2026 Laguna Beach Music Festival Led by Artistic Director, Stefan Jackiw

The following is a statement from an organization unaffiliated with Culture OC. The information provided has been written by the submitting organization and not by the writers at Culture OC. We include this on our site in the spirit of sharing information about the arts and culture community in Orange County. Press releases can be submitted to info@cultureoc.org.

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Laguna Beach Live! are pleased to announce the 24th annual Laguna Beach Music Festival—taking place from February 2 to February 7, 2026—featuring violinist Stefan Jackiw as Festival Artistic Director. Guest artists include: Kevin Ahfat, piano; Yoonah Kim, clarinet; the Parker Quartet; musicians from the Colburn School; Steven Schick, conductor; and Xai Yaj, story artist. This festival is underwritten by Hung Fan and Michael Feldman, Joan Halvajian, the Jelinek Family Trust, Betsy and Gary Jenkins, Lauren and Richard Packard, Christopher Quilter, and the City of Laguna Beach.

 2026 FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: STEFAN JACKIW

Stefan Jackiw is one of America’s leading violinists, praised for playing of “uncommon musical substance” and exceptional intelligence and sensitivity (Boston Globe). He has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras including the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Symphonies, and performs regularly in top concert halls and festivals worldwide. A dedicated chamber musician and advocate for new music, Jackiw is a member of the Junction Trio, Artistic Director of the Hawaii Chamber Music Festival, and a recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant.

 2026 FESTIVAL GUEST ARTISTS

Canadian pianist Kevin Ahfat is acclaimed for performances that combine expressive depth with technical finesse, praised for his “balanced mix of expressiveness and virtuosity” (Musical America). A core member of the three-time Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble, he appears widely as a soloist and chamber musician across North America and abroad, with performances at major halls including Koerner Hall, Merkin Hall, and Maison symphonique. Named one of CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” Ahfat is also Artistic Director of OPUS Chamber Music and an active collaborator in innovative performance, recording, and educational projects.

Clarinetist Yoonah Kim, praised by The New York Times for her “inexhaustible virtuosity,” is a versatile artist active as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. She launched her international career by winning the 2016 Concert Artists Guild International Competition—the first solo clarinetist to do so in nearly 30 years—and has since appeared at major venues including Carnegie Hall and with orchestras across the United States. A former member of Carnegie Hall–Juilliard’s Ensemble Connect, Kim is a Duo Music and Vandoren Artist.

Founded in 2002 at the New England Conservatory, the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet is known for its deep musical partnership and adventurous programming. Shaped by mentorship from leading chamber musicians and extensive international touring, the ensemble gained wide recognition after winning the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition and receiving a 2011 Grammy for its recording of the complete Ligeti string quartets. Now in its third decade, the Parker Quartet continues to present intellectually and emotionally engaging performances while remaining deeply committed to the string quartet tradition.

The young artists from Colburn are drawn from the Conservatory of Music, which has produced exceptional performers at the highest level since its founding in 2003. Established with the goal of preparing instrumentalists for professional careers, the Conservatory offers world-renowned faculty, outstanding performance opportunities, and full scholarships covering tuition, room, and board. As a result, Colburn graduates emerge as dynamic soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral players who go on to distinguished international careers, bringing the school’s standard of excellence to major stages around the world.

Percussionist, conductor, and author Steven Schick is widely regarded as one of the foremost champions of contemporary percussion music. Called by The New Yorker “one of our supreme living virtuosos,” he has shaped the field for more than five decades and was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2014. Schick is the author of The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams, a celebrated recording artist, and Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of California, San Diego.

FESTIVAL CONCERTS

Opening Night: Masterful Duos (Thursday, February 5, 2026, 8pm, Laguna Playhouse)—The Festival’s opening concert features violinist Stefan Jackiw joined by two-time Juilliard Concerto Competition winner pianist Kevin Ahfat. This concert features a dynamic program spanning Baroque to contemporary music, from the meditative stillness of Arvo Pärt’s Fratres to the expressive power of Brahms’ Sonata No. 3 in D minor. Works by Handel, Prokofiev, and Conrad Tao highlight contrasts in style, energy, and emotion, offering audiences a compelling journey across musical eras. A pre-concert lecture by KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen will take place at 7pm.

Kreutzer Sonata (Friday, February 6, 2026, 8pm, Laguna Playhouse)— Built around the theme of the Kreutzer Sonata, this program reflects Stefan Jackiw’s deep admiration for the work—one he said he “fell in love with” in a 2020 Violin Channel interview. Inspired by the psychological intensity of Leo Tolstoy’s 1889 novella “The Kreutzer Sonata,” Janáček’s four-movement work weaves themes of love, desire, and inner turmoil into a powerful emotional journey. Before the performance, original illustrations by Xai Yaj set the stage by introducing the narrative of Tolstoy’s story. For this performance, Jackiw is joined by pianist Kevin Ahfat as well as the Parker Quartet.

American Voices (Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7pm, Laguna Playhouse)—The Festival closes with a musical tribute to some of America’s great composers performed by Jackiw alongside pianist Kevin Ahfat, clarinetist Yoonah Kim, the Parker Quartet, musicians from the Colburn School, and conductor Steven Schick. Hear Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” one of the most iconic American compositions of the 20th century and works by Leonard Bernstein, Florence Price, and Eric Nathan. 

Ticket Information: Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Ticket prices start at $41 for each concert. Tickets are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at (949) 553-2422 and online at www.lagunabeachmusicfestival.com.  

FESTIVAL SPECIAL EVENTS

Festival Prelude (Wednesday, February 3, 2026, Laguna Art Museum)—Get a glimpse into the 2026 Laguna Beach Music Festival with hors d'oeuvres, dessert and wine followed by an intimate performance from 2026 Festival Artistic Director, Stefan Jackiw! The Laguna Art Museum sets the mood for an engaging evening celebrating music in Laguna Beach. Tickets are $190 per person. Space is limited. 

For questions, please contact Zach Edwards at zach@philharmonicsociety.org, or (949) 553-2422, ext. 204.

ENGAGEMENT & DISCOVERY EVENTS

The Festival is dedicated to building community enrichment by creating multiple engagement opportunities to share the love of music. More community engagement events will be announced closer to the Festival date.

Performance and Q&A - Thursday, February 5, 2026, 10am-11amLaguna Beach Community and Susi Q Center

Artist to be announced. Reservation Required

** All artists, dates, venues, programs, and prices are subject to change.