Music & Morsels Returns to Fox Tucson Theatre for its Third Annual Fundraising Event

Fox Tucson TheatreA One-of-a-Kind Evening Pairing Tucson’s Extraordinary Culinary and Music Scenes

TUCSON, AZ (Oct. 2, 2026) — The Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation invites the community to get their tickets now for the third annual Pairings · Music & Morsels fundraising event taking place Wednesday, October 21 at 6 p.m. inside the historic Fox Tucson Theatre auditorium. Presented in partnership with Tucson City of Gastronomy, this distinctive event brings together Tucson’s celebrated culinary and music communities for an unforgettable evening of creative collaboration.

Pairings · Music & Morsels explores the unexpected and delicious connections between food and music, pairing acclaimed Tucson chefs with some of Southern Arizona’s most talented singer-songwriters. The evening will feature world-premiere songs written especially for the occasion by Tucson songwriting icons and curated by the Fox Tucson Theatre, alongside culinary creations inspired by the event’s featured chefs.

Guests will experience these unique musical and culinary pairings at the historic Fox Tucson Theatre creating an intimate celebration of the artistry, creativity and community that make Tucson such a special place.

This year’s featured chefs include:

Shuka Parker
Originally from Awaji Island, Japan, pastry chef Shuka Parker transitioned from early childhood education to baking after moving to Tucson in 2009. After beginning as a self-taught baker, she became a professional pastry chef and launched Shuka Sweets in 2023. A member of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson, Parker is an active member of Tucson’s culinary community and is passionate about blending traditional heritage ingredients with innovative culinary creations.

Angela Garcia
Private chef Angela Garcia is devoted to Tucson’s rich culinary traditions and heritage foods of the Sonoran Desert. As an official ambassador for the first-designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, Garcia creates menus that tell the story of the region’s diverse cultures, history and ingredients. Her work as a Tucson Chef Ambassador has taken her culinary interpretations to community events and beyond Tucson, including San Antonio, Texas.

Mathew Cable
A Tucson-born chef and restaurateur, Mathew Cable is co-owner of Zio Peppe and owner of Fresco Pizzeria & Pastaria and First We Eat Catering & Confections. His cooking celebrates his Italian-American roots while incorporating Sonoran Desert ingredients, local farms and borderlands traditions. A TCOG Chef Ambassador and co-founder of the Gastronomic Union of Tucson, Cable has represented Tucson’s unique food culture at culinary events in Boston and Parma, Italy.

image.jpeg     image.jpeg

2025 Pairings: Photo credit Kathleen Drier

The evening’s singer-songwriters include:

Sophia Rankin
A Tucson native, Sophia Rankin is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter whose music spans folk, pop, rock and Americana. She leads the acclaimed Alternative Folk Rock band Sophia Rankin & The Sound and has earned first-place honors at the Tucson Desert Song Festival and Stefan George Songwriting Competition, as well as sixth place at Planet Bluegrass Folks Fest. Rankin and her band have shared stages with artists including Pat Benatar + Neil Giraldo, Dylan Marlowe, Beach Weather, Raynes, Jake Owen and Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers.

Justin Fernandez of Tesoro
Tesoro is an acoustic-driven musical collaboration featuring founding guitarist-songwriters Justin Fernandez and Brian Scott alongside vocalist Juliet Fernandez. Blending Spanish guitar traditions, cinematic folk, Latin rhythms and contemporary songwriting, the trio creates music that is both timeless and deeply personal. For more than two decades, Justin and Brian have shared a musical partnership rooted in friendship, storytelling and a love of desert landscapes and world influences. Juliet’s expressive vocals add warmth and emotional depth to the group’s latest creative chapter.

Gabrielle “Gabby” Pietrangelo
An award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist and performer, Gabrielle Pietrangelo has become one of Southern Arizona’s beloved musical voices with her desert-inspired songs. She won the 2023 John Lennon Summer Song Contest for her Tucson anthem, “Summer Losers,” and is known for her evocative songwriting, distinctive guitar arrangements and engaging live performances. Her acclaimed 2025 album, Back to the Heart, featured collaborators including John Convertino and Jacob Valenzuela of Calexico and was celebrated with a sold-out concert at Tucson’s historic Temple of Music & Art. Pietrangelo also directs a private music studio and leads community music projects including Tucson Protest Choir and Song Church.

Pairings · Music & Morsels offers sponsorship and ticket packages ranging from individual tickets to groups of ten. All proceeds from the event benefit the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, supporting the preservation and continued operation of Tucson’s historic Fox Tucson Theatre.  For ticket and sponsorship information visit:  Music and Morsels

Past attendees have called Pairings “the best fundraising event I’ve ever been to,” while a previous sponsor praised the event as “flawlessly executed.”

Join the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation on October 21 at 6 p.m. for an evening where Tucson’s extraordinary music and culinary traditions come together — one pairing at a time.

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, October 21 · 6 p.m.
Fox Tucson Theatre Historic Auditorium
Pairings · Music & Morsels
In partnership with Tucson City of Gastronomy
All proceeds benefit the Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation

Like Give & Take, Lucy & Ricky, Bacon & Eggs, the Fox and YOU –

some things simply belong together