Copyright Ventura Music Festival 2008/2009. All rights reserved. Photography credits: Linda F. Peterson, Paul Harris, BIll Hendricks.

Agoura Teen Wins Student Jazz Competition

Christian Choh, 17, of Agoura Hills won first place among the five finalists who competed in the first live Student Jazz Competition concert on Sunday, January 10th.  Three piano players and two alto saxophonists each performed one song before an audience of over a 100 at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura.  The musicians were accompanied by the local jazz trio, Coda.  In addition to winning a $500 scholarship, Choh will perform with Latin jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo at the Festival's Latin jazz concert on February 13th.  Article

Festival Board Member Micheline Sakharoff Receives Two Honors

Micheline received  the Philanthropist of the Year Award by the Santa Barbara/Ventura County Chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at a lovely luncheon event in Santa Barbara on November 18th.  Festival Board Members and staff were on hand to congratulate and celebrate this most well-deserved honor with Micheline.   Micheline was also a recipieint of a Mayor’s Art Award from the City of Ventura a few weeks earlier in recognition for her contributions to Ventura’s cultural community.  We are so honored to have her as a longtime supporter and Board Member of the Music Festival.

1st row: L to R: Sally Davis, Maja Reid, Honoree Micheline Sakharoff, Past VMF President Ivor Davis

2nd row: L to R: Karyl Lynn Burns, VMF Board Member Jordan Laby, VMF Operations Manager Ann Willard-Bevans, Mary Kay Kaufman, Trudy Bale

3rd row: L to R: Susan Van Abel, VMF Board President Eric Oltmann, VMF Board Member Freddie Contarino, Joe Bale