August 14, 2026 at 8 PM | Frautschi Hall at Caltech Campus

Ever wonder why a phrase feels right in one performance and flat in another? Musicologist Harlow Robinson joins us to dig into everything that shapes an interpretation: the composer’s life, the politics swirling around when a piece was written, nationalism, style, even how the instruments themselves have changed over time. He’ll also tackle the question we couldn’t resist asking — how can you, as a listener, tell when a performer has really gotten inside all of that?

This started as a session for our adult amateur workshop, but it was too good to keep to ourselves.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 8 PM
Dabney Lounge at Caltech

On the first evening of our Chamber Music Workshop, Members are welcome to join us for an informal, no-pressure sightreading party with Resident Artists and workshop participants. Not a Member? Join here.

Saturday, June 6, 2026 - 1:00 PM
Virginia Robinson Gardens

Celebrate the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of Jane Austen with an elegant afternoon tea at the timeless Virginia Robinson Gardens. Set among blooming pathways and shaded terraces, this special gathering pairs the charm of a traditional garden tea with live music performed by Salastina’s string quartet (Maia Jasper White, Kevin Kumar, Meredith Crawford, and Yoshika Masuda), featuring selections from Austen’s era and works inspired by the romance and wit of her novels. Guests will enjoy a full, traditional tea service with both savory and sweet courses—no need for lunch first!—served outdoors in the gardens. With music that evokes the world of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, this is an afternoon designed for lingering, connection, and a touch of Regency-era magic.

We will be selling the floral centerpieces featured at the event to support Vital Sounds and the Composer Collective.

Flip through the digital program book here.
View the raffle and prizes here.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Doctor Laura Brodian Freas Beraha and Mr. Steven Beraha, English Regency Dance Instructors
Chef Becky Reams, Chef
Mercedes Curran, Designer

This event has sold out. Join the waitlist through the button below to be contacted if tickets become available.

The Menu

The Welcome Libation

The "Whist Table" Spritz A refreshing June aperitif of macerated strawberries, elderflower liqueur, and sparkling wine.

The Reference: A nod to the high-stakes card games and sparkling conversation of a Regency evening; strawberries were the prized jewel of the Donwell Abbey gardens.

Savory Bites

"East India" Curried Lamb Lollipops Sous-vide lamb lollipops (or curried cauliflower florets) seasoned with Madras spices, served with a mango-ginger chutney and minted coconut yogurt.

The Reference: As the East India Company’s influence peaked, "curry" became a fashionable novelty in London. The Austen family’s own ties to India make these exotic spices a mark of worldliness and wealth.

Mr. Collins’ "Excellent Boiled Potato" Bites Crispy twice-baked potato filled with aged white cheddar, topped with lemon-dill crème fraîche and delicate micro-chives.

The Reference: In Pride and Prejudice, the awkward Mr. Collins famously compliments these "excellent boiled potatoes." This dish elevates his humble obsession into a luxurious, high-end bite.

Netherfield Ball White Soup Shooters A velvety cauliflower and Marcona almond velouté, served warm with a drop of white truffle oil.

The Reference: Mr. Bingley’s ball could not take place until the "white soup" was ready. This rich, almond-based cream soup was a definitive staple of Regency high-society balls.

Barton Cottage Watercress Tea Sandwiches Hand-cut brioche ribbons layered with whipped tarragon butter, peppery watercress, and translucent shavings of breakfast radish.

The Reference: Representing the "rustic and wild" nature of the Dashwood sisters in Sense and Sensibility, these sandwiches elevate the simple ingredients found at their modest Hampshire cottage.

Sweet Bites

The "Pemberley Greenhouse" Tart A delicate shell filled with Meyer lemon and orange flower custard, finished with a lemon verbena Chantilly cream.

The Reference: Ownership of an "orangery" or greenhouse was the ultimate status symbol of the ultra-wealthy, like Mr. Darcy, allowing for exotic citrus even in the English climate.

"Chawton" Lemon & Rosemary Shortbread Classic buttery shortbread fingers infused with garden rosemary and lemon zest, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.

The Reference: Honoring Jane Austen’s final home in Chawton, where she wrote her most famous works amidst the scents of a traditional English herb garden.

Honey & Lavender Scones A floral, fragrant take on the classic tea-time staple.

