Artists and
Performers

A concert
under the stars

This year’s guest artists will be The Bacon Brothers, led by Emmy-winning composer Michael Bacon and acclaimed actor and musician Kevin Bacon, performing with the San Diego Symphony.

The Bacon Brothers, Ballad Of The Brothers

The Bacon Brothers have spent the better part of three decades exploring their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound “forosoco,” and it’s taken them around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and Gruene Hall.

The exploration continues with the band’s twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It’s a record that highlights not only the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer), but the differences, too. The two siblings may be bound together by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, but they’ve grown into sharp songwriters and cinematic storytellers with their own distinct approaches. Ballad Of The Brothers makes room for both of those approaches, offering a mix of edgy alt-rock (“Take Off This Tattoo”), Motown-inspired soul (“Put Your Hand Up”), fingerpicked folk (“Let That Be Enough”), and everything in between. The album also marks the continuation of a musical partnership that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the Bacons were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul bands, and classic rock acts. Multiple decades and countless shows later, they’re creating their own soundtrack, saluting their old-school influences while making music that’s undeniably modern.

The exploration continues with the band’s twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It’s a record that highlights not only the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer), but the differences, too. The two siblings may be bound together by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, but they’ve grown into sharp songwriters and cinematic storytellers with their own distinct approaches. Ballad Of The Brothers makes room for both of those approaches, offering a mix of edgy alt-rock (“Take Off This Tattoo”), Motown-inspired soul (“Put Your Hand Up”), fingerpicked folk (“Let That Be Enough”), and everything in between. The album also marks the continuation of a musical partnership that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the Bacons were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul bands, and classic rock acts. Multiple decades and countless shows later, they’re creating their own soundtrack, saluting their old-school influences while making music that’s undeniably modern.

San Diego Symphony Orchestra

The San Diego Symphony Orchestra stands among the nation’s leading orchestras and serves as a dynamic cultural ambassador for the United States and the San Diego region. Led by President and Chief Executive Officer Martha Gilmer and Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare, its 82 internationally distinguished musicians bring artistry of the highest caliber to audiences at home and abroad.

Now in a defining period in its history, the San Diego Symphony is shaping a forward-looking vision of the 21st-century American orchestra. Globally connected and firmly grounded in its community, the Symphony’s artistic life is anchored by two iconic venues: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, a striking open air performance space on the San Diego waterfront, and the recently renovated Jacobs Music Center, now a premier concert hall and architectural landmark.

Since his appointment in 2019, Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare has led a period of significant artistic expansion, sharpened the ensemble’s sound, and deepened its expressive range. The Orchestra presents a broad and ambitious repertoire, from cornerstone symphonic works to major new commissions, and collaborations with leading artists of our time, positioning San Diego as a destination for leading conductors, soloists, composers, and creative partners. Its profile continues to grow through regional and national appearances and an increasingly visible presence on the global stage.

Guided by its mission of Changing Lives Through Music, the Symphony serves more than 65,000 students, families, educators, military service members, and nonprofit partners each year. In schools and neighborhoods throughout the region, its programs integrate music into daily learning and expand access to live performance. Sustained binational collaborations with artists, youth, and cultural institutions across the San Diego-Tijuana region further reflect the shared cultural identity of this community.

The Orchestra debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2013 and returned in 2023 under Payare to an enthusiastic audience and positive critical notice. Its 2022 recording of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905,” was praised by Gramophone as “right up there with the best we have.”

Learn more at www.sandiegosymphony.org.

Christopher Dragon

Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is the Music Director of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, newly appointed Music Director of the Philly Pops and is the Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony which he joined in the 2015/16 Season as Associate Conductor. Before moving to the United States, Dragon held the inaugural position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra where he was mentored by Asher Fisch.

Dragon has a versatile portfolio ranging from live-to-picture performances including Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a wide variety of collaborations with artists such as The Wu-Tang Clan, Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Bell, to standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire such as Danny Elfman’s Percussion Concerto; all areas of which he has become highly sought after. Christopher has become known for his charisma, high energy and affinity for a good costume, consistently delivering unforgettable performances that has made him an audience favourite.

Recent highlights include his sold-out symphony tour with Gregory Alan Isakov, which included debuts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Nashville Symphony, a new orchestral collaboration with Nathaniel Rateliff and his successful German debut with the WDR Funkhausorchester.