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A 30th Anniversary Season of marvelous journeys—A Symphonic Odyssey—begins! Tchaikovsky’s stunning Fourth Symphony features all the trademarks of great Tchaikovsky—brilliant score, emotional melodies and recognizable folk songs. Resonating Lands, a world premiere written for multi-instrumentalist Hong Wang by Guggenheim Fellow Kui Dong, celebrates the Lunar New Year. Ligeti’s rustic, folk-infused Concert Românesc dances through the countryside, while music from Apollo 13 and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial reflects the enormity of outer space. Buckle up for an inspiring journey with your New West Symphony!

THE PROGRAM
Michael Christie, conductor
Hong Wang, liquanqin (a new type of erhu, a Chinese two-stringed instrument)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

Ligeti: Concert Românesc

Kui Dong: Resonating Lands (World Premiere in honor of the Lunar New Year)

Horner: Music from Apollo 13

John Williams: Adventures on Earth from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

The year 2025 marks many significant musical milestones (including our 30th anniversary.) Bizet’s Carmen is one of the most popular operas ever written. This spurred our Music Director to search out other notable anniversaries, and they’re fun! J.S. Bach was flourishing during his illustrious tenure in Leipzig (1725), Smetana led us through the picturesque Czech countryside with his Moldau (1875), and some of the most popular rock songs of all time were released in 1975!

Michael Christie, conductor
Angels Vocal Art, Kristof Van Grysperre, artistic director
Pepperdine Chamber Choir, Dr. Ryan Board, director
Los Robles Children’s Choir, Emma Roche, director

Bizet: Selections from Carmen (1875)
Smetana: “Moldau” from Ma Vlast (1875)
J.S. Bach: Selections from Cantatas – “Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern,” “Jesum lass ich nicht von mir” and “Preis und Dank” (1725)
Bohemian Rhapsody, Rhinestone Cowboy, Mamma Mia (1975)

Tickets start at $40; students/children $15

Up next, LORDY MERCY, an original comedy, written and performed by OPAT’s Emmy-winning Artistic Director, Richard Camp. Only three performances!

The show is an irreverent, laugh out loud comedy about people who have been dealt the bottom card from the deck but lived, thrived, and survived. “Up until the time I was about five years old,” Richard said, “I thought everyone in the world was deformed in some way, because everyone in my immediate family WAS… a stepdaddy with a crossed eye so you couldn’t tell who he was yellin’ at, a sweet Baptist church piano player with missing fingers who could almost get the chords right, a cousin with a backward club foot who could kick your butt comin’ or goin’ … but nobody pitied them, they were accepted as they were.”

The show’s stepping off point is a five-year old’s first funeral, where he interacts with these characters who “scare the bejesus out of him.” He starts to wrap his young mind around the concept of God at the graveyard ceremony where the pallbearers drop the casket. This is a don't- miss, original piece of work from our esteemed Artistic Director. Only in Ojai do you find this quality of off-Broadway theater.

O Fortuna! Thus begins Carmina Burana’s thundering choruses and vivid medieval poems lauding love and indulgence. The Vieness Piano Duo are featured throughout the concert, alongside an array of exceptional guest artists and New West Symphony musicians.

Michael Christie, conductor
Vieness Piano Duo (Vijay Venkatesh & Eva Schaumkell, pianos)
Celena Shafer, soprano
Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor
José Adán Pérez, baritone
Jim Meskimen, narrator
New West Symphony Chorus, Wyant Morton, director
Los Robles Children’s Choir, Emma Roche, director
State Street Ballet, Cecily MacDougall, director

Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals
Orff/Killmayer: Carmina Burana

Tickets start at $40; students/children $15

Join us for an intermediate-level sewing workshop where guest artist Emily Adams will teach participants how to create a sturdy and stylish tote bag that will stand the test of time, all while being made of reclaimed fabrics and materials. Participants who have not used a sewing machine or are unsure of their capabilities are invited to join for an introductory session for 30 minutes before the workshop begins. Emily Adams will orient you with the sewing machine so you are up to speed and ready to go when the workshop teaching begins.

Learn the art of eco-friendly printmaking with EE Makerspace Coordinator Madison Connaughton on Sunday, February 11th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll carve your own linocut stamps using sustainable materials and techniques. Design unique, reusable creations perfect for cards, fabric, and more. No prior experience is needed—just bring your imagination!

Open to ages 13+.

Your $30 ticket includes all materials.

Reserve your spot and start creating sustainably!

Join us for a very special Homebuyer Workshop to learn about ReCoverCA Homebuyer Assistance for individuals and families that were living in high fire areas of City of Montecito during the 2017 wildfires.

Up to $350,000 in Homebuyer Assistance is available to help eligible households purchase a home in lower fire risk areas of California --- You don’t have to have perfect credit to qualify, and the financial assistance is forgiven after five years!

Who Should Attend?

- Residents who were renters or homeowners residing in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone during the wildfire of 2017.
- Wildfire recovery agencies and organizations.
- Real estate professionals.
- Residential service providers.
- Fire departments.
- Members of the media.

Interpreter Services Available Upon Request
Spanish and American Sign Language interpreter services will be provided if specified during registration.

Complete program policies, eligibility requirements, applications, rates and more are available through ReCoverCA HBA Lenders. The Program is provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, funded through a Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery grant from HUD and managed by Golden State Finance Authority, a public agency.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of dance that celebrates the incredible talent and diversity of Ventura County’s dance artists. This event promises to be a captivating experience filled with inspiring performances that bring people together through movement. Your presence will make a difference – join us to connect, enjoy, and be inspired!

Tickets are $15 at NambaArts.com in advance or $20 at the door.

About VCD
The mission of Ventura County Dance is to deepen public appreciation of dance while supporting and increasing opportunities for dance in Ventura County and throughout Southern California. Centered around diversity, spirit, culture, education, creation, and community, Ventura County Dance serves as an intergenerational festival and conference, providing dance performances, classes, workshops, discussions, and demonstrations for practitioners, enthusiasts, and scholars.

Come listen to Gene Pokorny, principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Mi-Young Kim on piano on Sunday, February 23rd at 3 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church (909 N. La Cumbre Road). They will play a benefit concert for the Santa Barbara Chamber Players. Tickets are $25 and are available at sbchamberplayers.org. A day not to miss!

Esteban Cabeza de Baca’s paintings dance between histories, landscapes, and time – speaking to his ancestry and inviting visitors to consider all stories of immigration, Indigenous identity, and resistance. Cabeza de Baca was born into a family of labor activists working in San Ysidro, California, and spent his childhood driving the long journey between California and New Mexico. Ranging from 2015 to 2024, the eleven paintings in the gallery explore issues of belonging and identity, activism, and joy and celebration. It is the artist’s first solo Museum exhibition on the West Coast.