Baroque Music Festival ensemble preforming with Artistic Director Elzabeth Blumenstock leading from the concertmaster position:Photo - Gary Payne

The Buzz

Community Bach-Fest Celebrates 39 Years!

Baroque Music Festival ensemble preforming with Artistic Director Elzabeth Blumenstock leading from the concertmaster position/Photo – Gary Payne

The 39thAnnual Baroque Music Festivalwill be offered at Newport Beach and Corona del Mar venues from June 23-30. The theme, “Bach: The Master and His Mileu,” will showcase Joann Sebastian Bach’sworks, as well as works by his close friend Georg Telemann, sons C.P.E. Bachand W.F. Bach, influencer Buxtehude,and others. The festival includes Sunday performances that feature the Festival Orchestra. Three concerts positioned between feature a solo recital – this year with award-winning guitarist Marc Teicholz– as well as chamber orchestra performances. The festival finale will showcase Bach’s popular vocal work, “Magnificat.” Festival Artistic Director Elizabeth Blumenstockis an internationally renowned Baroque violinist and has performed throughout the world playing a 17thcentury Guarneri violin. She teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as The Julliard School. For tickets and further information, visit BMF-CDM.org

Gardens Galore!

If viewing private gardens is one of your favorite things to do, then plan on attending the Newport Beach Garden Touron Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presented by the Sherman Library & Gardens Volunteer Association, you will visit seven private residential gardens. At each garden, you will be greeted by an “Artist in the Garden,” who will capture points of interest for you. A reception at Sherman Gardens follows from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 for members and $60 for non-members. There is a lite lunch, and shuttle service to each garden is available by reservation for an additional fee. SLGardens.org

A Touch of Ailey at Orange County School of the Arts

Alvin Ailey dancer Youthen Joseph with OCSA students/Photo – Yunuen Bonaparte

OCSA’s Master Artist Seriesbrought members of the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaterto the campus in Santa Ana for a five-day residency to give students interdisciplinary dance training. The program kicked off with “Revelations: An Interdisciplinary Approach” being taught to 260 eighth grade students in their history classes. Alvin Ailey’s signature piece, “Revelations,” was the theme for the coursework. Members of the company also taught dance conservatory students choreography from their upcoming program at the Music Center in Los Angeles, which the students later attended following the residency. OCSARTS.net

A New CEO Announced

Herald Hermann

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange Countyhas a new CEO. His name is Harald Herrman, who has been an accomplished business and philanthropic leader in Southern California for more than 35 years. His expertise in the food industry as well as his active work with nonprofits makes him the perfect choice. SHFB is the largest nonprofit hunger relief organization in Orange County. Last year it provided a record 25.1 million meals for the hungry in OC. Its goal is to close the meal gap by 2025, and Herrmann is just the leader to take them there!