February 7, 2026
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Oscar-winning Guest Conductor Michael Giacchino will be Conducting the Samohi Symphony Orchestra concert Tomorrow:

Michael Giacchino

The magic of film and animation unites with the rich sounds of the Samohi Orchestras as they host "Around the World and Beyond" Friday, April 29, Oscar-winning Guest Conductor Michael Giacchino will be conducting the concert.

The vibrant community-wide event aims at celebrating the performing arts programs in the Santa Monica/Malibu school district with a fun family evening.

The Samohi Orchestras will celebrate the work of Animation Director Hayao Miyazaki, with the  American premiere of “Howl’s Moving Castle,” and “Spirited Away.” Other magical places represented in the concert will be Narnia, Springfield, a toy box, Gotham, and the United Federation of Planets.

The event will be held at the historic Barnum Hall located on the Santa Monica High School campus. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Outside of Barnum will be a pop-up Novel Café restaurant, desserts, and beverages available for purchase. “Come dressed as your favorite character,” organizers said. “Photo opportunities galore!”

“The orchestra students have been asking to perform music from Miyazaki anime for a long time,” said Joni Swenson, director of the Samohi Orchestras. “We look forward to showcasing the wonderful orchestral talent we have at Samohi through this beloved music.”

The "Around the World and Beyond" concert is open to the public and tickets are available for purchase in advance online at www.samohiorchestras.org. Tickets are priced as follows: adults $10; students $5; adults 65+ $5. If still available, tickets can also be purchased at the door that evening.

Proceeds from the concert benefit the many efforts of the Samohi Orchestras program including music coaches for all orchestras and scholarships for students without access to private lessons. For more information, please visit www.samohiorchestras.org and the Samohi Orchestra Facebook page.

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