New Year's with The Cherry Trio
2026-01-01 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Carl Cherry Center, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel, CA, 93921, United States
Join The Cherry Trio — Elizabeth Gaver (baroque violin), Penny Hanna (viol), and Michael Peterson (harpsichord) — to ring in the New Year with music from seventeenth century France and Germany!
The trio will perform the third “Piece de Clavecin en Concerts” of Rameau – a suite of French dance movements for the harpsichord accompanied by violin and viol. In addition, they will play trio sonatas by Krieger and Buxtehude, both with solo melody lines for the viol as well as the violin. The program also includes pieces by Abel for solo viol, a solo for harpsichord, and traditional Norwegian dances dating from the 18th century.
Thursday, January 1st at 3pm. Tickets are $40, available on Eventbrite.com.
Please join us after the concert for a reception.

Almost True Stories: New Works by Donald Lee Andrews and Rick Soto
2026-01-16 - 2026-02-21
“Almost True Stories: New Works by Donald Lee Andrews and Rick Soto” opens January 16th with an artist’s reception from 5 to 7 pm. The reception offers a unique opportunity for the community to meet the artists, discuss the inspirations behind the collection, and experience the energy of the local art community firsthand. This event is free and open to the public.
The exhibit showcases a vibrant collection of new paintings that bridge the gap between individual identity and shared artistic brotherhood. Attendees can expect a diverse array of works that highlight Rick Soto’s signature approach alongside the distinct, evocative style of Donald Lee Andrews. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4pm or by appointment. The exhibit will close Saturday, February 21st.
This exhibit is sponsored by Kyler Engineering and Lorna Pierce.

2026 Thinking Out Loud Regional Art Competition
2026-03-07 - 2026-03-28
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is proud to announce Thinking Out Loud 2026, a regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their lives. Each year, students from across Monterey County are invited to display their artwork across a wide range of media for exhibition in our gallery.
Thinking Out Loud will open with a reception for the student artists on Saturday, March 7th, from 2-4pm. The event is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4pm or by appointment. The exhibit will close Saturday, March 28th.

Established in 1948, the mission of the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is to enhance the quality and diversity of artistic, educational and cultural programs in Monterey County by encouraging public programs and interactions between artists and the community.
Thinking Out Loud is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County, Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and funds from:
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Dion and Judith Dow
Gibson Family Foundation
Mitchell Family Charitable Fund
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

Pictured: “The Neighborhood” – Regan Takashima, York School
First Place, 2025 Thinking Out Loud Art Competition

Portraits in Song: Sabelle, featuring Jewel Arianna
2026-03-27 19:00 - 21:00
Portraits in Song is a new intimate concert series highlighting the craft and storytelling of exceptional emerging artists. Each limited-capacity evening invites audiences to experience songwriting up close — sharing not only original music, but the stories and creative journeys behind it.
The inaugural concert features Carmel native Jewel Arianna, whose original world music explores connections between human behavior, philosophy, and science. Headlining the evening is Sabelle, a beloved Carmel artist blending folk, Americana, and soft pop with a poet’s voice and modern sensibility.
The performance will be held Friday, March 27th, at 7:00pm, doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $25 (wine and light fare provided), available on Eventbrite.com.
About the Artists
The daughter of a Jazz singer and a Salsa dancer, Jewel Arianna is a singer/songwriter whose stylistic influences range from Jazz to Latin to Indian classical music, which entranced her with its intricate melodic nuances and poetic themes. An academic background in astrophysics and non-dual Hindu philosophy strongly influence her lyrics, and many of her original songs seek to convey scientific concepts through the metaphors of human emotional experience. Her overarching artistic ethos is to explore the liminal space where science, philosophy, and embodied experience intertwine through the medium of music.
Sabelle is a Canadian/American Singer-songwriter based in Monterey, California, known for her soft, resonant sound and poetic lyricism. Drawing inspiration from John Mayer and Kacey Musgraves, and the folk stylings of the ‘60s and ‘70s, her music blends timeless storytelling with a fresh emotional depth. Her original songs are a perfect mix of eclectic soft-pop and country-folk, to bring forth a new, exciting sound to the world of music. Sabelle has been performing all around the Central Coast for the past few years, while growing an active YouTube audience with almost 1,500 subscribers, where she posts weekly original compositions and covers. She released three new songs in 2025 and released her newest song, “Sold on Your Love,” alongside a music video debut this February 2026.

