2022 Ventura Music Festival Program

2022 FESTIVAL PROGRAM

ONWARD! THE 27th SEASON Randy Hinton Dear Friends, Chair Last year, when Covid cleared enough to present a shorter Susan Scott 3-concert series, everyone including the artists proclaimed Executive Director the experience “the best ever.” The young Italian guitarist who came to perform was adopted by the audience and Nuvi Mehta stayed for the whole event! Artistic Director That was last year. Welcome to “onward” the 2022 festival and imagine what the experience will be like this year with 46 artists, a fabulous and free Concert in the Park and six concerts in a splendid, intimate venue with great sightlines and sound. The celebration starts with a free concert in Mission Park on July 27 and the infectious music of the global super-group, all-female band Adaawe. The “diverse musical feast” moves on to the Ventura College PAC the next two weekends where exciting genre-bending and blending is at play. First up from Ireland, festival favorites WeBanjo3 converging Americana, Bluegrass and Celtic with pop songcraft. Next, from France, the brilliant Django Festival Allstars contemporizing the swing-jazz music that swept Europe and the world in the 30’s. Its originator: the great French-Romany guitarist Django Reinhardt. Concluding weekend one: pianist, arranger and composer Sean Chen in an “alluring and colorfully shaded” performance of works by six composers; among them, three short Images by Debussy and Mozart’s Overture to the Marriage of Figaro. Saxophone septet The Moanin’ Frogs leads off weekend two with perhaps the most genre-bending program of the festival – one that promises to “electrify and delight” and comes with a money-back offer if it does not! 1 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Singer Veronica Swift takes center It’s The Crossing led by Conductor stage on Saturday and while regarded Donald Nally combining an embrace of by many as the leading jazz singer new music by living composers, “a social of her generation, she plans to mix conscience and fearless technique. classical with rock ‘n roll and funk as well Proud as we are of the music and as jazz. She deems post-Covid a period artists, the annual festival is about of “rebirth”and says her purpose as an more than that. Now more than ever artist is to break down genre barriers. it’s about connection, about building Then in a special closing performance community through world-class music. on Sunday, August 7, we present If you can, join us in this 27th Ventura a group the New York Times calls Music Festival where artists engage “American’s most astonishing choir.” with audience and audience members with one another in the shared joy of live music and the whole is even greater than the sum of its wonderful parts. DIRECTOR’S NOTE 2

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE WEEK ONE July 27th ADAAWE July 29th WE BANJO 3 July 30th DJANGO FESTIVAL ALLSTARS July 31st SEAN CHEN WEEK TWO August 5th THE MOANIN’ FROGS August 6th VERONICA SWIFT August 7th THE CROSSING 3 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

VENUE The Ventura College Performing Arts Center The Ventura College PAC is an intimate 400-seat theater with excellent sight lines and sound. The large, free and usually plentiful parking lot is adjacent, a short walk. The PAC’s circular driveway permits dropping guests at the entrance before parking. Ventura College PAC 4700 Loma Vista Road Ventura, CA 93003 ARTIST PROFILES The profiles on the following pages were written by Richard Newsham, Ventura Music Festival. SCHEDULE & VENUE 4

ADAAWE Free Concert in the Park Wednesday, July 27th at 5:30pm International women uplift humanity with world soul The Ventura Music Festival opens with its annual Free Concert in the Park by the all- female band Adaawe whose music springs from West African roots and brings thrilling gospel harmonies and spicy American funk to their world-fusion mix. It’s Wednesday, July 27, at 5:30 pm at Mission Park in downtown Ventura. Captivating performances by these seven dynamic “voice and drum” women—hailing from Kenya, Morocco, Israel, Panama and across the United States—celebrate diversity from around the globe. Their music uplifts spirits, builds community and inspires audiences everywhere in the Adaawe tradition of Ghana, West Africa, where women gather in the moonlight to create music and songs about life’s joys and sorrows. Since 1996, ADAAWE has performed nationally at stellar performing arts venues, music festivals, community events and social cause benefits, opening for Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Mickey Hart, Los Lobos, Michael Franti, Yolanda Adams, Sugar Hill Gang, Michelle Shocked, James Ingram, Harry Belafonte and LeAnn Rimes at the 2022 Rose Parade. Sponsors: Barbara Barnard Smith World Musics Fund, Ventura 5 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Adaawe is a word that represents independence, strength, creativity, reliability, gracefulness, generosity and the amazing ability to bring people together for a common cause. Adaaweis are persons full of love whose beautiful emotions create harmony and balance for everyone. Giving joy to the world is one of their greatest gifts. Bring low-back lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic to this family-friendly, open-air, ninety-minute concert in the park on the lawn across from Mission San Buenaventura. LISTEN NOW Downtown Partners, and the Sponsors of the 27th Ventura Music Festival. ARTIST PROFILES 6