Assorted Artisan Macarons A modern nod to the delicate "French style" sweets that began appearing in London’s finest confectionaries

Music to be Performed

George Onslow: Quartet Op. 9 No. 2 in C - 1st mvt

Ignaz Pleyel: Quartet in C minor, Ben. 341 - 1st mvt

A Selection of Regency Dances, arr. Helen Bell

Joseph Haydn: Quartet in G minor, Op. 74 No. 3 "The Rider" - slow mvt

Rachel Portman, arr. Philip White: “Emma” End Titles

Saturday, May 23, 2026 @ 3 PM - West LA + Livestream
A-Frame Theater at The Wende Museum

Salastina Members’ Preview and Q&A @ 1:30 PM- 2:30 PM

Brian Lauritzen leads our audience in our patented game of Guess The Composer. Though we’ve practiced every note, we still don’t know who wrote the music. In this audience-favorite musical guessing game, even the performers are in the dark about the composers’ identities. The audience joins us in sleuthing out the clues. Is that a hint of Haydn? A whiff of of Walton? A shade of Shostakovich? Or is it a total red herring? We’ll guess together, laugh together, and delight in the fact that classical music is more about curiosity and connection than the comfort of the familiar. (And yes: you’ve guessed the composers’ identities correctly more than we have.) This Happy Hour is free to attend.

Salastina Members are invited to be a part of the conversation before the concert. Join us from 1:30 PM - 2 PM to watch the rehearsal. Then stick around from 2 PM 2:30 PM for a moderated Q&A with Brian Lauritzen and our Resident Artists. Hear the mysterious pieces before the rest of the audience and hear why the Resident Artists chose their pieces. Pssst, this means you’ll have a little extra time to think about and guess who the composers are! RSVP here to let us know if you’ll be attending. If you cannot join in person, watch the Members preview and concert livestreams in the Members’ Lounge.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

In-person tickets are free; Livestream $10; Livestream for Salastina Members is free

Artists:
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host and Artistic Partner
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Resident Harpist

Flip through the digital program book here.

This event has sold out. Join the waitlist through the button below to be notified when tickets become available.

May 2, 2026 @ 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 4:30 PM - Highland Park
Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Salastina and Bob Baker Marionette Theater join forces for an afternoon where music and puppetry share the stage. Together, they bring Munro Leaf’s Ferdinand the Bull and Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf to life. Between adventures, children (and curious grown-ups) are invited to explore an instrument petting zoo.  After the show, everyone is welcome to enjoy complementary ice cream. The 1:30 PM performance features special guest narrator Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), who leads us through each tale with her signature wit, warmth, and theatrical sparkle.

Tickets are $28 including fees. Children ages 2 and under who will be sitting on a lap are FREE and do not need their own ticket! All guests must be at least 16 years of age or have a parent or guardian present. 

Artists:
Bob Baker Marionette Theater Staff and Puppeteers
Philip White, Narrator (10:30 AM and 4:30 PM)
Rachel Bloom, Narrator (1:30 PM)
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Ted Botsford, Guest Bassist
Antonina Styczen, Guest Flutist
Ted Sugata, Guest Oboist
Chris Stoutenborough, Guest Clarinetist
Jordan Farber, Guest Bassoonist
Sarah Bach, Guest Horn
Amy Ksandr, Guest Percussionist

Peter and the Wolf, for narrator and ensemble, Op. 67
Composed by Sergei Prokofiev
Arranged by David Matthews
Presented under license from G. Schirmer, Inc., copyright owners.

Sunday, Apr 26, 2026 @ 3 PM - Pasadena + Livestream
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music

Three piano quintets bridge time and taste through music that’s beloved, overlooked, and brand-spanking new. On the program: Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat Major anchors the program with its unmistakable warmth and sweep. Alongside it, Julius Röntgen’s rarely heard Piano Quintet No. 2 in A minor offers a fresh perspective from a composer who never achieved fame. His obscurity was due to the rapid evolution of 20th century music and to being overshadowed by (and even confused for) his famous uncle, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen — who won the first Nobel Prize for discovering X-rays. The program culminates in a world premiere by Composer Collective alumnus Nicholas Edwards, continuing a tradition of music that connects past and present in real time.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host
Nicholas Edwards, Composer

Flip through the digital program book here.

