2026 Arts Preview: Our top San Diego classical music picks for the coming year

Along with the performances concerts highlighted here today, classical-music aficionados can also look forward to the San Diego Symphony’s five-concert Brahams Festival starting in late February, Mainly Mozart’s popular All-Star Orchestra Festival in June, SummerFest’s dynamic four weeks of chamber-music-and-beyond beginning in July, and the symphony’s lovely outdoor concerts at the Rady Shell throughout the summer.

San Diego New Music: 18th Annual soundON Festival

This year’s three-day gathering, titled “Liebestod — myths of love and death,” explores the “territory spanned by the corridor of our existence … bordered by history on one side and myth on the other.” Conductor/guitarist Colin McAllister and flutist Lisa Cella are among the SoundON mainstays who will perform these intriguing programs, including several world premieres. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8-10. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla. $12-$32 for each concert; $32-$89 for all three. 858-454-5872, ljathenaeum.org

UC San Diego Wednesdays@7: Susan Narucki

Soprano and UCSD professor Susan Narucki is a 2026 Grammy Best Classical Solo Vocal nominee for her album, “György Kurtág’s Kafka Fragments.” Narucki, who has three previous Grammy nominations and one win, will step away from Kurtág for this concert and explore a fusion of poetry and music. Her guests will be pianist Donald Berman and coloratura soprano Kirsten Ashley Wiest. The two singers will perform two world premieres that will be included on their upcoming recording project. 7 p.m. Jan. 14. Conrad Prebys Concert Hall, 9410 Russell Lane, UCSD, La Jolla. $10-$20. music-web.ucsd.edu/concerts/cms_index.php

Mainly Mozart: Savor Every Note

In its second year, this series continues its concertmaster and wine-pairing concept. Starting with an open hors d’oeuvres reception, each concert will feature a performance paired with wines that reflect the music. The first Savor Every Note in 2026 will feature Nurit Bar-Josef, the concertmaster of Washington, D.C.’s prestigious National Symphony. The multisensory event concludes with coffee, chocolates and social time with vintners and artists. 4 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11. Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, 15150 San Dieguito Road, Rancho Santa Fe. $125 single bistro seating. 619-239-0100, mainlymozart.org

Bodhi Tree Concerts: Pancho Rabbit & the Coyote

This moving, entertaining bilingual opera was composed by UCSD professor and Pulitzer Prize-winner Anthony Davis. Based on a well-known children’s book, the opera’s world premiere will star nationally touring tenor Victor Ryan Robertson (as the coyote) and Mexican soprano Mariana Flores Bucio (Pancho Rabbit). It will be presented in two locations. 7 p.m. Jan. 17; 4 p.m. Jan. 18. Southwestern College Performing Arts Center, 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista. $40-$75 (front rows free for K-12 children). 7 p.m. Jan. 31. Casa de Cultura, Avenida Paris y C. Lisboa 5, Centro, Tijuana 619-546-7660, panchorabbit.org

Bach Collegium San Diego: Bach’s Mass in B Minor

The talented singers and musicians of BCSD will perform this huge, landmark work. It has 26 individual sections that display the remarkable variety of Bach’s compositional styles. The concert runs for two hours with intermission. It will be presented at two locations. 7 p.m. March 21 at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. And 4 p.m. March 22 at All Souls’ Episcopal Church, 1475 Catalina Blvd., Point Loma. $15.53-$72.45. 619-341-1726, bachcollegiumsd.org

Poway Symphony Orchestra: Mendelssohn Classics

Los Angeles-based, Seoul-born violinist YuEun Gemma Kim is the featured guest soloist in this concert devoted to the romantic works of Felix Mendelssohn. Music Director John LoPiccolo will conduct. 4 p.m. March 22. Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway. $15-$55. powaysymphonyorchestra.org

Le Salon de Musiques: Winterreise, 24 Songs for Baritone & Piano

This soiree-like series offers champagne, buffet and post-concert conversations with the musicians. Founder and Artistic Director Francois Chouchan, who was classically trained in his native France, will team up with baritone John Buffett to perform Schubert’s masterful and emotional Winterreise song cycle. 4 p.m. April 12. The La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla. $69-$120. 310-498-0257, lesalondemusiques.com

La Jolla Music Society: Danish String Quartet with the Danish National Girls’ Choir

This collaboration, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall, celebrates a millennium of women-centered music. The acclaimed quartet and the choir of 50 singers (aged 16-22) will perform an intriguing mix of old and new works, including Nordic folk songs and works by such composers as UCSD alum Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Pulitzer-Prize winners Caroline Shaw and David Lang. 3 p.m. April 12. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $65-$98. 858-459-3728, theconrad.org

Art of Elan and La Jolla Music Society: ‘Dancing on Tiptoes’

The excellent musicians from Art of Elan will perform selections from the Australian Chamber Orchestra recording, “Collective Wisdom.” This North American premiere, subtitled “A Musical Exploration of Melody, Movement and Mood,” is a multimedia event centered on how music can help people through hard times. 10 and 11:30 a.m. April 25. The JAI, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $25-$38. 619-678-1709, artofelan.org

San Diego Symphony: Also sprach Zarathustra & Bluebeard’s Castle

Topping off an ambitious season, the symphony takes on two challenging and impressive pieces: Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra (“Thus Spoke Zarathustra”). Bluebeard’s, a one-act opera, will feature Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill and British baritone Mark Stone. Symphony Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare will conduct these monumental works. 7:30 p.m. May 22; 2 p.m. May 24. Jacobs Music Center, 750 B Street, downtown. $42-$125. 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org