Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

02/22/2025

In The Soraya’s celebration of 70s and 80s Jazz Fusion, LA’s own Yellowjackets () opened the one-night only concert with GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling () closing the first half out. 👐🏼 Elling returned in the second half to pay tribute to Weather Report, bringing his athletic vocal skills to Wayne Shorter’s sax melodies along with original band member, drummer Peter Erskine. 🥁🎷 A truly Soraya-only concert experience that took you back to a time when jazz was transitioning from its acoustic roots to modern electronic technology.

Photo Credit: Luis Luque, Luque Photography

02/21/2025

to last weeks performance of Jason Moran with “A” Band! ✨ The energy was electric as our talented tore through Duke Ellington’s Jeep’s Blues, so much so that Moran himself turned to the crowd and said, “This band sounds incredible!” 🎷🎶👏

This Jazz at Naz performance wasn’t just a concert, it was a celebration of Ellington’s 125th birthday and a reminder of the powerhouse talent coming out of CSUN. Huge shoutout to these rising jazz stars for making the night unforgettable! 🚀🎵

Photo Credit: Luis Luque, Luque Photography | Luque Photography

02/19/2025

We're ready for our close-up 🤩 Thor Steingraber, executive and artistic director of The Soraya, reflects on 10+ years of bringing diverse, world-class performing arts to the Valley. Check out the feature in Our Ventura Blvd! 🥰

Master collaborator.

02/17/2025

The Reviews Are In! 🌟 Don’t just read about it—experience it LIVE 🔴 at The Soraya on Feb 22, 8PM & Feb 23, 3PM!

💎 A dance icon at 60 years strong, Twyla Tharp’s Diamond Jubilee arrives with Diabelli Variations set to Beethoven and Slacktide to Philip Glass. Mark Swed () calls it “Tharp’s most moving and beautiful ballet.” 🩰

🎟 Don’t miss this milestone! Tickets at TheSoraya.org

💃🏻🕺🏻:

📸 Photo Credit: Twyla Tharp Dance Diamond Jubilee at Northrop. Photo © STUDIO AURA

02/17/2025

Can't make it in person for Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50? Stream it live from home for just $19 USD! 🎶✨

Enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and artist interviews as you witness the legendary Chucho Valdés—GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY®-winning pianist, composer, and founder of Irakere—bring his signature sound to The Soraya. Joining him are trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval and Afro-Cuban funk sensation Cimafunk for a show-stopping finale with a golden broché.

Don’t miss this electrifying celebration of Afro-Cuban jazz! 🔥 Watch live 📽: https://thesoraya.org/en/livestream-pass/

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¿No puedes venir en persona a Chucho Valdés: Irakere 50? ¡Míralo en vivo desde casa por solo $19 USD! 🎶✨

Disfruta de contenido exclusivo detrás de cámaras y entrevistas con los artistas. El legendario Chucho Valdés—ganador de múltiples GRAMMY® y Latin GRAMMY®, pianista y fundador de Irakere—llega a The Soraya junto al increíble Arturo Sandoval y el fenómeno del funk afrocubano Cimafunk. Juntos cerrarán la noche con broche de oro.

¡No te pierdas esta gran fiesta del jazz afrocubano! 🔥

02/17/2025

✨ A Legend in Motion ✨

From Diabelli (1998) to SLACKTIDE (2025), Twyla Tharp continues to shape the future of dance. As she celebrates 60 groundbreaking years, her latest work—set to the music of Philip Glass—proves why she remains one of America’s most visionary choreographers.

Read more about her legacy in LADanceChronicle and join us at The Soraya Sat Feb 22 | 8PM or Sun Feb 23 | 3PM for Twyla Tharp 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee!

For sixty years, Twyla Tharp has audaciously carved new places for her singular style that expanded existing definitions and expectations in contemporary dance, ballet, film, and Broadway. Celebrating that six decade milestone, Tharp and her dancers arrive in SoCal for performances at Costa Mesa’s...

02/10/2025

That’s a wrap on Jazz Club! 🎶 What better way to close out the weekend than with Christian McBride & Ursa Major? Two back-to-back full houses, an electrifying quintet, and a master at the helm 🎺 our stage was alive with next-gen jazz brilliance.

The Jazz at Naz festival continues 👉🏻Next up, Jason Moran, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets take over the Great Hall, bringing their own signature sounds. And to close it all out? A legend among legends, CHUCHO VALDÉS with IRAKERE 50 featuring Special Guest Arturo Sandoval and Cimafunk! You won’t want to miss a moment. 🎷🔥 More details are available at TheSoraya.org.