Saturday, Apr 25, 2026 @ 7 PM - OC
Laguna Art Museum

Three piano quintets bridge time and taste through music that’s beloved, overlooked, and brand-spanking new. On the program: Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat Major anchors the program with its unmistakable warmth and sweep. Alongside it, Julius Röntgen’s rarely heard Piano Quintet No. 2 in A minor offers a fresh perspective from a composer who never achieved fame. His obscurity was due to the rapid evolution of 20th century music and to being overshadowed by (and even confused for) his famous uncle, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen — who won the first Nobel Prize for discovering X-rays. The program culminates in a world premiere by Composer Collective alumnus Nicholas Edwards, continuing a tradition of music that connects past and present in real time.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Nicholas Edwards, Composer

Flip through the digital program book here.

Sunday, April 19, 2026 @ 3 PM - West LA
Moroccan Room at The Village Studios

Three piano quintets bridge time and taste through music that’s beloved, overlooked, and brand-spanking new. On the program: Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat Major anchors the program with its unmistakable warmth and sweep. Alongside it, Julius Röntgen’s rarely heard Piano Quintet No. 2 in A minor offers a fresh perspective from a composer who never achieved fame. His obscurity was due to the rapid evolution of 20th century music and to being overshadowed by (and even confused for) his famous uncle, physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen — who won the first Nobel Prize for discovering X-rays. The program culminates in a world premiere by Composer Collective alumnus Nicholas Edwards, continuing a tradition of music that connects past and present in real time.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

Flip through the digital program book here.

Sunday, March 1, 2026 @ 3 PM - Pasadena + Livestream
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music

Before the concert hall, there was the salon. Before the grand piano, the fortepiano. This program invites you into the sound world of Beethoven and Schubert as they themselves might have heard it: with warm gut strings, responsive transitional bows, and a fortepiano’s round touch. On the program: Beethoven’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Major and Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, “Spring” as well as Schubert’s Piano Trio in B Flat Major.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring"
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Cello and Piano, No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 -Intermission-
Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B Flat Major

Artists:
Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Kevin Kumar, Host

Flip through the digital program book here.

Friday, February 27, 2026 @ 7 PM - Palos Verdes
The Neighborhood Church of Palos Verdes Estates

Before the concert hall, there was the salon. Before the grand piano, the fortepiano. This program invites you into the sound world of Beethoven and Schubert as they themselves might have heard it: with warm gut strings, responsive transitional bows, and a fortepiano’s round touch. On the program: Beethoven’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Major and Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, “Spring” as well as Schubert’s Piano Trio in B Flat Major.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring"
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Cello and Piano, No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 -Intermission-
Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B Flat Major

Artists:
Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Kevin Kumar, Host

Flip through the digital program book here.

Looking for the livestream? It’s on March 1, 2026. Buy tickets here.

Sunday, February 22, 2026 @ 3 PM - West LA
William Turner Gallery at the Bergamot Station Arts Center

Before the concert hall, there was the salon. Before the grand piano, the fortepiano. This program invites you into the sound world of Beethoven and Schubert as they themselves might have heard it: with warm gut strings, responsive transitional bows, and a fortepiano’s round touch. On the program: Beethoven’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Major and Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, “Spring” as well as Schubert’s Piano Trio in B Flat Major.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring"
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Cello and Piano, No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 -Intermission-
Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B Flat Major

Artists:
Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Kevin Kumar, Host

Flip through the digital program book here.

Looking for the livestream? It’s on March 1, 2026. Buy tickets here.

Saturday, February 21, 2026 @ 7:30 PM - OC
Laguna Art Museum

Before the concert hall, there was the salon. Before the grand piano, the fortepiano. This program invites you into the sound world of Beethoven and Schubert as they themselves might have heard it: with warm gut strings, responsive transitional bows, and a fortepiano’s round touch. On the program: Beethoven’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Major and Sonata for Violin and Piano in F Major, “Spring” as well as Schubert’s Piano Trio in B Flat Major.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring"
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Cello and Piano, No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69 -Intermission-
Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B Flat Major

Artists:
Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Kevin Kumar, Host

Flip through the digital program book here.

Looking for the livestream? It’s on March 1, 2026. Buy tickets here.

Saturday, January 31, 2026 @ 3 PM - Pasadena + Livestream
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music

This program celebrates the evocative power of French music for strings, flute, and harp. At its heart is the rarely heard Jean Cras, a naval officer-composer whose music lends modern color to Romanticism. Alongside him: Saint-Saëns’ elegance, Ravel’s refined sensuality, and Debussy — who bristled at the label Impressionist — offering sound worlds more exacting, expressive, and immersive than any Monet fridge magnet.

