We Make Music That Moves You

The Camarada Mission

CAMARADA is a dynamic chamber music collective committed to elevating and enriching the San Diego community and beyond through phenomenal performances that ignite powerful connections between audiences, artists, and music. Guided by its mission to engage diverse audiences through visionary programming, Camarada champions living composers, commissions new music, and curates artistic experiences that illuminate both the traditional and the unexpected.

Founded in 1994, Camarada continues to define the San Diego musical landscape with invigorating performances of chamber masterworks and innovative cross-genre collaborations. Now in its fourth decade, Camarada is proud to serve as Resident Artists at both La Jolla Music Society and the Mingei International Museum, presenting programs that pair world-class musicians with intimate, art-filled spaces that deepen the concert experience.

A hallmark of Camarada’s artistic identity is The Camarada Tango Quartet, an ensemble that explores the passion, virtuosity, and cultural richness of tango through both classic repertoire and new commissions. With boundary-pushing collaborations, groundbreaking recording projects, and performances spanning traditional stages to immersive environments, The Camarada Tango Quartet embodies the ensemble’s commitment to innovation and artistic excellence.

Across all its work, Camarada remains dedicated to creating musical encounters that inspire, surprise, and resonate—inviting audiences into a shared journey of artistry, connection, and discovery.

Our Vision is to Provide:

A broad and eclectic musical repertoire including fresh interpretations of familiar classics, rediscovered gems, and new works commissioned especially for our audiences.

A rich and personal artistic experience by combining music with other art forms including dance, visual art, poetry and verse.

Performances of the highest quality for audiences of all ages and levels of musical sophistication, cultivating a new broad-based community of music lovers.

Specializing in Latin and Spanish music, Camarada has carved out a unique niche in San Diego. Beginning in the fall of 2001, Camarada created and performed its first tango concert for the unique instrumentation and personnel of Camarada. Tango has become an integral part of the Camarada experience, collaborating with dancers and specializing in the music of Astor Piazzolla.

Dedicated to the compositions of living composers, Camarada has commissioned many works specifically for its unique combination of voices and instruments.

  • The Elements by Oliviana Marie for flute, viola, cello, piano, and marimba

  • Ritual {Art} created by Hugo Crosthwaite

  • Brutal by Andrés Martin for flute, violin, bass, piano

  • In Search of Time {Art} created by Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio

  • Sunstone by Stefan Cwik for flute, alto flute, string quartet, double bass, and piano

  • Thelma & Dolores by Andrés Martín for flute and piano

  • Silent by Andrés Martin for flute, violin, double bass, and piano

  • Tango Bajo el Agua by Andrés Martin for flute, violin, double bass, piano

  • Abrazar el Viento by Andrés Martin for flute, violin, bass, piano

  • UNSTOPPABLE by Andrés Martin for flute, violin, bass

  • Sanctuary Suite by Peter Sprague for two guitars, flute, bass, percussion

  • Saltwater by Peter Sprague for alto flute & guitar

  • The Fallen by Mark O’Connor for solo flute, string quartet, double bass

  • The New Rule by John Lorge for flute, cello, piano

  • I Am the Wind by David Ward-Steinman for voice, flute, cello, harp

  • Critters by John Lorge for woodwind quintet & narrator

Sponsorship for the above events and commissions comes from the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, The County of San Diego Board of Supervisors (Terra Lawson-Remer & Nora Vargas) and The San Diego Foundation, The Thomas Ackerman Foundation, & The City of Encinitas Mizal Family Grant

Note from Our Artistic Directors

this is YOUR time to

EXPLORE. EXPERIENCE. EXPAND.

We invite you to...

Explore the music of women composers and more.

Experience the wonder and thrill of hearing a piece of music when it is born into the universe…3 world premieres this season!

Expand your date night – to new neighborhoods and phenomenal music experiences.

Please join us for another ambitious season as we present 11 dazzling programs in our mission to provide oasis, connection and culture in the San Diego community. This is your opportunity to truly listen to "music that moves you" and connects you to the heart.

— Beth Ross Buckley & Dana Burnett

Camarada Around San Diego.

Music is your passport to getaway!

CAMARADA @ Park & Market

CAMARADA @ The Conrad, La Jolla

Featured Past Performances

Check out the Camarada Video Library on YouTube by clicking below.

View Camarada Videos