CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE

SPECTORDANCE brings another innovative program and major talent to their studios in Marina this weekend. Click our CALENDAR.

PERFORMING ARTS PEOPLE

ESTELÍ GOMEZ, young Watsonville concert soprano is on a roll worldwide and up for the challenge. Click HERE

$1 MILLION RISE IN CAL STATE ARTS GRANTS

NOT MUCH but better than nothing, and specifically targeted. LA Times reports. Click HERE

NEW CD FEATURES BACH FEST PLAYERS

ACRONYM, a baroque string band, including many Bach Festival players, explores “Oddities & Trifles: The Very Peculiar Instrumental Music of Giovanni Valentini.” Born a century before JS Bach, the prolific Venetian probably studied with Giovanni Gabrieli and definitely had a big court career in Vienna under Emperor Ferdinand II. His music is startling and fresh and unpredictable, played here on period instruments. Musicians from this year’s Bach Fest include Edwin Huizinga, Johanna Novom, Adriane Post and Karina Schmitz.

HOW TO MAKE A SMARTER TEEN

NEW RESEARCH finds music lessons produce neural benefits in kids who don’t start formal training until high school. Tom Jacobs explains. Click HERE

HERB SHERMAN FUND FOR JAZZ CAMP

LONGTIME FRIEND and jazz lover Herb Sherman died in late May from complication of diabetes. His survivors dedicated his estate to the Monterey Jazz Festival where he was a faithful fixture for 44 seasons. The fund will support summer jazz camp students in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. Click HERE

FRESH CRITIQUES

MARY POPPINS on the Cabrillo Stage. Click HERE

TWO MORE Bach Festival concerts. Click HERE

Scott MacClelland, editor

MARY POPPINS AND THE LIAR OPEN THIS WEEK

POPPINS on the Cabrillo Stage. THE LIAR at UCSC’s Stanley-Sinsheimer Glen. Click our CALENDAR, or, for Poppins on the ad, left.

ARTS & CRAFTS THEATREFEST

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, 10am-6pm, Custom House Plaza, Monterey. Raises funds for PacRep Theatre. Click HERE

HARPSICHORDIST ALAN CURTIS DIES AT 80

THE GIANT IN Baroque scholarship, conducting and recording obscure baroque operas was harpsichord teacher to Linda Burman-Hall and appeared in her music festival, later named Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, in the late 1970s. Click HERE

DAVID GORDON VIDEO

GORDON describes the upcoming Bach Festival Friday Main concert. Click HERE

LEONARDO’S ‘PIANO’ AT LONG LAST

‘WACKY’ INSTRUMENT combines harpsichord, organ and cello, with an action of hammers and wheels, finally built. Click HERE

MISOPHONIA, THE HATRED OF CERTAIN SOUNDS

FINGERNAILS ON A CHALKBOARD? Click HERE

BACH FESTIVAL GENERAL MANAGER RETIRES

ELIZABETH PASQUINELLI served as GM for 25 years. I first got to know Elizabeth under trying circumstances. In 1981, she was the new Executive Director of the Monterey Symphony and for eight years I had been running their In-School program that visited all the public elementary schools in Monterey County. I was also the new music critic at the Monterey Herald. My review of a Symphony concert set off a scandal. As a result the Symphony cut me loose and Elizabeth inherited a huge new and, to her, unexpected responsibility. She was not happy with me. But, as ever, she took it on and made it continue during her watch. To this day, I consider her a good friend; we’ve had many personal and private conversations on topics of mutual interest outside of the day-to-day. I applaud her dedication and discipline, but even more her unflagging optimism and ‘can do’ spirit.

PERFORMING ARTS PEOPLE

TOM LEHRER, Living Legend, Santa Cruz resident and irreverent songwriter. Click HERE

FRESH PERFORMANCE CRITIQUES

BACH FESTIVAL opening weekend. Click HERE

PAPER WING’s Pan. Click HERE

Scott MacClelland, editor