Program:
Camille Saint-Saëns: Fantaisie for Violin and Harp, Op. 124
Jean Cras: String Trio — I., II. Lento, III. Animé, IV. Tres animé

INTERMISSION

Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp — I. Pastorale: Lento, dolce rubato, II. Interlude: Tempo di Minuetto, III. Finale: Allegro moderato ma risoluto
Jean Cras: Harp Quintet — I. Assez animé, II. Animé, III. Lent, IV. Très animé

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Kevin Kumar, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Zachary Mowitz, Guest Cellist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

Flip through the digital program book here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Sunday, January 25, 2026 @ 3 PM - West LA
Harp Center Los Angeles

This program celebrates the evocative power of French music for strings, flute, and harp. At its heart is the rarely heard Jean Cras, a naval officer-composer whose music lends modern color to Romanticism. Alongside him: Saint-Saëns’ elegance, Ravel’s refined sensuality, and Debussy — who bristled at the label Impressionist — offering sound worlds more exacting, expressive, and immersive than any Monet fridge magnet.

Program:
Camille Saint-Saëns: Fantaisie for Violin and Harp, Op. 124
Jean Cras: String Trio — I., II. Lento, III. Animé, IV. Tres animé

INTERMISSION

Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp — I. Pastorale: Lento, dolce rubato, II. Interlude: Tempo di Minuetto, III. Finale: Allegro moderato ma risoluto
Jean Cras: Harp Quintet — I. Assez animé, II. Animé, III. Lent, IV. Très animé

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Kevin Kumar, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Zachary Mowitz, Guest Cellist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

Flip through the digital program book here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on January 31, 2026. Buy tickets here.

Saturday, January 24, 2026 @ 4 PM - Palos Verdes
The Neighborhood Church of Palos Verdes Estates

This program celebrates the evocative power of French music for strings, flute, and harp. At its heart is the rarely heard Jean Cras, a naval officer-composer whose music lends modern color to Romanticism. Alongside him: Saint-Saëns’ elegance, Ravel’s refined sensuality, and Debussy — who bristled at the label Impressionist — offering sound worlds more exacting, expressive, and immersive than any Monet fridge magnet.

Program:
Camille Saint-Saëns: Fantaisie for Violin and Harp, Op. 124
Jean Cras: String Trio — I. , II. Lento, III. Animé, IV. Tres animé

INTERMISSION

Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp — I. Pastorale: Lento, dolce rubato, II. Interlude: Tempo di Minuetto, III. Finale: Allegro moderato ma risoluto
Jean Cras: Harp Quintet — I. Assez animé, II. Animé, III. Lent, IV. Très animé

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Kevin Kumar, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Zachary Mowitz, Guest Cellist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

Flip through the digital program book here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on January 31, 2026. Buy tickets here.

Friday, January 23, 2026 @ 7:30 PM - Lake Forest
Chamber Music | OC

This program celebrates the evocative power of French music for strings, flute, and harp. At its heart is the rarely heard Jean Cras, a naval officer-composer whose music lends modern color to Romanticism. Alongside him: Saint-Saëns’ elegance, Ravel’s refined sensuality, and Debussy — who bristled at the label Impressionist — offering sound worlds more exacting, expressive, and immersive than any Monet fridge magnet.

Program:
Camille Saint-Saëns: Fantaisie for Violin and Harp, Op. 124
Jean Cras: String Trio — I., II. Lento, III. Animé, IV. Tres animé

INTERMISSION

Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp — I. Pastorale: Lento, dolce rubato, II. Interlude: Tempo di Minuetto, III. Finale: Allegro moderato ma risoluto
Jean Cras: Harp Quintet — I. Assez animé, II. Animé, III. Lent, IV. Très animé

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Kevin Kumar, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Zachary Mowitz, Guest Cellist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

Flip through the digital program book here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on January 31, 2026. Buy tickets here.

December 14, 2025 @ 11 AM - DTLA
Pompeian Room at the Doheny Mansion at Mount Saint Mary’s University

Step into a Victorian winter wonderland at Salastina’s signature Christmas Tea. Set in the opulent Pompeian Room of the historic Doheny Mansion, this festive gathering features traditional carolers, a string quartet performing music of the era, and a lavish holiday tea service. The Yuletide Carolers, an a capella Dickensian quartet, serenades you upon entry. With its unforgettable setting, replete with a twenty-foot Christmas tree (under an ombre glass dome made of 2,836 pieces of original Tiffany gold-favrile glass).

