Copyright Ventura Music Festival 2008/2009. All rights reserved. Photography credits: Linda F. Peterson, Paul Harris, BIll Hendricks.
Opening Night Gala, Thursday, April 29, 5:30pm
Ventura Beach Marriott
Tickets: $75
Sponsors: AT&T, E.J. Harrison & Sons, Pierpont Racquet Club
Tea & Trumpets w/ the Festival Brass:
Friday April 30, 3 pm,
Nona’s Courtyard Café, 67 S. California St., Ventura
Tickets: $65
A perennial favorite. Two afternoons of “brassy” fun in Nona’s Courtyard, the perfect atmosphere to enjoy these lively entertainers with a delightful English High Tea. The Festival Brass is always a delight and their shows sell out quickly, so order tickets soon!
Concert Sponsors: Barbara Meister-Barber Automotive Group, Fickewirth & Associates, Nona's Courtyard Cafe
Media Sponsors: KVTA
Sharon Isbin, Guitarist: $40/$30/$15 (student)
Friday, April 30, 8 pm,
Ventura Missionary Church, 500 High Point Dr., Ventura
Tickets: $40/$30/$15 (student)
Acclaimed for lyricism and versatility, Grammy Award winner Sharon Isbin has been hailed as “the pre-eminent guitarist of our time”. Her beautiful guitar work is featured on the sound track of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning film “The Departed” as well as the critically acclaimed CD “Journey to the New World”, on Sony’s “Masterworks” series with Violinist Mark O’Connor and Folk Icon Joan Baez. Don’t miss this amazing artist in concert. For more about Ms. Isbin, visit www.sharonisbin.com
Concert Sponsors: Freddie & Al Contarino, Rasmussen & Associates, California Solar, Strauss Law Group
Media Sponsors: Cumulus Broadcasting, Ventura County Star
Itzhak Perlman, Violinist: Saturday, May 1, 8 pm, Map
Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of violin, Mr. Perlman’s superstar status is rare for a classical musician and his awards include four Emmys and fifteen Grammys. Ventura Music Festival is proud to present this performance at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center with Pianist Rohan de Silva. Among his many accomplishments are performances for Presidents and Royalty; this coming May 1st he performs for Ventura! More information about Mr. Perlman is available at www.imgartists.com.
Title Sponsor: Barbara Meister-Barber Automotive Group
Co-Sponsors: Dr. Morris & Judith Leventhal, The Schwab Family Charitable Fund
Herbie Hancock: $50/$35/$15 (student)
Sunday, May 2, 2 pm,
Ventura College West Athletic Field,
4667 Telegraph Rd., Ventura
Tickets: $50/$35/$15 (student)
Doors open at 12:30 pm. We recommend bringing a blanket or low-back chair and sweater. Picnics welcome!
Popular American jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock is one of the most influential jazz musicians of our time, having penned pivotal jazz classics such as “Watermelon Man” and “Chameleon”. His early work with Miles Davis redefined jazz, and "Head Hunters", the largest selling jazz album in history, changed music with brilliantly inspired touches of funk and soul. Herbie's long list of awards includes a 2008 “Album of the Year Grammy” for “River: The Joni Letters”. Bring a folding chair, picnic basket and your family for a perfect afternoon of Jazz with this exciting performer in an idyllic setting!
Title Sponsor: Fashion Forms/Ann Deal
Co-Sponsors: Montecito Bank & Trust, P.W. Gillibrand Co.
Media Sponsors: The Wave, Ventura County Star, VC Reporter/Ventana, Cumulus Broadcasting, Gold Coast Broadcasting, Lazer Broadcasting, KCLU, JILL-FM
Calefax Reed Quintet:
Tuesday, May 4, 7:30 pm,
Community Presbyterian Church, 1555 Poli St., Ventura
Tickets: $40/$25/$15 (student)
6:45 pm: What’s the Score? - A pre-concert discussion
Forget what you know about traditional wind quintets, this reed quintet is totally unique! Well known for virtuoso performances and innovative programming, they’re often called “a classical ensemble with a pop mentality”. Calefax performs standing up, often from memory, and you’ll be on your feet too....if you order tickets now for a performance by this lively quintet from the Netherlands!
Concert Sponsors: Rabobank N.A., Nancy & Terry O'Brien,
The Players Club
Media Sponsors: Cumulus Broadcasting Santa Barbara, KCLU, KDB
Rising Stars:
Thursday, May 6, 7:30 pm,
Ventura Bible Fellowship Church, 6950 Ralston St., Ventura
Thousand Oaks Philharmonic Orchestra with Soloists
Tickets: $25/$15 (student)
6:45 pm: What’s the Score? – A pre-concert discussion
Our Rising Stars keep rising higher and higher; this season they perform with The Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. If you’ve attended past “Rising Stars” concerts, you know how exciting these young artists are in performance. If not, get your tickets now to see the future of classical music! For artist and program information, stay tuned for updates about these fantastic musicians on this site.
Concert Sponsors: Howard Boroughs, Lainie & Peter Cannon,
Miriam Wille
Media Sponsors: Cumulus Broadcasting Ventura, Ventura County Star
Tea & Trumpets w/ the Festival Brass:
Friday, May 7, 3 pm,
Nona’s Courtyard Café, 67 S. California St., Ventura
Tickets: $65
A perennial favorite. Two afternoons of “brassy” fun in Nona’s Courtyard, the perfect atmosphere to enjoy these lively entertainers with a delightful English High Tea. The Festival Brass is always a delight and their shows sell out quickly, so order tickets soon!
Concert Sponsors: Barbara Meister-Barber Automotive Group, Fickewirth & Associates, Nona's Courtyard Cafe
Media Sponsor: KDB
Escher String Quartet:
Friday, May 7, 8pm,
Community Presbyterian Church, 1555 Poli St., Ventura
Tickets: $40/$25/$15 (student)
7:15 pm: What’s the Score? - A pre-concert discussion
Returning to Ventura for a 2010 performance, this exciting young quartet is known for inspired individual sound and remarkable cohesiveness. Their name is taken from the popular and innovative Dutch visual artist M.C. Escher. Just as Escher’s work speaks in exquisite patterns, the Escher String Quartet weaves sound with harmony and interplay, “painting” a beautifully musical whole. Ventura Music Festival’s reputation for the best classical music was built on just this kind of delightful concert.
Concert Sponsors: Micheline & Al Sakharoff, Pacific Western Bank, Consortium Media Services
Media Sponsors: KUSC, VC Reporter/Ventana, KCLU
Yeol Eum Son:
Saturday, May 8, 8 pm,
Ventura Missionary Church, 500 High Point Dr.
Tickets: $40/$30/$15
7:15 pm: What’s the Score? – A pre-concert discussion
Silver Medalist, 2009 Van Cliburn Competition with Festival Orchestra
Ms. Son is an exciting young pianist with many international awards prior to the 2009 Van Cliburn Piano Competition, including first prize at Italy’s 2002 Viotti International Competition. Yeol Eum Son began piano at age three and made her debut recital at fifteen. Charming and talented, she has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic and many others. Get your tickets soon for this up and coming artist!
Concert Sponsors: Mary & Don Gloisten, Dr. Newton & Vonise Friedman, Elise & Bill Kearney, Sandra & Jordan Laby, Micheline & Al Sakharoff
Media Sponsors: Cumulus Broadcasting Ventura, VC Reporter / Ventana, KDB
16th Annual Ventura Music Festival
April 29 to May 8, 2010
Season Subscription Plans On Sale Now
Tickets for individual concerts available January 15, 2010
