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A talk by Neal Graffy

Wednesday, April 8

Two opportunities!
11:00 AM TICKETS
5:30 PM TICKETS

In early December, 1846, “The Pathfinder,” Lt. Col. John C. Frémont, and his recently assembled California Battalion were encamped some 20 miles below Mission San Juan Bautista. Their goal? Head south and liberate Santa Barbara and then Los Angeles from the forces of General José María Flores and claim California for the United States. To do so, for the next twenty-five days Frémont and his men would embark on an historic march of 230 miles culminating in a Christmas Day descent from the Santa Ynez mountains in a torrential rainstorm. According to legend, Benjamin Foxen warned Frémont of a trap at Gaviota Pass and then led Frémont and the battalion safely over the “San Marcos Pass.”

Get Tickets!
https://www.sbhistorical.org/events/

Join us as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a stirring tribute to the rich variety and diversity of people, perspectives and musical styles that have shaped 250 years of American choral music. From stirring melodies like Simple Gifts and Home on the Range to the lively rhythms of Down By the Riverside, patriotic favorites, audience sing-alongs and more, it’s truly a musical salute to America’s enduring spirit.
Bring your whole family to this One-Day-Only performance. This is indeed an afternoon that you won’t want to miss as we celebrate America’s 250th and more as we lift up our voices together.

Featured performers on the program include our own Lompoc Valley Master Chorale Youth Chorale, our 2026 scholarship winners and special guest instrumentalists.

America’s 250th: A Celebration in Song will take place on Saturday April 25, 2026 at First United Methodist Church 925 North “F” St., Lompoc, CA. 3:00 PM.

The Lompoc Valley Master Chorale is celebrating its 34th season in the Lompoc Valley and is under the direction of Kathleen Abrams Hacker. The piano accompanist is Rachel Mello.

Ticket prices are $20 General Admission, $5 for High School Students and Children Under 13 are Free.
Tickets are available from Chorale members or at the door on the performance day. For more information please visit our website, lvmasterchorale.org

Join us for Studio Channel Islands next Film in the Gallery!
Зеркало (Mirror) [1975, Soviet Union; dir. Andrei Tarkovsky]
From the mind of the visionary Tarkovsky, Mirror blends cinema with visual art and poetry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2026

Contact:
Laura Mason
805-410-3497
laura@conejoschools.org

MEDIA ALERT: FOR COMMUNITY EDITORS AND CALENDAR LISTINGS

CONEJO SCHOOLS FOUNDATION’S ALL-DISTRICT MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 42ND YEAR

Thousand Oaks, Calif. – The Conejo Schools Foundation’s All District Music Festival, a beloved community tradition, proudly returns to the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center this spring.

Now in its 42nd year, the festival brings together more than 3,500 student musicians from across the Conejo Valley for ten nights of string, choir, and band performances where elementary, middle, and high school students take to the stage at one of the region’s premier performance venues.

The All District Music Festival offers students a rare opportunity to experience a truly world-class stage environment, taking them “behind the curtain” and onto a professional platform far beyond what many have previously experienced. For students accustomed to performing in multipurpose rooms, the festival offers a transformative opportunity to stand in the spotlight and showcase their talents on a grand scale.

Beyond performance, the festival plays a vital role in inspiring students to keep music central to their education. It encourages continued participation throughout their academic journeys while also fostering meaningful connections. Students are introduced to peers and instructors from their future middle and high schools, strengthening a sense of community and continuity across grade levels.

Produced by the Conejo Schools Foundation, the festival is truly a labor of love.

“Events like the All District Music Festival showcase the extraordinary talent, dedication, and collaboration happening across our schools,” said Lana Clark, Executive Director of the Conejo Schools Foundation. “It’s more than a performance—it’s a celebration of what students can achieve when they are supported, inspired, and given opportunities to grow through the arts. We are incredibly proud of the team that brings this event to life each year, creating a meaningful experience not only for our students, but for our entire community.”

The festival is made possible through the dedication of countless volunteers and the generous support of local sponsors who believe in and invest in Conejo Valley schools.

Tickets:

Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster at www.conejoschools.org or at the box office.

Dates and Performance Information:

Tuesday, April 14 – 7:00 pm

Strings- NPHS, Sequoia, Sycamore Canyon, Banyan, Cypress, EARThS, Walnut

Wednesday, April 15 – 7:00 pm

Strings- TOHS, Redwood, Glenwood, Madroña Academy, Wildwood

Thursday, April 16 – 7:00 pm

Strings-WHS, Colina, Los Cerritos, Conejo Academy, Lang Ranch, Westlake Hills

Tuesday, April 28 – 7:00 pm

Chorus- NPHS, Sequoia, Sycamore Canyon, Banyan, Cypress, EARThS, Maple, Walnut

Wednesday, April 29 – 7:00 pm

Chorus- WHS, Colina, Conejo Academy, MATES, Westlake Hills

Thursday, April 30 – 7:00 pm

Chorus- WHS, Los Cerritos, Ladera, Lang Ranch, Weathersfiled

Friday, May 1 – 7:00 pm

Chorus- TOHS, Redwood, Acacia, Aspen, Madroña Academy, WIldwood

Monday, May 18 – 7:00 pm

Band- NPHS, Sequoia, Sycamore Canyon, Banyan, Cypress, EARThS, Maple, MATES (beginning), Sycamore Canyon, Walnut

