Tom Jacobs

Tom Jacobs is a former senior staff writer for Santa Barbara-based Pacific Standard magazine, and a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Daily News and Santa Barbara News-Press. He tracks and analyzes trends in the arts and social sciences, with an emphasis on psychology, the role of culture and the cultivation of creativity. A native of Chicago, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University.

Articles By This Author

Tom Jacobs - July 7, 2025

The presenter’s 2025–2026 lineup, centered at the Nimoy Theater, promises to push the limits of performance in provocative ways.

Tom Jacobs - June 30, 2025

Several orchestral performances under Esa-Pekka Salonen highlight the season, along with appearances by pianist Jeremy Denk.

Tom Jacobs - June 9, 2025

The rising conductor talks to SFCV about how he landed the job following last year’s production of Romeo and Juliet.

Tom Jacobs - June 2, 2025

A small country’s outsized artistic impact is being explored in a week of concerts curated by composer Unsuk Chin.

Tom Jacobs - May 31, 2025

The Venezuelan Armenian conductor will succeed James Conlon in the position starting July 2026.

Tom Jacobs - May 12, 2025

The ensemble will dig into lesser-known works by Beethoven, Verdi, and Fanny Mendelssohn, plus several world premieres.

Tom Jacobs - May 5, 2025

The Grammy Award winner chats about music as storytelling, how she keeps up her chops on violin, and working with Third Coast Percussion.

Tom Jacobs - April 14, 2025

This summer in Santa Barbara will see everything from Jaws live in concert to world premieres to Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony.

Tom Jacobs - April 14, 2025

Between rehearsals for his new work at the LA Phil, Simon chatted about gospel, family, and how he’s committed to his role at The Kennedy Center.

Tom Jacobs - March 25, 2025

Los Angeles new-music group Wild Up has taken an active role in the Eastman revival, which has proved anything but straightforward.