📸 Photo Credit: Luis Luque | Luque Photography Luque Photography

02/06/2025

Welcome back to the Jazz Club 🎷✨The first night of four was electric! Guests arrived to the glow of gas lamps, with dinner tables set and wine-tasting poured, creating the perfect atmosphere for an intimate evening. Swipe through the gallery to catch a glimpse ✨ of the magic, we saved the best for last! 👉🏻

Lakecia Benjamin took the stage with an undeniable energy. 🔥 We can hardly wait for tonight! If you missed it, there are still a very limited number of tickets available for tonight’s performance. If you already have your tickets but haven’t added dinner to your order, you can do so at check-in. A few extra dinners have been reserved for the evening.

For those who can’t join us in person, livestream passes for Lakecia are available for purchase until 6:59 PM PST tonight. The broadcast begins at 7:50 PM with exclusive introductions from Jazz at Naz host Reggie Quinerly and The Soraya’s Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber.

We look forward to seeing you tonight. 🍾📸✨

🍴Menu designed and curated by The Humble Bee Bakery & Cafè
📍17321 Saticoy St. Northridge, CA 91325

🍷 Wine is proudly sponsored by

📸 Photo Credit: Luis Luque, Luque Photography

02/06/2025

Go beyond the curtain! 🎭✨

Step backstage and experience the magic with exclusive behind-the-scenes content, artist interviews, and a 48-hour replay of your favorite performances. For just $19 USD you can get up close with jazz greats from the comfort of home.

📺 Livestream access is available for the following performances: Lakecia Benjamin & Phoenix, Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Jason Moran Plays Duke Ellington, Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets, and Chucho Valdés: Irakere featuring Arturo Sandoval & Cimafunk.

Want the full experience? Get a Jazz at Naz Pass for $54 and unlock access to all remaining shows in the 2025 Jazz at Naz series!

Learn more at the 🔗 in our BIO.

📸 Photo Credit: Luis Luque, Luque Photography Luque Photography

02/03/2025

Pacific Jazz Orchestra () did it again! 🤩 We’re still buzzing from the pure jazz magic that filled our Great Hall this past weekend! ✨

Jazz at Naz kicked off with a bang, thanks to Eva Noblezada’s powerhouse vocals and hidden comedic talent. The surprises began early when Paris Carney () joined Eva for a duet of “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” setting the tone for an electrifying evening. Later, we were graced with the return of Reeve Carney for a stunning rendition of “All I’ve Ever Known.”

The Pacific Jazz Orchestra, led by Chris Walden, dazzled at every turn. Chris summed up their unique sound best: “[It’s a] symphony orchestra and a jazz big band. A symphony has 80-90 musicians, but no saxophones. *cue the laughter* A jazz big band has trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and rhythm, but no strings. That’s why I created this hybrid concept of a big band and strings.”

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for the Jazz at Naz kick-off! And to those who tuned in via livestream—stay tuned for more. Check out upcoming performances at the link in our bio! 🎶💛

📸 Photo Credit: Luis Luque, Luque Photography | Luque Photography

01/30/2025

🎷 Come one, come all… Jazz is back in the house, and our stage! 🎷

Get ready for a month of unforgettable music with legends and rising stars sharing the spotlight. From Kennedy Center Honoree Arturo Sandoval and Chucho Valdés to the magnetic Lakecia Benjamin, Christian McBride, and Jason Moran. Join us this Saturday, Feb 1 for Broadway’s own Eva Noblezada with Pacific Jazz Orchestra!

Whether you’re sipping wine just feet from the stage at our cozy Jazz Club or soaking in the energy of the Great Hall, every night will be one to remember.

✨ Take a look back at last year’s incredible moments, and get ready to make new ones.

📸 Photo Credit: Luis Luque, Luque Photography Luque Photography

01/24/2025

Kurt Elling joins us on February 15! Get your tickets now at TheSoraya.org

Kurt 2025 🇺🇸🇦🇷🇳🇴🇩🇰🇬🇧

January

24-25 - Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando, FL [Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report w/ Mike Moreno, Joey Calderazzo, Essiet Essiet & Marcus Finnie]
28-31 - The Jazz Cruise, [docking from] Miami, FL [WR]

February

1-4 [same as Jan 28-31]
12 - Fox Tucson Theatre, Tucson, AZ [WR w/ guests Peter Erskine & Yellowjackets]
14 - Soka Performing Arts Center, Aliso Viejo, CA [WR feat. PE & YJ]
15 - Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles, CA [WR feat. PE & YJ]

March

19 - Manship Theatre at Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge, LA [Yellowjackets feat. KE]
25 - McCain Auditorium, Manhattan, KS [WR feat. YJ]
26-29 - Birdland Jazz Club, New York, NY [WR]

April

3 - South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange, NJ [WR]
4-5 - Keystone Korner Baltimore, Baltimore, MD [WR]
9 - Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PA [WR feat. PE]
11 - The Michigan & State Theaters - Marquee Arts, Ann Arbor, MI [WR feat. PE]
22 - Teatro Coliseo, Buenos Aires, ARG

May

7 - BYSCENEN, Trondheim, NOR
8 - Stavangeren, Stavanger, NOR
9 - Cosmopolite Scene, Oslo, NOR
11 - Musikhuset Aarhus, Aarhus, DEN
14-16 - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, UK

April 22 - May is SuperBlue w/ Charlie Hunter

More info: https://kurtelling.com/tour/

Stay tuned for more dates!

📷: Roberto Cifarelli photography

01/24/2025

Don't miss the grand opening of our Jazz at Naz festival! 🤩

Get ready for an unforgettable night of music! The Pacific Jazz Orchestra is teaming up with Broadway sensation EVA NOBLEZADA for an extraordinary performance blending the best of jazz and Broadway.
Sat Feb 1 | 8pm at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts in Northridge
Tickets: https://thesoraya.org/whats-on/en/pacific-jazz-orchestra-with-eva-noblezada/

01/17/2025

Feel the beat, feel the rush – STOMP is a rhythm-filled adventure that ignites the stage with energy like you’ve never seen. From brooms to garbage cans, this world-famous troupe turns everyday objects into a jaw-dropping musical masterpiece. It’s more than a show – it’s an electrifying experience that will have you stomping all the way home. Don’t just hear it. Feel it.

Sat Jan 18 | 3PM
Sat Jan 18 | 8PM ✨ Best Availability ✨
Sun Jan 19 | 3PM

01/14/2025

Dear Soraya Community,

As Los Angeles residents, we struggle to reconcile the grief with the gratitude. With so much loss, the former is impossible to shake. As the leader of a performing arts organization, I personally struggle to balance the sense of helplessness with the power of our purpose. The Soraya is not just a building, it is a place where community resides, and in a time when we are forced to flee, may we also commit to convening. The entire Soraya team will do its best in that regard and any other that contributes positively to the current moment. If you can find solace here, please come.

Presently, we plan to resume regular activity starting today, and proceed with performances this weekend, Jan. 18 and 19. However, we are monitoring the situation closely and will pivot as needed.

Gratefully,
Thor Steingraber

01/03/2025

Today, we celebrate Women Who Rock! 🎤💎

On this day in 1987, the legendary Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It was a moment nothing short of ICONIC.

Check out some of the amazing women rocking our stage this season:

🎶 Eva Noblezada kicks off Jazz at Naz with the brilliant Pacific Jazz Orchestra on Feb 1.

🎷 Lakecia Benjamin brings her powerhouse energy to our Jazz Club for back-to-back nights on Feb 5 & 6.

💃 Twyla Tharp celebrates her 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee on Feb 22 & 23.

🎹  Diana Krall mesmerizes us with her sultry vocals and jazz elegance, closing out our season on May 14!

💖 These women aren’t just performers, they’re trailblazers.

Come share in their magic with us. Snag your tickets at TheSoraya.org or hit the link in our bio!

12/24/2024

✨ We closed out The Soraya’s holiday season this past Thursday with the soulful sounds of Sweet Honey in the Rock () and oh, was it SWEET! 🍯💛✨

From melodies that filled the hall to the joyful dancing making its way to the merch table, it was a celebration of love, unity, and song. 🎶

Thank you to our incredible audience for making this holiday season one to remember! 🎄Your energy and enthusiasm light up our stage every year. 🌟

As we take a brief pause, we’re already gearing up for a spectacular return in January. We’ll kick off 2025 with three electrifying performances of STOMP, followed by the smooth rhythms of our annual Jazz at Naz. There’s so much to look forward to!

💌 From our Soraya family to yours, we wish you happy holidays and a joyous new year filled with love, music, and memories.

🔔 Please note: Our ticket office will be closed from December 21 through January 1 so our team can celebrate with their loved ones. We’ll reopen on January 2, ready to help you with all your ticketing needs.

Rest your feet, recharge your spirits, and get ready for the unforgettable performances to come. Thank you for being part of The Soraya community, we can’t wait to welcome you back in the new year!

📸 Photo Credit: Luis Luque | Luque Photography

12/22/2024

Tune in tonight to celebrate the legendary Arturo Sandoval, a trailblazing virtuoso and one of the world’s greatest trumpeters, as he receives the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors! 🎺 From earning Grammys® to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Sandoval’s extraordinary journey from Cuba to the world stage is a story of resilience, brilliance, and inspiration.

The 47th Honors Premieres tonight at 8:30/7:30c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+

🌟  The celebration doesn’t stop there—join us at The Soraya on February 20 for a breathtaking evening featuring Sandoval alongside Chucho Valdés and Cimafunk for Irakere 50. A night of Afro-Cuban Jazz brilliance you won’t want to miss!

🎶 Experience the passion. Witness the legacy. Celebrate the artistry.

📅 Save the date: February 20, 2025
📸 Photo Credit: (2018) Lonnie Timmons III JazzPhoto.com