WE BANJO 3 Friday, July 29th at 7:30pm “The hottest group in Irish music” “The hottest group in Irish music”—We Banjo 3—will “Open the Road” (its new album) to VMF’s weekend one on Friday, July 29, at 7:30 pm, with their self-described Billboard chart topping “Celtgrass” blend of traditional Celtic, old time Americana and wild Bluegrass music. The two sets of Galway brothers vocalize with “musical intimacy” and play with a “freshness and finesse bordering on the magical,” says The Wall Street Journal, citing their Washington, DC, performance for President Obama. Enda Scahill Tenor Banjo, Vocals Martin Howley Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, Vocals Fergal Scahill Fiddle, Viola, Dobro, Vocals Percussion, Guitar, Mandolin David Howley Lead Vocals & Guitar Debuting in the U.S. in 2012, WB3 has since emerged as fast-rising touring darlings in the country that two of the members now call home. The Galway, Ireland, and Nashville- based quartet push musical boundaries while maintaining an unwavering devotion to essential music traditions. Sponsors: EJ Harrison & Sons, The Ashkar Family, Halter-Encinas Enterprises 7 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Actor/comedian and musician Steve Martin says of the band, “We Banjo 3…are making waves…here in America. They are playing the banjo in a style that I didn’t even know could be played like that.” Northwest Cultural Blog said, “It’s the incorporation of each and every one of its members, their individual charisma, their energy, their passion and their very soul, that makes them one of the greatest live musical acts the world has to offer today.” LISTEN NOW 8 ARTIST PROFILES

DJANGO FESTIVAL ALLSTARS Saturday, July 30th at 7:30pm An intoxicating cabaret night of hot jazz Why hunt Paris’ Clignancourt flea market for his cabaret bar La Chope de Puce when the Django Festival Allstars will bring the music of the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt to Ventura on Saturday, July 30 at 7:30pm. A quintet of jazz virtuosos—button-accordionist Ludovic Beier, violinist Pierre Blanchard, lead guitarist Samson Schmitt (his father played with Django’s son), rhythm guitarist Michael Harris and bassist Antonio Lucusati—capture the fierce, soulful and swirling intensity of Reinhardt’s “le jazz hot” style. This brilliantly cohesive group of star musicians have taken America by storm, performing at top concert halls and festivals to standing ovations. Downbeat Magazine exclaimed they were the “hardest swinging band at the Newport Jazz Festival.” The ensemble will transport you to a romantic Paris of the ‘20s and ‘30s when jazz music filled the air. The Django Festival Allstars bring this music to today, combining known standards and original music for an intoxicating night of “le jazz hot.” Sample them on youtube if you like. LISTEN NOW Sponsors: Ben Namba & Julia Campbell, Hammer-Hewson Associates, 9 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

