Featured Performers

• Tessa Lark, violin
• Michael Thurber, double bass

Program

• Program to be announced

A co-presentation of Laguna Beach Live! and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Join us for Opening Night of the 2026 Laguna Beach Music Festival with Festival Artistic Directors Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber! From bluegrass and jazz to Bach, there’s no musical boundary this dynamic duo can’t cross. Don’t miss an evening of thrilling, genre-defying performances that showcase the versatility and artistry of two of today’s most exciting musicians!

Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber first met years ago as alumni of NPR’s From The Top and began developing their duo collaboration in 2016 after a memorable one-off performance at a WXQR event in New York City. It didn’t take long for them to realize how much they shared musically. 

“This duo is a place for us to explore our varied musical influences” explains Lark. “I grew up in Kentucky playing bluegrass long before I started my career as a classical musician, so I’ve always longed for an outlet to integrate my American music roots into my performances”.  

Thurber adds, “Our diverse musical appetite is what has always drawn Tessa and I together. The fiddle and bass are both such versatile instruments that have played vital roles in so many different musical traditions around the world. It feels very natural to explore the full range of our musical heritage and not be bound by genre.” 

Together, Lark and Thurber create a vibrant, boundary-defying sound that blends their classical training with their deep roots in American folk and jazz, crafting performances that are as exciting as they are innovative. 

To the rescue came violinist Tessa Lark, the 26-year-old budding superstar who recently received an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Not only did the Kentucky native solidify the ensemble, she provided a lovely lyricism and rhythmic inflection that connected palpably. Cadenzas were beautifully rendered and infused with playfulness, sighs and effortless double- and triple-stops.

artsBHAM (on Tessa Lark)

Lark’s marathon “fiddling” in the last movement commanded a standing ovation and an encore.

Lexington Herald Reader (on Tessa Lark)

With exhilarating teamwork, humor and educational instincts, the two musicians charmed an eager crowd...

The Strad

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