Orchestra Santa Monica Presents Gomez and Brahms

Orchestra Santa Monica opens its 2026-27 season on Sunday, October 18, 2026, and the program is a good argument for staying on the Westside for live music. Among the concerts in Los Angeles this month, this is one of the few that pairs a brand-new commission with a pillar of the symphonic repertoire.

When: Sunday, October 18, 2026, 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Where: The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, Santa Monica

What is on the program

The evening centers on the world premiere of a new work by Jason Anthony Gomez, who is the orchestra's first-ever Composer-in-Residence. A premiere at the opening concert signals how the season wants to be heard: as a living repertoire, not only a museum of favorites.

The second piece is Vaughan Williams' Oboe Concerto, a lyrical, pastoral work. The soloist is Ryan Roberts, the LA Phil's Principal Oboe and a Santa Monica native, making his debut with Orchestra Santa Monica. A hometown musician returning to play with a community orchestra is the kind of detail that gives a night like this its warmth.

The closer is Brahms' Symphony No. 1, one of the great achievements in the symphonic literature. It took Brahms years to finish, and it rewards a full hall: the slow-burning opening, the long melodic arcs of the middle movements and the broad hymn-like theme in the finale all land harder live than on a recording.

What to expect

Orchestra Santa Monica is a long-running community-rooted ensemble, and the Broad Stage is a comfortable, well-appointed hall for orchestral sound. Expect a classical concert with a short interval, a friendly crowd and a dress code that runs from casual to dressed up. Plan on roughly two and a half hours including the break, which fits neatly into a Sunday afternoon.

If you are filling out a list of things to do in Los Angeles this weekend, this is an easy anchor: start with an afternoon concert, then take a walk through downtown Santa Monica afterward.

Practical info

Ticket pricing was not listed on the source page, so check the official event page before you go for current availability and prices. The Broad Stage sits on the Santa Monica College campus, with campus parking nearby and the Expo Line's Downtown Santa Monica station within a short rideshare or bus connection. Arrive early on a concert day to park without rushing.

Looking for more nearby? Browse the Santa Monica neighborhood page or the full concerts category for more live music across the city.