Since its debut festival in 1995, the Ventura Music Festival has enriched our community with accessible, exceptional performances that inspire, educate, and entertain. Dedicated to diversity and meaningful connection, we celebrate a symphony of cultures and genres each season. Our mission extends beyond the stage, bringing music education to classrooms across Ventura County, fostering artistic growth in our next generation of music-lovers. Experience a place where passion meets performance and renowned musicians converge to delight audiences of all ages: Experience the Ventura Music Festival.
Ventura Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization.
EIN: 77-0314562
For legal purposes, VMF should be identified as Ventura Music Festival Association, Inc.
Ventura Music Festival
701 E. Santa Clara Street
Ventura, California 93001
(805) 648-3146
contact@venturamusicfestival.org
History & Highlights
Past Events
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2024
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2023
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2022
2022 • Onward! The 27th Season
The festival returned in full force with a total of eight performances.
TWANGUERO
In January: Australian-born superstar guitarist Tommy Emmanuel took the stage on January 20th, joined by English guitar star Mike Dawes.
In April: VMF fan favorite Diego Garcia (aka Twanguero) previewed his new Backroads 2 album in a program that combined his solo acoustic fingerpicking with electric rock-a-billy when he brought on his band.
All-female vocal and drumming group Adaawe kicked off the Summer festival series with a free concert in Mission Park attended by 1,000 and co-presented with Downtown Ventura Partners.
From Galway, Ireland, chart-topping We Banjo 3 brought a blend of Americana, Bluegrass, and Celtic music.
ADAAWE
WE BANJO 3
From France, the Django Festival Allstars were swinging like crazy as they brought the music of the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt fully into the 21st century.
A “thoughtful musician well beyond his years” Ventura-born pianist Sean Chen delivered a masterful performance.
Weekend two saw international vocal star Veronica Swift take the stage with an exciting jazz and crossover repertoire that included rock and Puccini!
Closing the festival was the Grammy award-winning chamber choir, The Crossing, led by conductor Donald Nally.
Alas, the vibrant saxophone sextet, The Moanin' Frogs, was cancelled due to Covid (Rescheduled in 2023)
SEAN CHEN
2020-2021 • The Extended 26th Season
AUBREY LOGAN
The Mnozil Brass concert was selling out when Covid struck and put live concerts everywhere on hold.
VMF created two digital programs to engage our audience. “Music Connects” which became a music video soundtrack to the Pandemic; and “Virtually Yours” a longer-form lecture-performance series.
TIME FOR THREE
ANDREA ROBERTO
In late 2020 VMF presented two “Concerts in your Cars” with John Jorgenson and J2B2 and Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band.
In 2021, when guidelines permitted, VMF presented one of the first live music events to return: a 3-concert festival attended by almost 1000 people. The artists: Aubrey Logan, Time for Three, and Andrea Roberto.
JOHN JORGENSON
Celebrating 25 years
2019 • Season 25
ANDERSON & ROE
Anderson & Roe piano duo led of VMF’s 25th year with a sold-out performance in February.
In May, VMF presented the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra from Lithuania (NICO). The all-star July festival included guitar great Christopher Parkening, Manhatten Transfer and Take 6 in a special collaboration, Jazz prodigy Joey Alexander, from Russia the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, and from the storied Gullah culture of South Carolina, Ranky Tanky.
CHRISTOPHER PARKENING
MANHATTAN TRANSFER // TAKE 6
Wrapping up a sensational 25th Season; Joshua Bell in a special co-presentation with The New West Symphony.
Betsy Chess, author and arts activist, along with the Limoneira Company, were 2019 honorees for outstanding contributions to community and the arts.
JOSHUA BELL
