Ojai Music Festival

The 70th Ojai Music Festival, our annual classical music festival is around the corner.

Our recent renovated Libbey Bowl is ready to host this big and exiting event, from June 9 through June 12.

The festival presents music, symposia, and educational programs emphasizing adventurous, eclectic, and challenging music, principally by contemporary composers. A secondary focus of the Festival is the discovery or rediscovery of rare or little known works by past masters.

The Ojai Music Festival was founded in 1947 by John Leopold Jergens Bauer. It was originally intended to be a "Salzburg Festival" of the West" with eight weeks of music, opera, dance, and theater; but while those ambitious early plans were never realized, a more modest festival developed.

Today, The Ojai Music Festival combines music, great energy, gathering conversation, and community events that inspire you to break from your busy life and restore your spirit in our beautiful valley.  

Below is the schedule:  Music Director is Peter Sellars.

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

2:00-4:30pm. Location: Ojai Valley Community Church (907 El Centro St)
Ojai Talks

Part I: Peter Sellars in conversation with Ara Guzelimian
Part II: Kaija Saariaho in conversation with Ara Guzelimian

7:00-10:00pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Transformation Talks & Twilight Concert 

7:00-7:40pm: Transformation Talks: Light Into Darkness, Darkness Into Light
Susan McClary and Peter Sellars in conversation with composers

8:00-10:00pm: Twilight Concert
KAIJA SAARIAHO: La Passion de Simone (chamber version) – US Premiere
Text: Amin Maalouf

Julia Bullock, soprano | Joana Carneiro, conductor | Peter Sellars, director | ICE | Roomful of Teeth

 FRIDAY, JUNE 10

9:00-10:00am. Location: Meditation Mount
Morning Meditation
Ojai Member Event

PAULINE OLIVEROS: Sonic Meditations I

ICE

(Free bus transportation provided to this venue)

1:00-4:15pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Saariaho Chamber Music I & The Mystic Hour  1:00-2:15pm: KAIJA SAARIAHO Chamber Music I Kesäpäivä mvt 1 – “Daybreak”

Terrestre mvt 1 – “Oiseau dansant”Kesäpäivä mvt 2 – “Work” Light and Matter Kesäpäivä mvt 3 – “The Hour of Longing” Adjö Kesäpäivä mvt 4 – “The Mystic Hour” Grammaire des rêves Kesäpäivä mvt 5 – “Twilight” Terrestre mvt 2 – “L’Oiseau, un satellite infime” ICE | Roomful of Teeth

3:00-4:15pm: The Mystic Hour I
CAROLINE SHAW: Partita for 8 Voices
Roomful of Teeth

CARLA KIHLSTEDT: At Night We Walk in Circles and Are Consumed by Fire
ICE | Carla Kihlstedt, voice and violin

7:00-10:00pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Transformation Talks & Twilight Concert 

7:00-7:40pm: Transformation Talks: Light Into Darkness, Darkness Into Light
Prominent guest panelists moderated by Peter Sellars and distinguished musicologist Susan McClary

8:00-10:00pm: Twilight Concert
DINA EL WEDIDI AND BAND
The Sounds of Tahrir Square, Cairo

10:30-11:30pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Free Late Night Ojai Extra

LEILA ADU: Songs & Improvisations
Leila Adu, voice and piano

If you are a series subscriber, this event is included in your subscription

Join us for Concert Insights with Christopher Hailey and Festival artists at the Libbey Bowl tennis courts at 12pm.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

9:00-10:00am | Zalk Theater, Besant Hill School (8585 Ojai Santa Paula Rd, Ojai)
Morning Ojai Extra 
** Series Subscriber Event **

LEILA ADU: if the stars align…
Calder Quartet

CHRISTINE SOUTHWORTH: Honey Flyers
Calder Quartet

CAROLINE SHAW: By and By
Calder Quartet | Davone Tines, baritone

1:00-4:15pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Saariaho Chamber Music II & The Mystic Hour II 

1:00-2:15pm: KAIJA SAARIAHO Chamber Music II
Nymphéa for string quartet and electronics
Calder Quartet | Jean-Baptiste Barrière, electronics