Tuesday, May 19 – 7:00 pm

Band- WHS, Colina, Los Cerritos, Conejo Academy, Lang Ranch, MATES (advanced), Westlake, Westlake Hills

Wednesday, May 20 – 7:00 pm

Band- TOHS, Acacia, Glenwood, Ladera, Madroña Academy, Weathersfield, Redwood Ensemble

MORE *** MORE *** MORE

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DETAILS FOR CALENDAR LISTINGS

ALL DISTRICT MUSIC FESTIVALS

WHAT: Conejo Schools Foundation presents a celebration of Conejo Valley Unified School District’s incredible youth music programs with ten nights of All-District Music Festivals in the Bank of America Performing Arts Center’s Kavli Theatre. Each night features strings, chorus, or band students from elementary, middle, and high schools performing together in concert to showcase the growth and achievements of our young musicians.

WHEN/WHERE:

7pm Tuesday, 4/14 – NPHS Strings Track

7pm Wednesday, 4/15 - TOHS Strings Track

7pm Thursday, 4/16 - WHS Strings Track

7pm Tuesday, 4/28 - NPHS Choral Track

7pm Wednesday, 4/29 - WHS Choral Track

7pm Thursday, 4/30 - WHS Choral Track

7pm Friday, 5/1- TOHS Choral Track

7pm Monday, 5/18 - NPHS Band Track

7pm Tuesday, 5/19 – WHS Band Track

7pm Wednesday, 5/20 – TOHS Band Track

TICKETS: Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster at www.conejoschools.org or at the box office.

Register Now
In the SXSW, Grierson, and British Independent Film Award-winning Grand Theft Hamlet (2024), actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen find themselves out of work when theaters shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertain about their futures, they turn to the virtual space of Grand Theft Auto Online, embarking on the improbable project of casting and producing a live staging of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet within the game’s chaotic landscape. Directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, the documentary is comprised entirely of in-game footage, with all of the subjects depicted by their online avatars. The film chronicles the challenges of mounting theater in an unconventional space—from scouting locations and coordinating auditions with players around the globe to navigating rehearsal conflicts—while also capturing unexpected moments of connection during a period of global isolation. Both a celebration of the creative possibilities shared by theater, video games, and cinema, and a poignant reflection on the artistic process, Grand Theft Hamlet explores the enduring human need for connection through art.

Please note: This event will not feature a screening of the documentary. The format for this event will be a live discussion between filmmakers Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls, and moderator Miguel Penabella (Carsey-Wolf Center, UCSB). They will discuss the making of Grand Theft Hamlet, and the process of casting, producing, rehearsing, and staging a live production of Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto Online. Patrons may choose to watch the film in advance of this discussion via MUBI, which offers a special sixty day student membership trial (and a seven day non-student membership trial), but advance viewing of the film will not be necessary to appreciate the discussion.

This event is presented in conjunction with the UCSB Library exhibition Infinite Variety: The Many Lives of Shakespeare’s Texts.

Image Description: Image containing 4 people (2 standing on top of a limosine, and 2 standing on the grass in front of the car), as well as one alien floating in the air

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Director Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet (2025) revolves around Agnes (Jessie Buckley), a singular woman sensitive to the natural world around her. She finds a home and starts a family with William (Paul Mescal), a local tutor and aspiring playwright, before tragedy transforms their lives. Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel of the same name, Hamnet reimagines the life of William Shakespeare and the writing of Hamlet through the lens of the loss of a child. Widely acclaimed upon release, the film earned numerous accolades including acting awards for Jessie Buckley from the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, SAG-AFTRA, and BAFTA, and was nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards.

The Carsey-Wolf Center is delighted to present a screening of Hamnet in conjunction with the UCSB Library exhibition Infinite Variety: The Many Lives of Shakespeare’s Texts. Jean Feerick (English, John Carroll University) will join moderator Jim Kearney (English, UCSB) for pre- and post-screening discussions of Hamnet and its relationship to Shakespeare’s life and work.

Image Description: Image of brunette girl in medieval dress looking sad and concerned

Join us for Saturday morning art adventures in the EE Makerspace above Art from Scrap.
All materials provided - just bring your imagination!
Kids 5+ (adults must stay in the Makerspace with their child).
Projects may use hot glue guns - safety first!

Working on a creative project that’s not quite done? Finish it up and cross it off your resolutions list! the Join other makers and spread out on our big tables, use our tools and dig through our upcycled materials to finalize your masterpiece. Get expert tips as we cheer you on to success. Ages 13+.

AVAILABLE: *LASER CUTTER *CRICUT *SEWING MACHINES *SERGER *BASIC HAND TOOLS *GLUE GUNS
*TRACING TABLE *SOLDERING IRON *BLOCK PRINTING TOOLS

Join us at the Sewing and Mending Club to learn how to repair old favorites or create something new! Discover the joy of creating and repairing with our welcoming community at the EE Makerspace.

Bring your unfinished projects, sewing challenges, or mending needs to our evening or afternoon session.

Our supportive staff and volunteers will be there to offer tips and guidance.

$15 | Ages 13+

Pre-registration is required, secure your spot today.

We can’t wait to see what you create in the EE Makerspace!