Salastina proudly presents this performance in partnership with The Da Camera Society.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Linnea Powell, Guest Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Geoff Osika, Guest Bassist
The Yuletide Carolers

Program and Menu:

Welcome cocktail:

• Rosemary winter berry spritzer 

First Course

Musical selections:

• Anonymous 15th-century English Carol: There Is No Rose

• Hans Adolph Brorson (arr. Danish String Quartet): Now Found Is The Fairest Of Roses

• Herbert Howells (arr. Philip White): A Spotless Rose

Savory selections:

• Crab croquette with smoked ham and remoulade 

• Seared duck breast with satsuma and cranberry relish and parsnip puree on toasted brioche 

• Point Reyes cheese with endive, toasted walnut and pickled apples

• Deviled eggs with herb salad 

Second Course

Musical selection:

• Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane (arr. Danish String Quartet): Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

• Traditional English Carol (arr. Danish String Quartet): God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

• Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen: Shine Ye No More (16th-century)

Scones:

• Buttermilk scones with spiced apple butter and clotted cream

Third Course

Musical selection:

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, III. Elegie

Dessert selections:

• Vanilla bean pavlova with lemon curd, seasonal fruit and berries and chantilly cream 

• Festive sugar “snowflake” cookies 

• Peppermint chocolate tea cakes 

• Assorted macarons 

Final Musical selection:

• Medley of 19th-century Christmas Carols (arr. Philip White)

Teas:

• Spiced black tea and peppermint herbal tea

Flip through the digital program book here.

Tickets are $185 and include a lavish holiday tea service. Please contact the box office for any last minute ticket availability.

December 13, 2025 @ 2 PM - DTLA
Pompeian Room at the Doheny Mansion at Mount Saint Mary’s University + Livestream

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon in the stunning Doheny Mansion, where Emmanuel Ceysson, the dynamic and virtuosic harpist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, takes center stage. With a background that includes principal positions at the Paris Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, and an international reputation for exuberant and boundary‑pushing performances, Ceysson brings his infectious energy and poetic flair to both conversation and performance. This relaxed, intimate event invites you to enjoy a friendly exchange with the artist and be swept away by the shimmering harp up close, all within the warm, historic elegance of the mansion.

Salastina proudly presents this performance in partnership with The Da Camera Society.

Guest Artist:
Emmanuel Ceysson, Harpist

Program:
Marcel Tournier: "Images" Suite No. 4, Op. 39
Claude Debussy, arr. Emmanuel Ceysson: Suite Bergamasque, L75
Marcel Tournier: Sonatine, Op. 30
Conversation & Q&A

Flip through the digital program book here.

Thursday, November 20, 2025 @ 6 PM - Pasadena
Maxwell House

Step into the elegance of the 18th century for an evening of music, mystique, movement, and merriment.

Eat and drink your fill of Viennese delectables prepared by two-time James Beard Award nominee Bernhard Mairinger, former Chef de Cuisine at Patina Group — the first to introduce Los Angeles to authentic, fine Austrian cuisine. Meanwhile, Salastina’s Co-Artistic Director Maia Jasper White and Ann Moore Resident Pianist HyeJin Kim bring Mozart’s music to life. Dance along as Justin Coates of A Dance Through Time teaches us an authentic Minuet as it would have been danced in Mozart’s time and place.

Guests are invited to don their finest masquerade attire and enjoy a night where period style meets artistry, period. For costume rentals, we recommend exploring Behind the Scenes Costumes, Adele’s of Hollywood, Jeri’s Costumes, and the Private Rentals available at Western Costume.

All proceeds support Salastina’s live concerts, Vital Sounds virtual bedside concerts at Huntington Health, and the Salastina Composer Collective.

Each $375 ticket includes $285 in goods and services (dinner and concert), with $90 tax-deductible.

Salastina thanks Dr. Nirav Kamdar, Marianne and Abdelmonem Afifi, Viren Mehta, and Amita Rodman for sponsoring the event.

Artists:
Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinist
HyeJin Kim, Ann Moore Resident Pianist
Justin Coates, Historic Dance Instructor

Flip through the digital program book here.

Friday, November 14, 2025 @ 7:30 PM - Pasadena + Livestream
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music

Sometimes, music soars. Sometimes, it aches. And sometimes, it refuses to resolve — until it finally does. This program explores the fragile, cathartic space between dissonance and harmony. From Mozart’s “Dissonance” Quartet and Janáček’s Intimate Letters to Prokofiev’s lyrical modernism, Caroline Shaw’s crystalline sound world, and Gesualdo’s haunting Renaissance chromaticism, this is music that finds beauty in unrest, and invites us to do the same.