the family of John Hammer, and Limoneira & Limco Del Mar ARTIST PROFILES 10

SEAN CHEN Sunday, July 31st at 3:00pm A pianistic genius in a program of power and magic Globetrotting pianist, composer, arranger VMF PROGRAM and in-demand master-class teacher Sean W.A. Mozart—Overture to the Marriage Chen is a Steinway Artist, Juilliard and of Figaro, K. 492 Yale School of Music alumnus and pupil of Procrastinators rejoice! Mozart famously beloved leader of Ventura County’s classical composed the ebullient instrumental music community, the late Edward Francis. overture suggesting comedy, romance, He returns to Ventura for a program of piano misadventure and mistaken identity just power and magic featuring what The New a few hours before the opera’s premiere. York Times calls “alluring, colorfully shaded Arranged for solo piano by Sean Chen. renditions” of piano classics. After winning the 2013 American Pianists Program Continued on Next Page Awards, placing third at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and being named a 2015 Annenberg Fellow, Mr. Chen is now a Millsap Artist in Residence at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. The “thoughtful musician well beyond his years” (The Republic) delights audiences around the world in solo and chamber recitals, and concerto performances. LISTEN NOW Sponsors: Jordan Laby, Barbara Meister, Susan Van Abel & Eric Oltmann 11 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Claude Debussy—Images (Prèmiere Frederic Chopin—Barcarolle in F# major, Série) L. 110 Op. 60 The composer proudly predicted this Chopin, in one of his last major trio “will assume a place in the piano compositions—along with Offenbach— literature.” The sweeping arpeggios of made the Venetian gondolier’s song Reflets dans l’eau (Reflections in the famous emulating a boatman’s romantic water) ripple with the French composer’s oar sweep of rhythm and wistful tone. unique ability to paint pictures with Sergei Rachmaninoff—Symphony No. 2 fragments of tone, color and harmony. in E Minor, Op. 27: iii. Adagio Hommage à Rameau gives honor or The composer moved from the deepest homage to Rameau, not by direct quote valley of depression—over the critical but through the Baroque composer’s failure of his First Symphony—to a career favored Sarabande, a serious and solemn peak after the immensely successful 16th century dance form. Mouvement premieres of his second—his finest “moves” with an endless toccata-like symphonic testament—especially in the rhythmic torrent of triplets before, like lyrical and long-lined Adagio, whose its companion pieces, moving out of our recurring main theme is among the range of hearing into silence. most ravishing melodies he ever wrote. Franz Liszt—Deux légendes, S. 175 Arranged for solo piano by Sean Chen. Here the composer “pairs up” two different Felix Mendelssohn—Octet in E-flat legendary characters, both called Saint major, Op. 20: iv. Presto Francis, in his narrative, romantic style. Sweet 16! That’s how old (young) the “On his outspread cloak he strides composer was when he composed the firmly, steadfastly, over the tumultuous Octet—”Its youthful verve, brilliance and waves,” wrote Liszt about his name saint perfection make it one of the miracles of walking on the waves (St. François de nineteenth-century music,” says music Paule marchant sur les flots). When the critic Conrad Wilson. The work’s extended boatman refused him passage across the use of counterpoint crests in the “Presto” Strait of Messina to Sicily, what did the finale with its eight-part fugato that quotes saint do? He made a sail of his cloak and Handel’s Messiah’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” staff to walk himself over the water! In the Arranged for solo piano by Sean Chen. other legend, not performed today, Saint Francis of Assisi preaches to the birds who respond with twittered bird call. ARTIST PROFILES 12

THE MOANIN’ FROGS Friday, August 5th at 7:30pm Six saxes breathe new life into today’s chamber music landscape A unique sextet comprised of a soprano, alto, baritone, bass and two tenor saxophones called The Moanin’ Frogs will perform a wide repertoire that breathes new life into today’s chamber music landscape on Friday, August 5, at 7:30 pm, at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center. Their unlikely moniker—a contraction of 1910’s hit titles, “That Moanin’ Saxophone Rag” and “The Bull Frog Blues”—also hints at their ability to hop convincingly between genres: they are at home as concerto soloists and burlesque show musicians, jazz improvisers and primo chamber ensemble players. Bending genres and uplifting spirits, these conservatory trained musicians are redefining what chamber music can be, rooted both in the classical tradition and vaudeville theater, and rife with spirited arrangements, creative choreography and technically precise performances of classical, ragtime, jazz and pop music that delight fans across the world at major venues like the Kennedy Center and SaxOpen Festival in Strasbourg, France. Sponsors: Betsy Chess, Community Memorial Health System, 13 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Formed in 2011 at the University of Michigan, the group won the 2018 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition in 2018. “We like to show everything that the saxophone can do” displaying the instrument’s power and flexibility by performing a vast repertory from Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2 and Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance No. 8 to Duke Ellington’s Star-Crossed Lovers and Freddy Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The group consists of Edward Goodman, Gabriel Piqué, Jeff Siegfried, Jonathan Hulting- Cohen, Jeffery Leung and Lucas Hopkins. LISTEN NOW The Hemming Family, and Rosalind C. Warner M.D. & Michael Hogan M.D. ARTIST PROFILES 14