Portraits in Song: Peter Barnes Martin with special guest Rags Rosenberg
2026-04-18 15:00 - 17:00
The music of Peter Barnes Martin is born from a love of Indie-Folk, Jazz & Bluegrass. His act is characterized by its down-to-earth sense of storytelling and vocals, paired with high energy instrumentals and creative improvisation. The evening will open with poet/songwriter-storyteller Rags Rosenberg.
The performance will be held Saturday, April 18th, at 3:00pm. Doors open at 2:30. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at Eventbrite.com. (Wine and light fare included in ticket price.)
About the Musicians:
Peter Barnes Martin is a full-time musician from Rochester, New York, based out of Monterey, California. His composition and performance is influenced by indie folk, americana and jazz and can be compared to artists such as Nick Drake, Iron and Wine, John Mayer and Chet Baker. In addition to his work on the Central Coast, he has toured throughout Michigan and the Carolinas and was a professional jazz musician in New York City from 2019-2020.
In March 2023, Peter self-released his debut album, “Anywhere is Home,” followed by a 10-date tour spanning from San Diego, California to Seattle, Washington. In September 2024, Peter started working on his second project, “The Lake,” with a full release expected Fall 2026. Additionally, he continues to perform frequently, building a presence and following throughout the Central Coast. He looks forward to working with new festivals and venues interested in emerging artists.
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Rags Rosenberg has been playing guitar since he was nine years old and writing songs since Bob Dylan proved that songs could change the world. He spent 14 years in Nashville honing his craft, but having grown up listening to the likes of Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Kris Kristofferson, he wasn’t a good fit for country music. In 2008 he moved to a small cabin in Joshua Tree and returned to the poetic style of songwriting he loved. With a weathered voice and a watchful eye, he channels the witness, the poet, and the man with a go-bag by the door. His new album, Song of the Bricoleur debuted at #6 on the Folk Music charts in September and his song “John Doe” was a finalist in the 2026 International Acoustic Music Awards.

Kenny Stahl and Friends - Jazz at The Cherry
2026-04-19 14:00 - 16:00
SOLD OUT
Jazz At The Cherry is pleased to welcome back to our stage flautist, Kenny Stahl. A mainstay in the Monterey jazz scene, Kenny is a multi-faceted and highly talented jazz journeyman. One of jazz’s finest flutists, Stahl has performed with numerous jazz heavyweights such as guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Art Farmer, and tenor saxophonists David Murray, Benny Golson, Stan Getz and George Coleman. Joining Kenny will be the legendary Bruce Forman on guitar, drummer Billy Jones, and bassist Michael Marcus. Get ready for a soul-pleasing afternoon of jazz with some of the Monterey Peninsula’s standout jazz musicians!
Sunday, April 19th, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the ticket price. Tickets are $45, available on Eventbrite.com. SOLD OUT

Lear, Munich 1945 - POSTPONED
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-02
We regret to announce the run of the play will not take place at this time due to unforeseen circumstances. If you have not been contacted about a ticket refund, please call (831) 717-7373.
One of Germany’s greatest actors and his wife are hunkered down in a Munich hovel waiting anxiously for the conquering Americans who are about the take the city. Before the war, Manfred Lohre was celebrated for his portrayal of King Lear. That stage is now dark, and the city is in ruins from constant bombarding while the couple struggle to make sense of the war and find an elusive peace in their own tension-filled lives.
The play opens Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 24th. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are $35, available by calling (831) 717-7373.

Porchlight Stories
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30
SOLD OUT
Follow this LINK to participate in upcoming performances.
Inspired by the weekly NPR “Moth Radio Hour,” storytellers tell a 5 to 7 minute true story about themselves without prompts or notes. Each personal story defines an event or series of united events where something could be gained or lost . Their stories tell tales of love, midnight adventure, childhood misconception, teenage thugs, and more. The storyteller’s perception of reality, themselves, or their relationships is altered in unexpected ways as is our own. Expect to be intrigued, amused and moved by these very personal stories, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself bursting out with laughter or holding back tears. The performance will be held Thursday, May 14th at 7pm. Tickets are $20.
The evening is hosted by the celebrated musician, composer, and theatre producer, Mark Governor, who returns to Carmel for this one night event. Among the storytellers are Moth regulars, Mindy Myers and JP Frary; Henry Miller Library executive director Magnus Toren; actor, singer, and storyteller, Michael Lojkovic; 93-year-old German immigrant and author, Hans Lehmann; prize winning artist and architect, Polly Osborne; and painter, photographer, Elizabeth Murray.
The event is produced by the Carl Cherry PorchLight Committee which includes Carl Cherry Center Executive Director, Robert Reese; Board Members: Ellen Osborne, Jim Dultz, Anne Mitchell, Kris Swanson, Camille D’Avenas, and Robin Mckee. This is the first show of a planned 3 part series.