In memory of Dr. Bill Sloan

Program:
Christopher Theofanidis: Visions and Miracles — II. Peace, Love, Light YOUMEONE
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, No. 19 “Dissonant” — I. Adagio - Allegro
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet “Intimate Letters,” — III. Moderato
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major — I. Allegro sostenuto

INTERMISSION

Charles Ives: String Quartet No. 2 — II. Arguments
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — II. Echo
Carlo Gesualdo, arr. Maia Jasper White: Beltà, poi che t’assenti
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — I. Nimrod
Ruth Crawford Seeger: Quartet 1931 — III. Andante
Paul Wiancko: LIFT

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

A complimentary wine reception with the artists will follow. For more information on our venues and parking, please visit here. Flip through the digital program book here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Livestream $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Sunday, November 9, 2025 @ 7:30 PM - OC
Chamber Music | OC

Sometimes, music soars. Sometimes, it aches. And sometimes, it refuses to resolve — until it finally does. This program explores the fragile, cathartic space between dissonance and harmony. From Mozart’s “Dissonance” Quartet and Janáček’s Intimate Letters to Prokofiev’s lyrical modernism, Caroline Shaw’s crystalline sound world, and Gesualdo’s haunting Renaissance chromaticism, this is music that finds beauty in unrest, and invites us to do the same.

In memory of Dr. Bill Sloan

Program:
Christopher Theofanidis: Visions and Miracles — II. YOUMEONE
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, No. 19 “Dissonant” — I. Adagio - Allegro
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet “Intimate Letters,” — III. Moderato
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major — I. Allegro sostenuto

INTERMISSION

Charles Ives: String Quartet No. 2 — II. Arguments
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — II. Echo
Carlo Gesualdo, arr. Maia Jasper White: Beltà, poi che t’assenti
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — I. Nimrod
Ruth Crawford Seeger: Quartet 1931 — III. Andante
Paul Wiancko: LIFT

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

A complimentary wine reception with the artists will follow. For more information on our venues and parking, please visit here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on November 14, 2025. Buy tickets here.

Saturday, November 8, 2025 @ 3 PM - West LA
Moroccan Room at The Village Studios

Sometimes, music soars. Sometimes, it aches. And sometimes, it refuses to resolve — until it finally does. This program explores the fragile, cathartic space between dissonance and harmony. From Mozart’s “Dissonance” Quartet and Janáček’s Intimate Letters to Prokofiev’s lyrical modernism, Caroline Shaw’s crystalline sound world, and Gesualdo’s haunting Renaissance chromaticism, this is music that finds beauty in unrest, and invites us to do the same.

In memory of Dr. Bill Sloan

Program:
Christopher Theofanidis: Visions and Miracles — II. YOUMEONE
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, No. 19 “Dissonant” — I. Adagio - Allegro
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet “Intimate Letters,” — III. Moderato
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major — I. Allegro sostenuto

INTERMISSION

Charles Ives: String Quartet No. 2 — II. Arguments
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — II. Echo
Carlo Gesualdo, arr. Maia Jasper White: Beltà, poi che t’assenti
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — I. Nimrod
Ruth Crawford Seeger: Quartet 1931 — III. Andante
Paul Wiancko: LIFT

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist

A complimentary wine reception with the artists will follow. For more information on our venues and parking, please visit here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on November 14, 2025. Buy tickets here.

Friday, November 7, 2025 @ 7:30 PM - Palos Verdes
Private residence in Palos Verdes

Sometimes, music soars. Sometimes, it aches. And sometimes, it refuses to resolve — until it finally does. This program explores the fragile, cathartic space between dissonance and harmony. From Mozart’s “Dissonance” Quartet and Janáček’s Intimate Letters to Prokofiev’s lyrical modernism, Caroline Shaw’s crystalline sound world, and Gesualdo’s haunting Renaissance chromaticism, this is music that finds beauty in unrest, and invites us to do the same.

In memory of Dr. Bill Sloan

Program:
Christopher Theofanidis: Visions and Miracles — II. YOUMEONE
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, No. 19 “Dissonant” — I. Adagio - Allegro
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet “Intimate Letters,” — III. Moderato
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major — I. Allegro sostenuto

INTERMISSION

Charles Ives: String Quartet No. 2 — II. Arguments
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — II. Echo
Carlo Gesualdo, arr. Maia Jasper White: Beltà, poi che t’assenti
Caroline Shaw: Three Essays — I. Nimrod
Ruth Crawford Seeger: Quartet 1931 — III. Andante
Paul Wiancko: LIFT

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist

A complimentary wine reception with the artists will follow. For more information on our venues and parking, please visit here.