VERONICA SWIFT Saturday, August 6th at 7:30pm A supernova feast by a singer of many voices Veronica Swift—a 24 year-old chanteuse with deep jazz roots—will burst out with a supernova “musical feast” showing she “is a woman of many voices, and she uses every one of them to refract a dizzying kaleidoscope of moods” (Downbeat) at her concert on Saturday, August 6, at 7:30 pm, at the Ventura College PAC. As Swift remarked recently, “This show at the Ventura Music Festival is not only a comeback after a yearlong hiatus of no gigs, but it is a rebirth…. The songs I’ve picked for this show encompass some of This Bitter Earth [her most recent album], but also will include new songs that mix classical with rock and roll and funk as well as jazz. I now know, my purpose as an artist is to break down these genre barriers and fully immerse the audience in what to me is just simply: music.” The vocalist opened the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert—recently broadcast on PBS—with “Sing” which has become a world anthem and uplifting tribute to the positive change that music brings to the world: “There is this thing that’s like touching, except you don’t touch, you sing, just sing,” exclaims the artist.” For her, says one critic, “the act of singing is a kind of secular prayer, in the spirit of John Lennon’s Imagine.” Sponsors: Reardon Funeral Home, Boyko & Reardon Mortuary & Cremation, 15 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

“She has a miraculous voice, musical ability, and technique, as well as an innate gift for entertaining a crowd,” writes The Wall Street Journal. Having first gained widespread attention in high-profile collaborations with Wynton Marsalis and Chris Botti, she has developed a devoted following among audiences with a passion for music everywhere from such mega-venues as the Hollywood Bowl and Monterey Jazz Festival to intimate clubs in London, Los Angeles and cities throughout the United States. LISTEN NOW Freddie Contarino, Barbara & Randy Hinton, and Dr. Richard & Lori Reisman ARTIST PROFILES 16

THE CROSSING Sunday, August 7th at 3:00pm “America’s most astonishing choir” champions new music you’ve never heard before! The Ventura Music Festival concludes In 2005 he co-founded The Crossing with a concert by what the New York as a professional chamber chorus in Times calls “America’s most astonishing Philadelphia, determined to create, choir”—The Crossing led by conductor promote and perform new music that Donald Nally—on Sunday, August 7, at “affects the way composers think about 3 pm, at the Ventura College PAC, 4700 writing for choirs, the way singers sing in Loma Vista Rd. choirs and the way audiences listen”— The two-time Grammy-winning chamber intriguing and enthralling music and choir, with 5 more nominations, has choral buffs at concert venues around recorded 20 albums dedicated to the world. performing new music, including 120 The Crossing’s network of commissioned world premieres by experimentally creative composers— contemporary composers, often with including David Lang, John Luther “a social conscience” and always with Adams, Ted Hearne, Carolyn Shaw “fearless technique” at such marquee and David T. Little—often explore venues as Disney Hall and Lincoln and such politically and socially relevant Kennedy Centers. themes as poverty, inequality, race, Conductor Donald Nally is currently John the unsheltered and stateless, and W. Beattie Chair in Music at Northwestern mankind’s relationship with the natural University and has held distinguished environment. tenures as chorus master for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Welsh National Opera, Opera Philadelphia, the Chicago Bach Project and Spoleto Festival in Italy. Sponsors: Petra & Al Lowe for Al Lowe Construction, Pierpont Racquet Club 17 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

