney
In a nod to America’s 250th anniversary, the Santa Barbara Symphony presents An American in Paris on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the Granada Theatre. Conducted by Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, this stirring program highlights four distinctive American masters who, collectively, have helped shape and define America’s musical heritage.
This portrait of America in sound begins with Charles Ives’ Three Places in New England, a work that layers Civil War–era melodies, marching bands, and hymns into an innovative American soundscape. Samuel Barber’s beloved Violin Concerto follows, performed by internationally acclaimed violinist Alexi Kenney. Praised for his lyrical sensitivity and fearless virtuosity, Kenney brings extraordinary emotional depth to Barber’s soaring melodies and electrifying finale.
The second half briefly turns inward with contemporary composer Jennifer Higdon’s luminous Blue Cathedral. With its rich orchestration and serene conclusion, this piece creates a moment of collective stillness inside the hall. From that calm, The Symphony bursts into George Gershwin’s vibrant, jazz-tinged An American in Paris. With swaggering rhythms, bluesy harmonies, bright orchestral colors, and even the famous taxi horns, Gershwin’s classic closes out the concert with energy and optimism.
“This concert reveals many sides of the American musical spirit,” shared Santa Barbara Symphony Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti. “Some moments are bold and thought-provoking, others are lyrical and reflective. By the end, Gershwin’s joyful energy will leave the audience uplifted.”
For President and CEO Kathryn R. Martin, this concert represents more than a musical tribute to an American milestone. It transcends the stage.
“As America marks its 250th anniversary, the Santa Barbara Symphony celebrates something just as enduring: the human need to gather, to listen together, and to feel something in common,” shared Martin. “For more than 70 years, our purpose in this community is not only to perform great music, but to create shared experiences that remind us of who we are and what connects us across generations.”
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Tickets for An American in Paris can be purchased online, in person, or by calling the Granada Theatre box office at (805) 899-2222. For additional details, visit TheSymphony.org. Subscriptions for the 2026/27 Season are also now available, and if purchased on or before May 16, 2026, patrons will receive a pair of free tickets for Mahler’s Resurrection. Call (805) 898-9386 or visit The Symphony website for details.
THE ARTISTS
Nir Kabaretti, conductor
Alexi Kenney, violin
THE REPERTOIRE
Ives| Three Places in New England
Barber | Violin Concerto
Jennifer Higdon| Blue Cathedral
Gershwin| An American in Paris
EVENT SPONSORS
Principal Concert Sponsor
Barbara Rosenblum
Artist Sponsors
Ann & Eric Capogrosso
Selection Sponsors
Janet A. Garufis
Judd* & Susan Lundt *in memoriam
Anne F. Sage & Jesse D. Sgro
Pat & Terry Straehley
Wallin Studios
MikeWeems
ABOUT ALEXI KENNEY
Violinist Alexi Kenney has built an international career marked by artistic curiosity and inventive programming. In recent seasons, he has appeared with leading orchestras across North America and Europe and performed at major venues including Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall. A winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and laureate of the Menuhin Competition, Kenney is also deeply committed to chamber music, performing regularly at festivals such as Ojai, Marlboro, and Ravinia. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, he is a founding member of the ensemble Owls and is recognized for blending traditional repertoire with contemporary and newly commissioned works. Click here for Kenney’s full biography.