General Admission $45; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount

Ticket sales for this concert close on November 7, 2025 at 5 PM. Please note that this venue is not wheelchair or ADA accessible. Please contact us at salastina@salastina.org with any questions or concerns.

Looking for the livestream? It’s on November 14, 2025. Buy tickets here.

Saturday, October 11, 2025 @ 3 PM Pasadena
Private Residence in San Marino; address to be provided to ticket buyers the week of the event

The upheavals of 20th-century Russia left an indelible mark on its greatest composers. Some stayed loyal to their homeland. Some fled. Some sought refuge there. And others redefined music abroad.

Flutist Benjamin Smolen and pianist HyeJin Kim bring these stories vividly to life in a program that traces the journeys of four composers shaped by exile, return, and reinvention:

• Prokofiev, who left the USSR in search of artistic freedom and stability, then returned — navigating hope, patriotism, and the restrictions of a tightly controlled artistic life

• Rachmaninoff, who left and never returned

• Weinberg, who escaped Nazi-occupied Poland and rebuilt his life in Moscow

• Stravinsky, who reinvented himself on the world stage and changed music forever

Guided by Ben’s illuminating commentary, this recital blends history, storytelling, and deep musical artistry.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Mieczyslaw Weinberg: 5 Pieces for Flute and Piano
Igor Stravinsky, arr. Benjamin Smolen:  Suite Italienne

INTERMISSION

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude for Solo Piano - Op 23 Nos. 4 & 5, Op 32 Nos. 5 & 10
Sergei Prokofiev: Flute Sonata in D, Op 94

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist

Ticket information:

• General Admission $80

• Students with ID: $10

• Salastina Members at the Friend-level and above receive a 20% discount

This event is now sold out. Please join the waitlist by clicking the button below.

Looking for the livestream? It’s on September 27, 2025. Buy tickets for the livestream here.

Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 7:30 PM - Santa Barbara
Lehmann Hall at Music Academy of the West

The upheavals of 20th-century Russia left an indelible mark on its greatest composers. Some stayed loyal to their homeland. Some fled. Some sought refuge there. And others redefined music abroad.

Flutist Benjamin Smolen and pianist HyeJin Kim bring these stories vividly to life in a program that traces the journeys of four composers shaped by exile, return, and reinvention.

• Prokofiev, who left the USSR in search of artistic freedom and stability, then returned — navigating hope, patriotism, and the restrictions of a tightly controlled artistic life

• Rachmaninoff, who left and never returned

• Weinberg, who escaped Nazi-occupied Poland and rebuilt his life in Moscow

• Stravinsky, who reinvented himself on the world stage and changed music forever

Guided by Ben’s illuminating commentary, this recital blends history, storytelling, and deep musical artistry.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Mieczyslaw Weinberg: 5 Pieces for Flute and Piano
Igor Stravinsky, arr. Benjamin Smolen:  Suite Italienne

INTERMISSION

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude for Solo Piano - Op 23 Nos. 4 & 5, Op 32 Nos. 5 & 10
Sergei Prokofiev: Flute Sonata in D, Op 94

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist

Ticket information:

• General Admission $45

• Students with ID: $10

• Salastina Members at the Friend-level and above receive a 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on September 27, 2025. Buy tickets for the livestream here.

Saturday, September 27, 2025 @ 3 PM - OC + Livestream
Charlie and Ling Zhang Orchestra Hall at Concordia University Irvine

The upheavals of 20th-century Russia left an indelible mark on its greatest composers. Some stayed loyal to their homeland. Some fled. Some sought refuge there. And others redefined music abroad.

Flutist Benjamin Smolen and pianist HyeJin Kim bring these stories vividly to life in a program that traces the journeys of four composers shaped by exile, return, and reinvention:

• Prokofiev, who left the USSR in search of artistic freedom and stability, then returned — navigating hope, patriotism, and the restrictions of a tightly controlled artistic life

• Rachmaninoff, who left and never returned

• Weinberg, who escaped Nazi-occupied Poland and rebuilt his life in Moscow

• Stravinsky, who reinvented himself on the world stage and changed music forever

Guided by Ben’s illuminating commentary, this recital blends history, storytelling, and deep musical artistry.

