Announcing Soka Performing Arts Center’s Landmark 15th Anniversary Season

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Inside the Soka Performing Arts Center. Photo courtesy of Soka PAC

Soka Performing Arts Center proudly presents its 2025–2026 Season, celebrating fifteen years of artistic excellence with an extraordinary lineup of global icons, classical virtuosos, genre-defying ensembles, and family-friendly performances. This 15th Anniversary Season delivers a diverse slate and reflects Soka Performing Art Center’s ongoing mission to present world-class music in one of Southern California’s most acoustically superb concert halls. Tickets on sale Monday, August 4^th at 12:00PM.

The season opens on September 26^th, 2025 with GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov, who returns to our hall with his profound artistry and technical brilliance. His appearance sets the tone for a season steeped in classical prestige.

Continuing its tradition of presenting the West Coast’s only solo classical piano series, Soka Performing Arts Center welcomes celebrated pianists including welcoming back GRAMMY®-award winning Yefim Bronfman, Angela Hewitt, known for her crystalline interpretations of Bach, and Marc-André Hamelin, renowned for his virtuosic range and musical insight. Rising star Shunta Morimoto will return with a bold program featuring Brahms and Rachmaninoff alongside conductor Scott Dunn the Four Seasons Orchestra.

Soka Performing Arts Center is proud to welcome Alexander Shelley, the newly appointed Music Director of Pacific Symphony, for his debut on our stage as part of the Sundays@Soka series. This exciting new chapter in the Symphony’s leadership will be beautifully framed by a poignant milestone: Carl St.Clair’s final appearance conducting the Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra, bringing the season to a close in April.

Adding to the season’s highlights, the collaboration with Philharmonic Society of Orange County welcomes back Joshua Bell and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields for a landmark performance featuring one of the world’s most esteemed violinists and chamber ensembles. In addition, the beloved Vienna Boys Choir returns for Christmas in Vienna, offering a holiday program steeped in tradition and purity of sound.

Jazz, fusion, and global influences play a vital role this season, beginning with a performance by saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd, appearing with his Sky Trio. Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble bring together a dynamic blend of soul, jazz, and funk. Renowned pianist Mike Garson, best known for his decades-long collaboration with David Bowie, will perform for one night only in a powerful tribute for Cancer Teamwork Response fundraiser dedicated to Bowie’s legacy. The season also features a powerful collaboration with the South Coast Symphony, highlighting Black composers and artists in an inspiring program titled Celebrating Black Artists, as well as their annual Young Stars of the Future showcase.

On the vocal and acoustic front, audiences can look forward to an evening with legendary singer-songwriters Karla Bonoff and Dan Navarro, whose timeless songwriting and heartfelt performances continue to resonate across generations. Opera lovers will be treated to Puccini’s Tosca, presented by Parnassus Opera and the Parnassus Virtuosi Orchestra, bringing high drama and sweeping romanticism to the stage.

Seasonal traditions continue with the return of Celtic Christmas, featuring Titanic piper Eric Rigler and guitarist Dirk Freymuth, brings Celtic melodies for a festive Soka Performing Arts Center holiday favorite. Family-friendly programming is also at the heart of the season, with performances by the Bob Baker Marionettes presenting their Halloween Spooktacular, and a free Family Concert by the Orange County Youth Symphony in January.

From global rhythms to classical masterworks, and iconic voices to emerging stars, the 2025–2026 Season at Soka Performing Arts Center is a celebration of musical excellence, community, and imagination.

Tickets are on sale August 4^th at NOON for all performances. For the complete season calendar, artist details, and to purchase tickets, visit www.soka.edu/pac or contact the Box Office at (949) 480-4278.

Soka Performing Arts Center is located at 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. Summer Box Office walk-up hours are 12-4PM Monday-Friday and one hour prior to show times on show days.