Press Releases

12/28/2007
One Talented Student Will Have Opportunity to Play on Stage with Poncho Sanchez February 16
Deadline to enter contest is January 15. Now accepting entries from students in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara counties and the San Fernando Valley!

12/28/2007
'A Passion for Art' Celebrates Ventura Music Festival's 2008 Season with Inagural Exhibition
From vibrant color and bold brushstrokes to amazing sculpture and assemblage presentations, 2008 art works are exceptional jewels, on display beginning January 5 with hosted reception at Artists Union Gallery in Ventura.

12/09/2007
Ventura Music Festival theme 'Appassionata'
The next Ventura Music Festival will court audiences with romance. Titled "Appassionata" the 2008 event celebrates music from the Romantic Era, the period from 1820-1920 when composers like Chopin emphasized emotional expression over formal structure.

12/05/2007
A personal vision of art and music
A resident of Ventura and a visual artist and musician, John Parker has enjoyed a lifetime of music and fine art. In his third year of designing official art for the annual Ventura Music Festival, now entering its 14th season with "Appassionata," April 30 - May 10, Parker delights in bringing his personal vision of art and music to reflect the season's theme, which changes each year.

11/29/2007
Ventura Music Festival Unveils 2008 Season Signature Art
Full of passion and verve, official art for the 2008 Ventura Music Festival is nothing short of a masterpiece.

08/01/2007
Children Will Win Again with Music in 2008
Through it's Education Outreach Program, Nuvi Mehta, Artistic Director of the Ventura Music Festival Association, brought music education to more than 4,000 children during the festival's 2007 season.

03/02/2007
First Lady of Jazz, Two-Time Grammy® Award Winner Diane Schuur Brings Ultimate in Visionary Vocals to Ventura Music Festival
Sponsored by Fashion Forms, the 13th annual Ventura Music Festival is pleased to announce a one-night only command performance by the legendary vocalist Diane Schuur at 8:00 pm at Ventura Missionary Church in Ventura on Saturday, May 5.

02/23/2007
World-class musician Corey Cerovsek takes pleasure in visiting Ventura residents often to compose, perform at Ventura Music Festival
Sponsored by the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts and Mr. and Mrs. Al and Michele Sakharoff of Ventura, master violinist Corey Cerovsek will perform with famed conductor and Ventura Music Festival Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Ventura High School Theatre. The Festival Orchestra will accompany him in a delightful evening celebrating French composers.

02/22/2007
Paris Comes to Ventura
"A Night at the Moulin Rouge" will feature live jazz, dancing and cabaret performances as the artwork of the 12 “local masters” is auctioned off to benefit the Ventura Music Festival at their annual dinner auction, March 31st.

01/24/2007
Ojai Valley Museum hosts collection of original works commissioned for Ventura Music Festival
Twelve local artists present their works shadowing French Impressionism, the theme of the 2007 Ventura Music Festival, at the Ojai Valley Museum through February 2, 2007.

01/24/2007
Inspired by a lifetime of memories, local master artist Gerd Koch expresses intimate details of Ojai's past with bold strokes of color
Koch is one of twelve local artists presenting their works shadowing French Impressionism, the theme of the 2007 Ventura Music Festival, at the Ojai Valley Museum.

01/05/2007
Legendary Latin sensation Arturo Sandoval to perform in rare West Coast concert February 17, 2007
The Ventura Music Festival is kicking off its 13th season with a bang by bringing Latin Jazz legend ARTURO SANDOVAL to Ventura for one special command performance on FEBRUARY 17th, 2007. The special crossover concert is sponsored by the Meister Family Foundation.

12/01/2006
The Tale of Peter and his Wolf...
Actor Peter Strauss, an Emmy-Award winner and Golden Globe nominee, will join Mr. Nuvi Mehta and an ensemble orchestra to narrate the classic tale of Peter and the Wolf at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2006 at the Serra Center at San Buenaventura Mission. Strauss will bring his special brand of creativity through voice and character to the free concert presented by the Ventura Music Festival in association with the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts "Arts Explosion."

11/22/2006
Blending Art and Life
The way Jordan and Sandra Laby see it – art and life are intertwined. Simple things, like the addition of a beautiful flower and vase to a restaurant table to seeking out great classical music at the Ventura Music Festival – are all art. Each of us is surrounded and influenced by art and music daily in our lives. It's a gift each of us is given. Local visionaries, the Laby's help keep that gift alive.

11/22/2006
Ventura Music Festival artists preparing unique visual art pieces meant to stir the soul and capture a moment in time through color, texture
When French composer Debussy changed the manner in which harmony and composition was heard – French Impressionism was born. Twelve local artists are currently at work on their interpretations of that era through their works of art sponsored by Affinity Bank and the 2007 Ventura Music Festival.