SummerFest 2023 SYNERGY Weekend

SYNERGY SERIES
SummerFest 2023 sees the return of the Synergy Initiative, a series co-produced by Inon Barnatan and Clara Wu Tsai, which invites top creators of music, dance, spoken word and visual arts to collaborate across their different art forms and produce performances that inspire our audiences in unexpected and powerful ways.
Join us for three exciting Synergy events in one thrilling weekend!
Additional funding for Synergy provided by

Louis Cato, bandleader of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, makes his La Jolla Music Society debut
Jazz @ The JAI
THE LOUIS CATO BAND
Thursday, August 17 · 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Louis Cato, bandleader of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, makes his La Jolla Music Society debut leading his band in a delightful evening of jazz in the intimate atmosphere of The JAI.

Spoken word artist and activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph

Artistic Director, Ailey II, Francesca Harper reimagines CARNIVAL OF ANIMALS

Legendary dancer Wendy Whelan reimagines CARNIVAL OF ANIMALS
CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
Friday, August 18 · 7:30 PM
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
A special preview performance of a reimagination of Carnival of the Animals co-commissioned by La Jolla Music Society for SummerFest’s Synergy Initiative
WENDY WHELAN, MARC BAMUTHI JOSEPH, FRANCESCA HARPER
This reimagination of Carnival of the Animals is the story of our shifting societal values told through the lens of spoken word artist and activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph (VP/Artistic Director of The Kennedy Center), legendary dancer Wendy Whelan (Associate Artistic Director, New York City Ballet), and acclaimed choreographer Francesca Harper (Artistic Director, Ailey II). Featuring festival artists Inon Barnatan, Geneva Lewis, Gabriel Martins, and Joyce Yang.

Louis Cato, bandleader of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, makes his La Jolla Music Society debut

The Synergy Series at La Jolla Music Society includes Clarinetist Mark Dover

Tessa Lark is part of the Synergy Series at La Jolla Music Society

La Jolla Music Society's Synergy Series includes Bassist Michael Thurber
AMERICAN CLASSIC: CATO/DOVER/LARK/THURBER
Saturday, August 19 · 7:30 PM
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
A musical explosion of joy with four creative powerhouses meeting at the intersection of blues, classical music, jazz and songwriting. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader Louis Cato joins GRAMMY nominees Tessa Lark and clarinetist Mark Dover, along with Broadway-bound composer/bassist Michael Thurber, for never-before-heard originals, arrangements, and improvisations that bring seemingly disparate stylistic influences into an organic, unique sonic experience.
Cover art: Lee Mullican, Electric Night, 1967. Oil on canvas, 36 ¼ x 76 in. (92.1 x 193 cm.)
Collection Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Gift of Ruth Gribin, 2011.31
Photographer: Pablo Mason © Lee Mullican, 1967