A new classical music festival will make its debut this summer in Santa Monica, offering four days of performances that blend contemporary compositions with beloved classics just steps from the Pacific Ocean.
The Santa Monica Music Festival, running July 17-20 at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, represents an ambitious expansion for the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, which has been performing regularly at the venue since 2014.
"We have launched the Santa Monica Music Festival to share world-class music with a community that values the arts, offering something beautiful, inspiring, and healing—especially for those affected by the recent fires," said Benjamin Mitchell, who founded Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra in 2014. "It's about connection, creativity, and coming together through music."
The festival will feature 16 world-class performers presenting music by 20 composers across four evening and matinee programs. The lineup includes several world premieres and U.S. premieres alongside works by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, and BartĂłk.
Opening night on July 17 will feature Will Healy's "Permafrost Ghosts," a world premiere commissioned by Kaleidoscope, paired with Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor. The festival concludes July 20 with a matinee program anchored by Schubert's Octet in F Major.
Contemporary highlights include world premieres by composers Emma O'Halloran, Libby Larsen, Liza Lim, Pamela Z, and Will Healy. The programming reflects Kaleidoscope's commitment to new music, developed through their call for scores program that has received over 10,000 applications from composers in more than 90 countries.
"We brought together a group of 16 world-class performers that are needed for the repertoire we are performing, including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and pianists," Mitchell said. "Some grew up in Santa Monica and are now based elsewhere, and all have been very accomplished, having worked with other major organizations such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and New York Philharmonic."
The festival's venue, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, has served as one of Kaleidoscope's regular performance spaces since the orchestra's inaugural concerts in 2014. Located at 1220 2nd Street, the church offers intimate acoustics and convenient parking through the adjacent city garage.
"It's an intimate space with wonderful acoustics, steps from the beach and many great restaurants, and very easy parking with the city garage right across the street," Mitchell said.
Kaleidoscope distinguishes itself through its collaborative approach to performance. All concerts, even with full orchestra, are performed without a conductor, creating what Mitchell describes as "a very democratic and collaborative rehearsal process."
Since its founding, Kaleidoscope has performed in over 100 locations throughout Southern California, including Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Broad, the Wallis, The Huntington, Hammer Museum, and Union Station. The organization maintains strong community ties, with traditionally over 75% of their annual concerts taking place at hospitals, homeless shelters, and schools.
Regular community partners include Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, LA Family Housing, and Braddock Drive Elementary School.
For the new festival, organizers face the typical challenges of any cultural startup. "The biggest challenges are raising awareness and raising sustainable funding," Mitchell said. "We are looking far into the future and have a vision to expand this festival in the coming years with more programming and educational initiatives, but none of that is possible without sufficient support from the community."
Mitchell expressed optimism about the festival's prospects in Santa Monica. "Santa Monica has long been respected for its commitment to the arts and education, and we're hopeful that the community will embrace this new festival and appreciate the music we are sharing," he said.
Tickets range from $15 for students and children to $250 for preferred seating festival passes. Individual concert tickets start at $35 for general admission and $75 for preferred seating. Festival passes covering all four programs are available for $120.
Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Children ages 6 and older are welcome when accompanied by an adult.
More information and tickets are available at www.kco.la.