Complimentary reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Mieczyslaw Weinberg: 5 Pieces for Flute and Piano
Igor Stravinsky, arr. Benjamin Smolen:  Suite Italienne

INTERMISSION

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude for Solo Piano - Op 23 Nos. 4 & 5, Op 32 Nos. 5 & 10
Sergei Prokofiev: Flute Sonata in D, Op 94

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist

Ticket information:

• General Admission $45

• Students with ID: $10

• Livestream: $10

• Salastina Members at the Friend-level and above receive a 20% discount

In partnership with Concordia University Irvine

Friday, September 26, 2025 @ 7:30 PM - West LA
Moroccan Room at The Village Studios

The upheavals of 20th-century Russia left an indelible mark on its greatest composers. Some stayed loyal to their homeland. Some fled. Some sought refuge there. And others redefined music abroad.

Flutist Benjamin Smolen and pianist HyeJin Kim bring these stories vividly to life in a program that traces the journeys of four composers shaped by exile, return, and reinvention:

• Prokofiev, who left the USSR in search of artistic freedom and stability, then returned — navigating hope, patriotism, and the restrictions of a tightly controlled artistic life

• Rachmaninoff, who left and never returned

• Weinberg, who escaped Nazi-occupied Poland and rebuilt his life in Moscow

• Stravinsky, who reinvented himself on the world stage and changed music forever

Guided by Ben’s illuminating commentary, this recital blends history, storytelling, and deep musical artistry.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Mieczyslaw Weinberg: 5 Pieces for Flute and Piano
Igor Stravinsky, arr. Benjamin Smolen:  Suite Italienne

INTERMISSION

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Prelude for Solo Piano - Op 23 Nos. 4 & 5, Op 32 Nos. 5 & 10
Sergei Prokofiev: Flute Sonata in D, Op 94

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist

Ticket information:

• General Admission $45

• Students with ID: $10

• Salastina Members at the Friend-level and above receive a 20% discount

Looking for the livestream? It’s on September 27, 2025. Buy tickets for the livestream here.

Curious about our venues and parking? Click here for more info.

Sunday, September 7, 2025 @ 2 PM - Glendale
Concert at a private residence in Glendale

Back by popular demand! Join Salastina’s Resident Artists for an intimate afternoon of chamber music, camaraderie, and connection in the home of Salastina’s Co-Artistic Director Maia Jasper White. Designed especially for adult amateur musicians, this salon offers the rare chance to read through favorite chamber works side-by-side with professionals in a supportive, joy-filled setting. We can’t think of a better living expression of Salastina’s mission: to break down barriers between performers and audience, and to celebrate music as something we share — not just perform. This free event is exclusively open to active Salastina Members and guests.

Saturday, August 30, 2025 @ 12 PM - Online
Salastina’s Zoom Room

Join us for our virtual event for conversation with and world premieres from this year’s Sounds Promising cohort. Featuring premieres by Rain Hou, Veronika Reutz Drobnić, Sergey Nesterov, Nicholas Edwards, and Daixuan Ai.

Read more about our 2025 Sounds Promising cohort here.

Tickets: FREE

Please note this FREE event requires a Zoom account. Sign up for a free account at https://zoom.us/signup.

Sunday, August 24, 2025 @ 3 PM - West LA + Livestream
A-Frame Theater at The Wende Museum

Pianist Gloria Cheng is a muse to composers from John Williams to Esa-Pekka Salonen. In this afternoon of music and conversation, Gloria shares stories, insights, and spellbinding performances in equal measure. With half the program devoted to dialogue and the other to a40-minute mini-recital, this is a rare chance to engage with a living legend — up close and unscripted. On the program: selections from Gloria's album Root Progressions, including a movement from John Williams' Conversations. This Happy Hour is FREE to attend and seats are sure to sell out ahead of time, so secure your tickets early before they're gone.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow. More info on our venues and parking here.

In-person tickets to this concert are free; Livestream $10 (free for Salastina Members)

Program:
Erich Zeisl: selected Pieces for Barbara
Tomàs Peire: selected Microludes
John Williams: "Strays, Duke, and…Blind Tom,” from Conversations
Gernot Wolfgang: “Shift,” from Two Pieces Pierre Boulez: Courtes dérives à partir d’Éclat
Anthony Davis: “Turquoise," from Piano Heaven Adelaide Pereira da Silva: Valsa Chôro