The Sound of Music
Audra joins the Music Academy of the West for the Music Note Gala
Written by Joan Tapper
The annual musical highlight of the Santa Barbara summer—the MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST’s Summer Festival—kicks off its roster of 100-plus concerts, master classes, and events on June 17 with something new: a two-week High School Intensive for 75 gifted young musicians. It will be followed by six weeks of orchestral works, chamber music, solo pieces, and opera performed by MAW’s extraordinarily talented 150 international Fellows and its 60 guest and teaching artists.
Then, as a culmination of the season—and to herald an exciting future—MAW’s Music Note Gala will take place on August 14 at the Bella Vista Estate in Summerland. Headlined by Grammy winner, six-time Tony winner, and star of HBO’s The Gilded Age Audra McDonald, the fundraiser will support full scholarships for the Fellows, the high school summer initiative, and Sing!, an after-school program that serves more than 160 local children annually. The event also honors board member Cheryl Goldberg, whose philanthropy is supporting MAW’s upcoming Music Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara.
A Juilliard-trained soprano known for the subtlety and insights she brings to a wide range of musical genres, McDonald will perform classics from the Great American Songbook—think Gershwin and Cole Porter—accompanied by a jazz trio led by music director Andy Einhorn. And, of course, the Sing! Children’s Choir will be there to share the stage.
“I’m delighted to join the Music Academy of the West for this special evening in support of music education,” McDonald says. “Having grown up in Fresno, I always welcome the chance to return to my home state, especially for a cause so close to my heart. The Academy’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists is deeply meaningful, because when we invest in young people and place the arts in their hands, we are investing in all of our futures.”
Last year’s gala raised more than $750,000, setting the bar high for this year’s event. “The Music Note Gala supports the heart of the Music Academy’s mission—bringing transformative music education and extraordinary artistry together for meaningful impact,” says Shauna Quill, MAW’s president and CEO. “It celebrates the power of music to inspire, connect, and transform lives across generations.” musicacademy.org
