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Camerata Pacifica’s 2023-24 season wraps with the highly anticipated world premiere of “Petite Suite” by GRAMMY-nominated Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad written for a unique mix of instruments, including accordion, clarinet, cello, and marimba. Commissioned by Camerata Pacifica, it was composed for and features Julien Labro, one of the world’s foremost accordion players in both jazz and classical genres. The program is presented at four Southland venues: Friday, May 17, 7:30 pm, at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West; Sunday, May 19, 3 pm, at Thousand Oaks’ Janet and Ray Scherr Forum; Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7:30 pm, at The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino; and Thursday, May 23, 8 pm, Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Assad, renowned for her significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop, and jazz genres, says, “’Petite Suite’ brings together elements of French chanson and Latin-American music, combining classical and jazz notation with room for improvisation by the accordion player, the amazing Julien Labro. It's a playful, and nostalgic work that draws on my memories of childhood and adolescence spent visiting and living in France. This first part explores a simple idea: all players in unison before they all get into different roles.”

Additionally, Camerata Pacifica presents the U.S. premiere of British composer Martin Butler’s scintillating Remember This Fire for oboe and percussion, which was inspired by Ezra Pound’s poem The Alchemist.

The season finale also features New Zealand-Greek composer John Psathas’ One Study, a virtuosic work for marimba, with junk percussion and digital audio, and Listen, Quiet for cello and electronics by Paola Prestini, named one of the Top 35 Female Composers in Classical Music (Washington Post) and known for her “otherwordly…outright gorgeous music” (The New York Times).

In addition to Labro, featured artists include Camerata Pacifica Principal Cello Ani Aznavoorian; Principal Oboe Nicholas Daniel; Principal Clarinet Jose Franch-Ballester; and Principal Percussion Ji Hye Jung.

Camerata Pacifica is renowned for bold programming that demonstrates the limitless scope of the chamber music repertoire.

Tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $80 at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) are available at www.cameratapacifica.org or 805-884-8410.

Camerata Pacifica’s 2023-24 season wraps with the highly anticipated world premiere of “Petite Suite” by GRAMMY-nominated Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad written for a unique mix of instruments, including accordion, clarinet, cello, and marimba. Commissioned by Camerata Pacifica, it was composed for and features Julien Labro, one of the world’s foremost accordion players in both jazz and classical genres. The program is presented at four Southland venues: Friday, May 17, 7:30 pm, at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West; Sunday, May 19, 3 pm, at Thousand Oaks’ Janet and Ray Scherr Forum; Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7:30 pm, at The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino; and Thursday, May 23, 8 pm, Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Assad, renowned for her significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop, and jazz genres, says, “’Petite Suite’ brings together elements of French chanson and Latin-American music, combining classical and jazz notation with room for improvisation by the accordion player, the amazing Julien Labro. It's a playful, and nostalgic work that draws on my memories of childhood and adolescence spent visiting and living in France. This first part explores a simple idea: all players in unison before they all get into different roles.”

Additionally, Camerata Pacifica presents the U.S. premiere of British composer Martin Butler’s scintillating Remember This Fire for oboe and percussion, which was inspired by Ezra Pound’s poem The Alchemist.

The season finale also features New Zealand-Greek composer John Psathas’ One Study, a virtuosic work for marimba, with junk percussion and digital audio, and Listen, Quiet for cello and electronics by Paola Prestini, named one of the Top 35 Female Composers in Classical Music (Washington Post) and known for her “otherwordly…outright gorgeous music” (The New York Times).

In addition to Labro, featured artists include Camerata Pacifica Principal Cello Ani Aznavoorian; Principal Oboe Nicholas Daniel; Principal Clarinet Jose Franch-Ballester; and Principal Percussion Ji Hye Jung.

Camerata Pacifica is renowned for bold programming that demonstrates the limitless scope of the chamber music repertoire.

Tickets ($75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $80 at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) are available at www.cameratapacifica.org or 805-884-8410.

Tennis's top-ranked Swiatek beat Gauff 6-1, 6-3 in the final at Roland Garros. Swiatek's unbeaten run of 35 matches equals one by Venus Williams in 2000 as the longest this century.

The films all scored 6% or less on the Tomatometer. Topping the list — all with a 0% rating: Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever, One Missed Call and Left Behind.

Once each year the Valley Watercolor Society presents its exhibition of juried paintings submitted by its members. The exhibit will be held at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery which is adjacent to the Newbury Park library. The exhibit opens on February 2 (Friday). On Sunday, February 4, there will be a reception open to the public from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Award winners will be announced and refreshments will be served.

Join the Santa Barbara Chamber Players on Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church at 305 E. Anapamu Street. They will play Fauré Pelléas et Melisande Suite, Piazzolla (arr. Marturet) Adiós Nonino, and Brahms Serenade No. 1, Op. 11 with Emmanuel Fratianni, conductor. Purchase tickets ($20, K-12 free) at sbchamberplayers.org.

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center will be hosting the Simi Valley Art Association's Spring Exhibit, Bridges: Art and Community, from April 6th - June 2nd. The Artist Reception will be held Thursday, April 18th from 5 - 7 pm.

Learn to crochet with Madison Connaughton on Friday, November 22, at 6:00 pm. We’ll cover the basics in this fun, beginner-friendly workshop, including how to chain, make a “magic circle,” and create essential stitches—all leading up to crafting a classic granny square.

Each attendee will leave with a crochet hook and a ball of yarn to keep practicing at home.

Your $25 ticket includes all materials.

Join us for the public debut of “LIT,” an exhibition featuring artist Rod Lathim’s most extensive collection of LightWorks sculptures to date. This special evening also marks the official launch of Rod’s new autobiographical book, Finding The Divine Child – A Journey of Spirit, Light and Art. Please come and experience this new collection of neon and light-based works, born from a highly productive and inspired 2025. This event is a unique opportunity to celebrate the intersection of art and storytelling with the artist in the beautiful setting of the Art & Soul Gallery.
If you cannot join us for the opening night, we hope you will visit the exhibition during its run through March 1st or join us for our special book signing event later in the month.
Opening Reception Details:
- Thursday, February 5th
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Art & Soul Gallery (State Street between Opal and The Arlington Theatre)

Additional Events & Information:
- Book Signing Event: Saturday, February 21st from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
- Exhibition Dates: February 5th – March 1st.
- Gallery Hours: Thursday – Saturday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM; Sundays: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM; and by appointment.
- Book Availability: Finding The Divine Child will be available exclusively at Art & Soul Gallery throughout February.

Visit www.rodlathim.com to learn more and view a gallery of images.

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) presents “Global History and the California Missions: A Sea Story” with author, artist, educator, and native Californian Janet Dowling Sands on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 7:00. This beautifully illustrated presentation will explain how the missions were inextricably linked to global maritime history and prehistory, including the latest research on the origins of California’s indigenous people, whose ancestors came to the Americas thousands of years before the first European soldiers and missionaries arrived.

Cost is free for SBMM’s Navigator Circle Members, $10 for all other members, and $20 for members of the public. There will also be a pre-lecture reception for members only from 6:15-6:45pm. Register at: https://sbmm.org/santa-barbara-event/ and become a member at https://sbmm.org.

About the Speaker
Janet Sands, author of On a Mission: The Real Story of the California Missions, has developed a unique perspective on history—shaped by extensive research and by many years of engagement with educators, scientists and historians. She is a California native with a degree in Art History from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a lifelong student of history, art, and the natural world, and a collector of American regional art. She is currently working to complete her next book, Collision of Cultures: A Traveler’s History of the American Southwest.

This event is generously sponsored by Marie L. Morrisroe.