Participants
Host:
Mark Governor is a composer, songwriter, playwright and record producer most well known for his work on films like “The Hobbit” and “Pet Sematary 2”, the ubiquitous SpongeBob SquarePants track “Jellyfish Jam”, and his rock musical “shAme”. A former Carmel resident, he now lives In San Francisco where he continues to create and produce music and theater.
Storytellers:
JP Frary designs and builds furniture and sculptures in a wood shop on the old Alameda Naval Base. He specializes in using recycled materials in ways that make them look new. He is the Resident Storyteller at Redwood Nights in Fairfax, CA. Otherwise, his stories can be heard in hardware stores and lumber yards.
Hans Lehmann, 93, was born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1939. He graduated from the Webb Schools. Received degrees from the University of Colorado, Harvard, and an honorary discharge from the US Army. Worked at Macy’s for 28 years, has published 3 books, and lives in Carmel. He writes a blog twice a week.
First appearing on-stage as ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ in grade school, Michael Lojkovic has performed many staged readings at the Cherry. As a community songleader, he’s taught songs from Orcas Island to Soledad Prison to Big Sur and founded Vocal Activists Monterey Peninsula (VAMP) in 2025. Acting every fall at Colton Hall’s California Constitutional Reenactment, Michael is currently writing a musical ‘TrumpelThinSkin: Gagging on Gold Amidst Samsara Beds of Straw.’
For over 50 years Elizabeth Murray’s passion for nature and spirit has inspired her dedication to cultivating beauty through painting, writing and diverse projects around the world. Her work has shown around the world in Museums with Monet, permanent installments in corporate collections and in her historic Bohemian Artist home and Gardens in Monterey, California.
Mix 2 cups humor and word-smithing, with 1 cup New York wise-crackings. Sift through a lens of creativity. Add a dash of nightly story telling practice from her childhood dinner table, with peppery sarcasm. Stir well and you have the unique stylings of Mindy Myers. Mindy is a playwright, storyteller, young adult book author, and culinary educator.
Polly Osborne is an artist and architect living in Monterey, California. She was mentored by her uncle in art, her stepfather in architecture, and her parents in humor and good sportsmanship. She shows her work at the Carmel Art Association. Her pesky little sister made her tell this story.
Magnus Toren is Executive Director of the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, a Swedish-born former sailor whose life spans ocean crossings, remote islands, and cultural curation. A storyteller, musician, and podcaster, he blends adventure with stewardship, sustaining a unique literary haven while exploring ideas, places, and people through conversation and art.
This event was sponsored, in part, through funding from:
Arts Council for Monterey County,
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Gibson Family Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store

"Book/Art"
2026-05-29 - 2026-06-28
The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts is proud to present “Book / Art”, a group exhibition featuring Pamela Takigawa, Anna Rheim, Julia Nelson-Gal, Tracey Harris, Esther Siegel, Joy Colangelo, Susan Giacometti, Jamie Dagdigian, Robert Armstrong, Ingrid Brook-Kothlow and Raven Cook.
With an Opening Reception on May 29th from 5-7 pm and running through June 28th, this exhibition brings together 11 artists who have spent many years between them, making highly personal hand-stitched or handwritten books, books that chronicle family members in the process of dying or of being incarcerated; natural history books that open and unfold in unexpected ways or making art from the covers and pages of books: glued, collaged and painted over to create unique narratives, or folding book pages in specific ways, to make objects that look like teapots or scenes from a Busby Berkeley musical.
Assembled under one roof, these 11 artists are each working at the top of their craft, painting photo-realistic books with titles that address social norms and gender roles (with a clever sense of humor), carving out and adding sculpture or illustration to BANNED books to create new works of art, in PROTEST of the banning of books; or deconstructing and repurposing an entire two-story “Burning Man” collaged installation titled “UnBound” into dozens of collectible works of modern art.
Some of the books in this show have been used in service of a pun, as an object to decorate (or sink a ship into) or simply to feature the rich textures and colors of their natural deterioration. Taken together, this exhibition celebrates the ingenuity, style, humor, pathos, and individual aesthetic of 11 remarkable artists who each have something they need to say.
We are pleased to share that book artist Joy Colangelo will be present in the gallery during the current Book/Arts exhibition to share her process and answer questions.Starting this Saturday, June 6, Joy will be working on-site during gallery hours. Visitors are welcome to stop by, view the exhibit, and see a bookmaker at work.
Live Demonstrations: Watch Joy create handmade books at her workspace in the gallery.
Gallery Q&A: Joy will be available to answer questions about the current exhibition and book arts techniques.
Upcoming Workshops: You can preview and sign up for future bookmaking workshops directly with Joy during her gallery hours.
There will also be a Free Artist Walkthrough on Saturday, June 13, beginning at 1 pm.

