Following the organization’s most successful year, Barnatan is preparing for the 40th anniversary of LJMS’s annual SummerFest.

La Jolla Music Society has announced music director Inon Barnatan’s contract has been renewed through 2030.

Barnatan, an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, has directed SummerFest, LJMS’s annual, four-week festival of concerts, since 2019.

SummerFest 2025 was the most successful in the company’s history, according to a press release, and included 20 concerts and more than 50 free Learning & Engagement events. Much of that success is attributed to Barnatan’s work.

Barnatan’s “artistic vision has propelled SummerFest to new heights, uniting a vibrant community of world-class musicians, jazz artists, and dancers who are eager to share the stage with him,” LJMS artistic director Leah Rosenthal said in the release. “I am delighted to continue this journey together over the next five years, particularly as we look ahead to celebrating our landmark 40th anniversary festival in 2026.”

“Every SummerFest has felt like both a homecoming and a new beginning,” Barnatan said. “I’m thrilled to extend my role as music director and to keep exploring the music, ideas and collaborations that make this festival so unique.”