“We have carefully built our brand Choir members include: Katy Avery, around the idea that when you come to a Karen Blanchard, Jonathan Bradley, Crossing concert you can’t possibly know Micah Dingler, Joanna Gates, Dimitri what the music is about, because nobody German, Steven Hyder, AJ Keller, will have heard it before,” says Nally. Lauren Kelly, Anika Kildegaard, Maren “People have come to trust the brand.” Montalbano, Daniel O’Dea, Kyle Find out why audiences everywhere and Sackett, Rebecca Siler, Tiana Sorenson, radio host Brian Lauritzen champion Daniel Spratlan, Daniel Taylor, Kevin this 18-voice ensemble on his weekly “A Vondrak (assistant conductor) and Joyful Noise” KUSC broadcast of choral Donald Nally (conductor). music almost every Sunday morning. On the VMF program is “brand new work” The Crossing is represented exclusively by Alt-diva Shara Nova (My Brightest by Alliance Artist Management, 5030 Diamond) plus Ayanna Woods (SHIFT), Broadway Suite 812 New York NY 10034 David Lang (stateless), Caroline Shaw (Her beacon hand beckons, from “To the Click below for complete program Hands”), Nicholas Cline (she took his notes on our website. hand) and Robert Maggio (Democracy). PROGRAM LISTEN NOW ARTIST PROFILES 18

FAQ COVID Policy Providing Vaccination/Booster proof remains a condition for entry. Masks for this group are optional. If not fully vaccinated, negative test results may be presented if administered by a health professional. For these entries, in-door masks are required. If masking or other requirements change, we will send e-update to ticket-holders and post on ticket site. 19 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 20

Donors make Sponsors everything possible! IMPRESARIO ~ $40,000+ Miriam Schwab Legacy Fund Ben Namba & Julia Campbell Founders PLATINUM ~ $15,000+ Freddie Contarino DIAMOND ~ $5,000 Hammer-Hewson Associates Jordan Laby & The family of John Hammer Jordan Laby EMERALD ~ $ 2,500 GOLD ~ $10,000+ Bob & Mary Braitman Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Barbara Fitzgerald Bill & Elise Kearney Cremation Service FD 883 RUBY ~ $1,000 SILVER ~ $5,000 Ann Ahlstone Brett, Arianna, Jared and Olivia Pete & Diane Dowler Jim & Mary Harrison Ashkar & Family Lydia Hopps E.J. Harrison & Sons Patricia Lathrop-McPherson The Hemming Family Steven & Diane Perren Barbara & Randolph Hinton Dr. Richard & Lori Reisman Barbara Meister Timothy & Diana Smith Dr. Richard & Lori Reisman Blake & Charles Wade Pierpont Racquet Club David & Jennie Whaley Rosalind C. Warner M.D. Grants & Michael Hogan M.D. City of Ventura BRONZE ~ $2,500 Ventura Music Hall Aera Energy LLC Smith-Hobson Fund Betsy Chess Julius Gius Memorial Community Memorial Health System Rotary Foundation Halter-Encinas Enterprises Limoneira & Limco Del Mar Petra & Al Lowe/Al Lowe Construction Susan Van Abel & Eric Oltmann 21 VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Donors FIRST CHAIR ~ $100 John Baker SUSTAINING DONORS Eloise Cohen Sustainers select the amount they Ivor Davis will give monthly - e.g. $10, $15, Johanna Gabbard $25 - and the credit or debit card to Delia Gorey be charged. Processing is secure Joshua & Mary Kay Kaufman and sustainers can cancel any time. MacFarlane, Faletti & Co Larry & Linda Matheney Penelope Barnds Linda Morgan Regina Barnes Mary Saputo John Biggs Carissa Smith Judith Delanerolle Berta Steele Diane Ellis Judith Streamer Lois & Roy Fischman Mary Kerrigan FRIENDS ~ $50 Sheila McCollum Ann Huston Irma Paramo Alan Kirschbaum Russell Richardson Charles Lawrence Marta Smith William Mitchell Rose Thot Kevin Welsh Elaine White COMPOSERS CIRCLE ~ $250-500 Mary Ann Cohen Charles Elliot Mark & Judith Fleischman Gifts in Memory/Honor In Memory of Ann Bevans Barbara Fitzgerald $100 In Memory of Virginia O’Neil Bob & Mary Braitman $100 Anonymous (several) $1,200 David & Anna Abdouch $250 In Honor of Richard & Lori Elena Brokaw $100 Reisman’s 50th Anniversary Larry & Catherine Robinson $100 Ivor Davis $50 Barbara Meister $100 Lois Simpson $50 DONORS & SPONSORS 22

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SAVE THE DATE! The 28th Season of the Ventura Music Festival! JULY 28-30 AUGUST 4-6 2023 Ventura College PAC See you there!