Name: Season Opening Celebration with the Merced Symphony
Start: 2026-09-25T02:30:00.000Z
End: 2026-09-25T04:00:00.000Z
Location: Wallace-Dutra Amphitheatre at UC Merced


Celebrate the opening of UC Merced Arts' 2026/27 season with an unforgettable evening of live symphonic music, community connection, and student-professional collaboration. The 

 returns to UC Merced for its annual Side-by-Side concert, bringing together professional musicians with student musicians from UC Merced and Merced College. 

This special performance highlights the power of mentorship and shared artistry, offering audiences a vibrant program that celebrates the scale, beauty, and energy of the symphonic tradition. As the opening concert of the UC Merced Arts season, this event invites the campus and community to gather together for a joyful start to a year of performances, exhibitions, and cultural programs across Merced. 

Includes one seat at the pre-concert Season Opening Celebration dinner and one reserved Orchestra Seat for the Merced Symphony concert. 

Friends of UC Merced Arts at the Champion level and above receive 2+ complimentary tickets to the Season Opening Celebration Dinner. 

Enjoy a close-up view of the performance with a fixed chair, along with reserved parking and complimentary golf cart ride between the parking lot and the amphitheater. 

Free Lawn Seating for Students and Children; r

Bring your picnic blankets and low-lying chairs for a more casual viewing experience. 


"Student" includes any college student with a valid student ID. 
"Child" includes individuals under 18. 

The 2026/27 UC Merced Arts Season is sponsored by 

UC Merced's Division of Equity, Justice, & Inclusive Excellence (EJIE)

UC Merced's School of Social Sciences, Humanities, & Arts (SSHA)

Season Opening Celebration with the Merced Symphony

UC Merced Arts opens its 2026/27 season with the Merced Symphony in a side-by-side concert featuring professional and student musicians. 

Lawn Seating - General Admission

Lawn Seating - Students & Children (Free)

Orchestra Seating - General Admission

4-Concert Flex Pass

5-Concert Flex Pass

6-Concert Flex Pass

Includes one seat at the pre-concert Season Opening Celebration dinner and one reserved Orchestra Seat for the Merced Symphony concert.

Season Opening Dinner Package

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your purchase of tickets and attendance at events presented by UC Merced Arts, part of the University of California, Merced (“UC Merced,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By purchasing tickets through Vivenu or attending our events, you agree to these Terms.

: All sales are final unless otherwise noted. Refunds are only issued in cases of event cancellation or significant rescheduling.Tickets may not be resold or transferred for commercial purposes without our prior written consent.Complimentary admission for UC Merced students with valid ID and children is subject to availability and venue policies.

: UC Merced Arts and its partner venues reserve the right to refuse admission or remove any person for disruptive or unsafe behavior.Late seating is at the discretion of the venue’s house manager.Photography, video, or audio recording may be restricted. Attendees must comply with posted rules.

: Performances may be held at multiple venues, including the UC Merced campus and partner locations such as the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre and the Merced Multicultural Arts Center.Venues comply with ADA requirements. Specific accessibility accommodations may vary; please contact UC Merced Arts in advance with questions.

: UC Merced Arts reserves the right to change artists, programs, dates, and venues as necessary.In case of cancellation, ticket holders will be offered refunds or exchanges where possible.

: Attendance at events is at your own risk. UC Merced Arts, UC Merced, and The Regents of the University of California are not liable for any personal injury, property damage, or lost/stolen items occurring at events, except as required by law.

: All event materials, including images, recordings, and promotional content, are the intellectual property of UC Merced Arts or its artists and may not be reproduced without permission.

: Ticket purchases involve collection of personal data, which is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California and the policies of the Regents of the University of California.

UC Merced Arts, University of California, Merced

UC Merced Arts

UC Merced Arts respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you purchase tickets, subscribe to communications, or attend events.

: We collect personal data you provide directly to us, including: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.Payment details (processed securely by third-party providers; UC Merced Arts does not store full credit card information). Ticketing preferences, event attendance history, and donor group memberships. Marketing communication preferences: We may also collect technical information through cookies or analytics when you interact with our websites or Vivenu ticketing pages.

: We use your information for: Processing ticket purchases and event registrations; communicating about your tickets and upcoming events; providing marketing and donor group updates (with your consent where required).Improving our programs and services through analytics; and complying with legal and university obligations.

: We may share your data with: Vivenu (ticketing platform) for processing ticket purchases; Mailchimp (email marketing provider) for sending newsletters and updates; Payment processors for secure financial transactions; and other UC Merced departments for university operations and reporting. We do not sell personal data.

: If you are located in the European Union or UK, we rely on:Contract (to provide tickets and services you request).Consent (for optional marketing communications).Legitimate interest (to improve our services and report attendance).

: Depending on your location, you may have the right to:Access, correct, or delete your personal data.Opt out of marketing communications at any time.Request restriction of processing or data portability.For California residents: opt out of “sale” or “sharing” of personal data under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA).To exercise these rights, please contact us (see below).

: We retain personal data only as long as necessary for ticketing, communications, and legal requirements.

: We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information. Ticketing and payment data are handled by certified third-party providers in compliance with applicable standards (e.g., PCI DSS for payments).

: Personal data may be transferred to third-party providers outside your country of residence, including the United States. Where applicable, safeguards are in place to protect your data under GDPR and other laws.

: Vivenu and Mailchimp may use cookies or similar technologies to analyze traffic and improve services. You can manage your preferences through your browser settings.

: We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on our website with a new “Last Updated” date.

Season Opening Celebration with the Merced Symphony

Date

Location

UC Merced Arts

Other events of UC Merced Arts