David
Foster

David Foster is one of the most illustrious composers of our time. With 16 Grammy Awards, including three for Producer of the Year, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and Three Oscar nominations for “Best Original Songs,” Foster has earned a reputation as a keen spotter of new talent, playing a key role in the discovery and career launches of Celine Dion, Josh Groban, and Michael Bublé.

Few other individuals can claim to have their fingerprints on more major moments in all of popular music than DAVID FOSTER. He has created hit songs for a diverse array of artists including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Chicago, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind Fire, Tony Braxton, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Hall Oates, Brandy, ’N Sync, Boz Scaggs, and Gloria Estefan.

In 2008 and 2011, Foster stepped out as a performer in his own right with Hitman, David Foster and Friends PBS specials which became PBS’ highest-rated shows in decades. In 2018/19 Foster started touring with his show ‘An Intimate Evening with David Foster’. The shows garnered rave reviews and were so successful that he now devotes much of his time to selling out concerts around the world. Foster is gearing up to take on Broadway with several projects including writing the music for a new musical about the iconic animated character “Betty Boop.” In 2023 David will released a Christmas album with Katharine McPhee entitled Christmas songs.

Foster has made charitable work his life’s other priority. Meeting with a young girl from his hometown who was awaiting a liver transplant had a profound impact and led him to create The David Foster Foundation in 1986. Its mission is to provide financial support to Canadian families with children in need of live-saving organ transplants, along with a new focus on organ donor awareness.

Katharine
McPhee

Katharine McPhee is one of a handful of artists who takes the lead in a career that includes film, television, Broadway, recording and concert tours. Katharine first burst onto the scene in 2006, during a successful run on Season 5 of AMERICAN IDOL, that made her a household name.

As an actress, she is well-known to television audiences for starring as ‘Paige Dineen’ on the CBS’ spy drama SCORPION (2014-2018), and also as one of the leads in the NBC musical drama SMASH (2012-2013), executive produced by Steven Spielberg. She also starred in the Netflix comedy series, COUNTRY COMFORT (2021). She has also guest-starred in the series CSI: NY, Community, Family Guy, and Ugly Betty.

As a singer, Katharine is renowned for her powerhouse presence, and show-stopping performances. Her recordings have topped the charts in multiple genres including pop, jazz and adult contemporary. A sought-after performer, Katharine has taken the stage for various PBS broadcasts throughout the years, including Foster and Friends, Chris Botti In Boston, and headlining her own SoundStage special.

In Spring 2018, McPhee made her Broadway debut starring as Jenna in the hit musical WAITRESS, featuring music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. She then originated the leading role in the West End production and then returned to Broadway to perform in the shows final weeks. In addition to her acting and singing career, McPhee is a passionate philanthropist, having served as an ambassador for organizations such as BuildOn, Malaria No More, and Feeding America. Katharine continues to perform at many charitable events including The David Foster Foundation of which is an avid supporter.

A veteran of the concert stage, Katharine performs to sold out audiences around the world. Most recently Katharine paired with David Foster to create a show called ‘An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee’. This in demand show has garnered rave reviews and they perform to sold out concert venues around the world. Christmas 2022 Katharine released Part 1 of her Christmas album called Christmas Songs. A collection of Christmas classics produced by David Foster. Part 2 was released Christmas 2023.

Founded in 1910, the San Diego Symphony is the oldest orchestra in California and one of the largest and most significant cultural organizations in San Diego.

The Orchestra performs for more than 250,000 people each season, offering a wide variety of programming at its two much-loved venues, Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center in downtown San Diego (now under renovation) and The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on San Diego Bay. In early 2018, the San Diego Symphony announced the appointment of Rafael Payare as music director. Payare leads the orchestra’s 82 full-time musicians, graduates of the finest and most celebrated music schools in the United States and abroad. The San Diego Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the San Diego Opera each season, as well as performing at several regional performing arts and community centers. For more than 30 years, the San Diego Symphony has provided comprehensive learning and community engagement programs reaching more than 65,000 students annually and bringing innovative programming to San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods and schools. For more information, www.sandiegosymphony.org.

Sean
O’Loughlin

Sean O’Loughlin is the Principal Pops Conductor of Symphoria, the exciting new symphony in Syracuse, NY, and the newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the Victoria Symphony in Victoria, B.C., Canada. A fresh voice and a rising name in the music world, his music is characterized by vibrant rhythms, passionate melodies, and colorful scoring. Commissions from the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra highlight and showcase his diverse musical abilities. As a conductor, he has led performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Victoria Symphony and the Seattle Symphony amongst others.

Recent collaborations include such artists as Sarah McLachlan, Adele, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Journey, Melissa Etheridge, Blue Man Group, Janelle Monáe, Audra McDonald, Hall and Oates, Gloria Estefan, the Indigo Girls, Diana Krall, Itzhak Perlman, Natalie Merchant, Chris Isaak, Pink Martini, Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists, Martina McBride, Josh Ritter, Gloria Gaynor and others.