Solar
ICE | Joana Carniero, conductor

Sombre
Davone Tines, baritone | Camilla Hoitenga, bass flute | ICE

3:00-4:15pm: The Mystic Hour II
CAROLINE SHAW: Don’t Let Me Be Lonely (Commissioned by the Ojai Music Festival) – World Premiere
Text: Claudia Rankine
ICE | Roomful of Teeth

LEILA ADU: Alyssum
Calder Quartet | Bridget Kibbey, harp

DU YUN: An Empty Garlic for bass flute, electronics, and tam tam
Claire Chase, bass flute and tam tam

6:00-7:00pm | Libbey Park

Saturday Supper in the Park – $40/person

Enjoy a family-style supper in Libbey Park in the company of other music enthusiasts before the Saturday evening concert. Meal includes dinner, dessert, and Ojai Vineyard wine.

Regular Menu
Five Spice & Brown Sugar Lacquered Salmon with Scallion-Sweet Chile & Ojai Kumquat Jam
Toasted Quinoa & Wild Rice Salad with Asparagus & Caramalized Shitakes
Wilted Kale & Roasted Peppers marinated in Ginger Vinaigrette
Flourless Chocolate Torte with Fresh Berries

Vegetarian Menu
Shredded Vegetable & Teriyaki Marinated Tofu Summer Rolls with Kaffir Lime-Kumquat Sauce
Toasted Quinoa & Wild Rice Salad with Asparagus & Caramalized Shitakes
Wilted Kale & Roasted Peppers marinated in Ginger Vinaigrette
Flourless Chocolate Torte with Fresh Berries

**Both meal options are gluten-free**

7:00-11:30pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Transformation Talks, Twilight Concert, & Late Night Concert 

7:00-7:40pm: Transformation Talks: Light Into Darkness, Darkness Into Light
Prominent guest panelists moderated by Peter Sellars and distinguished musicologist Susan McClary

8:00-10:00pm: Twilight Concert
South Indian Vocal Music
ARUNA SAIRAM AND ENSEMBLE

10:30-11:30pm: Late Night Concert
Josephine Baker: A Portrait – World Premiere
Arrangements and new music by Tyshawn Sorey

ICE | Julia Bullock, soprano | Tyshawn Sorey, piano and drums

Join us for Concert Insights with Christopher Hailey and Festival artists at the Libbey Bowl tennis courts at 12pm.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

9:00-10:00am. Location: Meditation Mount
Morning Meditation
Ojai Member Event

PAULINE OLIVEROS: Sonic Meditations II

ICE

(Free bus transportation provided to this venue)

11:30am-12:30pm. Location: Ojai Art Center
Free Family Concert

Music for Toy Pianos and Toy Instruments

Phyllis Chen, toy pianos

** No reservation required – space will be on a first come, first served basis **

1:00-1:50pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
Free Family Concert

TANIA LEÓN: Pa’lante (Parts 2 & 3) – World Premiere
ICE | Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) | Tania León, conductor

BENJAMIN CHAMPION: Untitled – World Premiere
ROBBY GOOD: Primal Pedals – World Premiere
LUCA MENDOZA: Temptations – World Premiere
ETHAN TREIMAN: Birdsong – World Premiere

SHARON HURVITZ: Catch and Release new work – World Premiere
Members of ICE

ANDREW MOSES: LUNG
(Breath, you can’t sustain yourself.
Breath, you breathe too loudly.
Breath, you can’t breathe loudly enough.
Breathe within us.)
Members of ICE

TANIA LEÓN: Pa’lante (Part 1)
ICE | Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) | Tania León, conductor

If you are a series subscriber, this event is included in your subscription

3:00-4:15pm. Location: Libbey Bowl
The Mystic Hour 

CLAUDE VIVIER: Kopernikus – A Ritual opera – US Premiere
ICE | Roomful of Teeth | Eric Dudley, conductor

Join us for Concert Insights with Christopher Hailey and Festival artists at the Libbey Bowl tennis courts at 2:15 pm.

6:00-8:30pm. Location: Main Street, Santa Paula
Free Street Party Concert
Dina El Wedidi and Band | ICE | Aruna Sairam | Roomful of Teeth | Leila Adu, singer
Additional artists TBA
Festival programs, artists, and schedule are subject to change.