SOLD OUT Peter Zak Trio
2026-06-21
New York Jazz Comes to The Cherry!
Jazz at The Cherry is delighted to welcome the New York–based Peter Zak Trio for a thrilling afternoon and early evening of swinging, straight-ahead jazz. Pianist and bandleader Peter Zak is joined by two remarkable artists with West Coast roots who are now fixtures on the New York jazz scene: bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Sylvia Cuenca. With its rich and celebrated jazz heritage, the Monterey Peninsula has long been home to an extraordinary community of world-class jazz musicians. This performance brings an exciting East Coast perspective to that tradition and offers Jazz at The Cherry audiences a rare opportunity to experience the distinctive sound, spirit, and energy of the New York jazz scene in the intimate setting of the Cherry Center.
SOLD OUT: Sunday, June 21st • 2pm. Tickets are $45 (includes wine and light fare).
About the Musicians
Peter Zak
Peter Zak, pianist and bandleader, was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Ohio, where he began playing piano at the age of five. At sixteen, his family relocated to Oakland, California, where an inspiring high school band director sparked his lifelong passion for jazz. Zak went on to attend UC Berkeley, performing with the university’s Jazz Ensemble while earning a B.A. in History. After several years performing in clubs throughout Northern California, Zak moved to New York City, where he established himself as a deeply respected voice on the jazz scene. Over the years, he has appeared with a number of jazz luminaries, including Eddie Henderson, Jon Hendricks, and George Coleman. Peter’s playing reflects the influence of many of the great bop and post-bop pianists while maintaining a distinctive voice of his own. Widely admired for his mastery of the classic piano-bass-drums format, Zak is considered one of today’s finest practitioners of the straight-ahead jazz trio tradition.

Essiet Okon Essiet
Essiet Okon Essiet first received critical acclaim as a member of saxophonist Bobby Watson’s acclaimed post-bop ensemble, Horizon. Since then, he has established himself as one of New York’s premier jazz bassists. Essiet was also a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, remaining with the legendary drummer and educator until Blakey’s passing in 1990. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has performed with an extraordinary roster of jazz greats, including Freddie Hubbard, Cedar Walton, Benny Golson, and the Blue Note All-Stars, among many others. In addition to his work as a sideman, Essiet leads IBO, an innovative Nigerian jazz project that reflects his deep connection to African musical traditions and contemporary jazz.

Sylvia Cuenca
Sylvia Cuenca is a highly respected and active presence on the New York jazz scene, known for her dynamic, sensitive, and swinging drumming in a wide variety of musical settings. She performed with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for four years and with trumpet master Clark Terry for seventeen years. With the Joe Henderson Quartet, Cuenca toured extensively throughout Europe as well as major venues across the United States. In smaller group settings, she also performed in trio collaborations with Joe Henderson and Charlie Haden in 1989, and later with bassist George Mraz in 1994. As a member of the Clark Terry Quintet and Big Band, Cuenca appeared at many of the world’s premier jazz venues, including the Village Vanguard, Birdland, and the Blue Note.

Monterey Comedy Improv
2026-07-17 19:00 - 20:30
The Monterey Comedy Improv is back! The premier improv comedy troupe on the peninsula will be back in action on Friday, July 17th, at 7pm.
Similar to “Whose Line is it Anyway,” Monterey Comedy Improv takes audience suggestions or volunteers and instantly creates hilarious scenes right on the spot. Join us for a night of fun and laughs! For audiences 16+.
Tickets are $25, available on Eventbrite.com.

Rick Forschino Trio Performing the Music of Cedar Walton
2026-08-23 14:00 - 16:00
Jazz at The Cherry is pleased to welcome back to our stage one of the Peninsula’s favorites, Rick Forschino and his trio. Rick will once again share his skillful interpretation of another established jazz great. In his past performances at the Cherry, he has explored the works of Michel Petrucciani and Enrico Pieranunzi.For this performance the trio will turn its attention to stalwart bebop pianist Cedar Walton (1934-2013).
Walton enjoyed a distinguished career that placed him among jazz royalty. He performed with such notable artists as: Lou Donaldson, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, Art Farmer, and Benny Golson. His years with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers helped cement his reputation. He later anchored rhythm sections for Milt Jackson, Frank Morgan, Dexter Gordon and vocalists Ernestine Anderson and Freddy Cole. His trio with Ron Carter and Billy Higgins further distinguished him as one of the most accomplished musicians in jazz history.
Forschino became a Cedar Walton fan after seeing him perform live in the 1980s and was captivated by his compositions which bridged modern and classic jazz. This performance will showcase Walton’s modern harmonies, distinctive compositional ideas, and the unique style that secured his place as a jazz legend.
Joining Rick for this outstanding show will be versatile bassist, Bill DeLap and seasoned drummer, Mike Shannon.
Performance Sunday, August 23rd, at 2pm. Doors open at 1:30pm for wine and light fare included in the $45 ticket price. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.com.
