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A group of friends with no acting experience set out to make a sitcom inspired by life in Ocean Beach. The creators of "End of the 8" share how a passion project became an award-winning series powered by community, creativity and a whole lot of DIY spirit.

Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Rafael Payare, conductor Tasha Hokuao Koontz, soprano Nikola Printz, mezzo-soprano Viktor Antipenko, tenor Hansung Yoo, baritone JIMMY LÓPEZ: Symphony No. 6, "Monarch" BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral” Two symphonies – one newly written, one timeless – come together in a celebration of nature, humanity, and hope. Peruvian born composer and San Diego Symphony Composer in Residence Jimmy López draws inspiration from the natural world that unites the Americas along the Pacific coast. In his Symphony No. 6, he turns to one of nature’s most wondrous phenomena: the migration of monarch butterflies. López transforms their journey into sound—a vivid meditation on transformation, endurance, and the fragile harmony between life and environment. The program culminates with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, a work that forever changed the symphonic form with its visionary finale setting of Friedrich Schiller’s "Ode to Joy." Written in defiance of personal struggle, the work transcends boundaries of time and culture, uniting orchestra, chorus, and audience in a single voice of exaltation. Its words and music – celebrating joy, brotherhood, and freedom – remain an anthem of shared humanity. Together, these two symphonies embody an unbroken continuum: López’s reflection on nature’s resilience and Beethoven’s immortal affirmation of the human spirit. In both, we are reminded of music’s power to lift us beyond division and reconnect us to wonder. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Joshua Weilerstein, conductor Jeff Thayer, violin KLEIN: Partita for Strings BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No. 1 DVORÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, “From the New World” Joshua Weilerstein leads an East European journey of remembrance and rediscovery. The program opens with Gideon Klein’s Partita for strings, adapted from the young Czech Jewish composer’s 1944 "String Trio," written in the Theresienstadt concentration camp shortly before his death at age 25. Its Moravian folk song variations – tender, haunting, and defiant – are both a farewell and an elegy of hope. Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1, never heard in his lifetime, was written in 1907 as a love offering to violinist Stefi Geyer. Its two movements chart the arc of passion – from glowing lyricism to dazzling virtuosity – with music that reveals the composer’s heart at its most vulnerable. San Diego Symphony concertmaster Jeff Thayer performs as soloist. The concert closes with Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”, one of the world’s most beloved symphonies. Written during the composer’s American sojourn, it fuses Czech lyricism with the rhythms and spiritual depth of Black American music shared with him by composer Harry T. Burleigh. For some, it embodies the American experience; for others, it expresses the longing of exile. Whatever one’s perspective, its timeless melodies remind us that great music speaks across cultures – connecting memory, identity, and the universal human spirit. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Osmo Vänskä, conductor Alessio Bax, piano SIBELIUS: "Pojhola’s Daughter" GRIEG: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 NIELSEN: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 Finnish maestro Osmo Vänskä returns to San Diego with a thrilling Nordic program featuring music by Sibelius, Grieg, and Nielsen – three towering voices of the North. Sibelius’s tone poem "Pohjola’s Daughter," inspired by the Finnish epic Kalevala, tells of a white bearded hero who glimpses the radiant daughter of the God of the North weaving gold on a rainbow. When she sets him impossible tasks, she vanishes into the sky, leaving him to journey alone through the frozen landscape. Sibelius translates this myth and the glow of the Northern Lights into orchestral poetry. Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor remains one of the most beloved Romantic concertos – lyrical, exuberant, and steeped in Norwegian folk-dance rhythms. Its soaring melodies and dazzling piano writing have captivated audiences for over a century. The program concludes with Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5, a gripping, two movement masterpiece written in the aftermath of World War I. Defiant and visionary, it contrasts serene lyricism with eruptive power, culminating in a blazing resolution in E flat Major. Its notorious snare drum battle still electrifies audiences, as chaos ultimately yields to radiant order – a breathtaking testament to human resilience and renewal. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos brings their energy to Jacobs Music Center, joined by the dazzling Ballet Folclórico Chiquina Palafox in a joyful celebration of Mexican traditions. Please Note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this Jacobs Music Center Special Presentation. Mariachi Los Camperos on Facebook / Instagram

Charlie Parker’s bebop legacy remains ignited as jazz titan Charles McPherson leads a powerhouse ensemble. Together they will unleash high-flying lines, propulsive swing, and the fiery spirit of Bird in a one-night celebration of virtuosity, innovation and pure musical heat. Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this Jazz @ The Jacobs concert. Charles McPherson on Facebook / Instagram

Last seen with La Jolla Music Society in 2021, the GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist Yuja Wang makes her highly anticipated return to San Diego in recital. Yuja Wang, one of today’s leading pianists, is celebrated for her charismatic artistry and electrifying spontaneity. She is an Artistic Partner of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, premiering major collaborations and touring globally. Please note: This is a rental event of the Jacobs Music Center, presented by La Jolla Music Society. The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this event. Yuja Wang on Instagram

A broad assortment of gently used books of all types, with an emphasis on adult fiction. Purchasing books from the Friends’ book sales is a great way to enhance your own personal home library while supporting the activities at San Diego Public Library branches, and support your neighborhood and your community. Friends of the San Diego Public Library, Balboa Chapter on Instagram

Alisa Weilerstein, cello Project Creator: Alisa Weilerstein Director: Elkhanah Pulitzer Set/Lighting Designer: Seth Reiser Costume Designer: Molly Irelan Artistic Producer/Advisor: Hanako Yamaguchi Composers featured in this edition of the FRAGMENTS Series include Gabriela Lena Frank, Gabriella Smith, Gerard McBurney, Johann Sebastian Bach, Mathilde Wantenaar and Osvaldo Golijov. Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this Jacobs Music Center Special Presentation. Alisa Weilerstein on Facebook / Instagram

Sir Mark Elder, conductor PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131 DVORÁK: "The Wood Dove," Op. 110 JANÁCEK: "Taras Bulba;" Rhapsody after Gogol Sir Mark Elder, one of Britain’s most distinguished conductors, leads a dramatic program pairing Prokofiev’s luminous final symphony with powerful Czech tone poems by Dvorák and Janácek. Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7, written in 1952 for Soviet Radio, was conceived for young audiences yet reveals profound nostalgia and tenderness. Its graceful melodies and transparent textures recall the innocence of Peter and the Wolf, reframed through the wisdom of age. Closing with a quiet, deeply moving farewell, the symphony stands as Prokofiev’s last masterpiece – a poetic reflection on childhood and memory. Dvorák’s "The Wood Dove" tells a haunting story of guilt and redemption: a woman who poisons her husband is tormented by the cooing of a dove on his grave until she meets her tragic fate. Dvorák’s love of birds and the Bohemian countryside infuses the work with striking authenticity and emotional depth. Janácek’s Taras "Bulba," based on Gogol’s epic tale of heroism and sacrifice, unfolds as a vivid orchestral drama. Propelled by Janácek’s unmistakable rhythmic energy, its three scenes – betrayal, execution, and prophecy – paint a searing portrait of courage and loss. Together, these works reveal Slavic storytelling in all its power – lyrical, dramatic, and deeply human. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram