Events
Classic Series
The Magic of Sleeping Beauty
Saturday
Jan 24, 2026
7:30 pm
Alberta Bair Theater
2801 3rd Ave N
$20-77
San Diego Ballet
Josephine Grayl, double bass
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty (selections from the ballet)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 39
Fairies, a princess, and one unforgettable kiss! This enchanting concert features selections from Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, performed by principal dancers from the San Diego Ballet Company who share the stage with the symphony. With dreamlike melodies layered atop a romantic fairy tale, Tchaikovsky once said The Sleeping Beauty was “the best of all my compositions.” We couldn’t agree more! Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 and 2025 MASO Young Artist Josephine Grayl round out the program.
Call 406-256-6052 to order tickets or 406-252-3610 for more information.
- This concert will feature guest artist Josephine Grayl on the double bass. Josephine is the 2025 MASO Young Artists Competition winner in the Junior Division. This competition provides rising young musicians from across the state a chance to compete for the rare opportunity to perform as soloists with one or more Montana orchestras. We haven't had a double bass solo in 20 years and are excited to have her on stage.
- Sleeping Beauty is Tchaikovsky's second of three ballets that he wrote over his life. Commissioned by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, the Director of the Imperial Theatres in St. Petersburg, Tchaikovsky did not hesitate to accept the commission even thought his first ballet (Swan Lake) was met with little enthusiasm. While this ballet is mainly focused on the tale of Sleeping Beauty, it contains many other fairytale characters such as Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Tom Thumb, and many others.
Guest Artists
The San Diego Ballet
Founded in 1990 by Robin Morgan, the San Diego Ballet features strong classical and contemporary ballets created by award-winning resident choreographer and Artistic Director, Javier Velasco. San Diego Ballet strives to truly represent San Diego with its diverse programming and by collaborating with esteemed organizations including the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, Colleges and Universities, San Diego Culture Shock, and San Diego Dance Theater among others. SDB has been voted #1 dance troupe by The Reader’s Poll of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
JAVIER VELASCO | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Javier Velasco has supplied dances for productions at the La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, and has a long-standing relationship with the San Diego Repertory Theatre, where he has staged productions of A Christmas Carol, Cabaret, Hairspray, Tommy, In The Heights, and many others. He has enjoyed many long creative relationships, having worked with: Luis Valdez on the 20th Anniversary production of Zoot Suit, Bandido, and Corridos.; composer Steve Gunderson on the premieres of Suds (NYC) Dixie Highway, Back To Bacharach And David (NYC) and the dance/theatre piece The Brontes/Secret Pleasures, Secret Tears; and Douglas Jacobs and Sam Woodhouse, founding directors of the San Diego Rep. He currently serves as artistic director of the San Diego Ballet, having created over 70 original pieces for the company since its inception, including 10 pieces in collaboration with composer David Burge, to commissioned scores. His ballet set to the poems of Kenneth Fearing, Love: 20 Cents The First Quarter Mile, was given the award for Best Choreography by the San Diego Area Dance Alliance, the third time he was honored by the organization. Most recently, Mr. Velasco wrote and directed The Toughest Girl Alive, which premiered at Moxie Theatre and had a successful run at the New York International Fringe Festival. Mr. Velasco was recently awarded a Creative Catalyst Fellowship by the San Diego Foundation to create new work.
JOSEPHINE GRAYL |BASS
Josephine Elisabeth Grayl was born in Bozeman, Montana, the youngest of 3 children. She began studying piano at the age of 6 with Heidi Hornung. At 9 years old, Josephine became fascinated with the bass when a middle school jazz band visited her elementary school. She began studying double bass at the age of 10, online during Covid-19 with Dr. Julia Slovarp, Professor of Cello and Bass at Montana State University. In 6th grade, Josephine began playing bass in the same jazz band that visited her elementary school. Since then, the bass has become her passion. Josephine has participated in the University of Montana Summer String Camp, Montana All State Orchestra, All Northwest Orchestra, Montana Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Interlochen Summer Arts Camp Orchestra for the past two years. She was the 2025 winner of the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras Competition in her division at 15. In addition to Dr. Julia Slovarp, Josephine has studied with Dr. Joel Schnackel and Aaron Tenney. Today she loves playing in her high school jazz band, as well as in orchestra. Josephine enjoys baking and reading when she has spare time, often staying up late with her nose in a good book.
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