About The Festival

Laguna Beach Music Festival is a week-long event in scenic Laguna Beach, California, presented by Laguna Beach Live! and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation, each Festival stars prominent and promising musicians in a variety of activities to attract both the casual listener and the aficionado, who share space in the Festival’s intimate, human-scale venues.

A highlight of each Festival is the unique occasion for gifted young musicians to study with master musicians, while the public has the rare opportunity to observe these stars of tomorrow as they hone their technique and expression.  Past Festival mentor musicians have included world-class pianists Claude Frank, Bruno Canino and Christopher O’Riley, bassist-composer Edgar Meyer who returns this year, The Ahn Trio, Turtle Island String Quartet, cellist Lynn Harrell and Composer Paul Chihara with the Claremont Trio. At the inaugural Festival in 2003 the emerging artist ensemble was the Calder Quartet; now this well-established ensemble returns as master quartet in residence for the Tenth Anniversary Festival.

Laguna Beach Live!, the preeminent presenter of classical music and jazz in Laguna Beach, joined forces with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Laguna Chamber Music Society, who have brought nationally and internationally renowned music groups to perform in the County for more than 50 years, to launch Laguna Beach Music Festival.

LAGUNA BEACH LIVE! is dedicated to the enjoyment and exploration of great music in Laguna Beach and to the discovery of talented young musicians. Since its beginning in 2001, Laguna Beach Live! has become the preeminent presenter of classical music and Jazz in Laguna Beach on a year-round basis. For more information, visit www.LagunaBeachLive.org

Laguna Beach Sunset

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY is the County’s oldest and most prestigious music organization. Since its inception in 1954, the Society has presented the world’s most acclaimed symphony orchestras, ensembles, soloists and international artists for the enjoyment and appreciation of Southern California audiences. For more information, visit www.PhilharmonicSociety.org

LAGUNA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY, established in 1959, presented internationally acclaimed ensembles in Laguna Beach for many years. In the early 1990s, the Laguna Chamber Music Society concerts moved to the Irvine Barclay Theatre; the series continues as Laguna Chamber Music Series under the auspices of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE

Joan Halvajian and Michael Ray, co-chairs

Gary Babick, Alan Beimfohr, Sabra Bordas, Stan Freese, Rene Goiffon, Sam Goldstein, Lynda Thomas, Michelle Weinstein

LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Judith Jelinek and Lauren Packard, co-chairs

Vanita Ajitsaria, Chimo Arnold, Diane Arnold, John Benecke, Dean Corey, Jane Grier, Steve Gromet, Anita Halton, Joan Halvajian, Ron Harris, Tim Le Pore, Pamela Madsen, Alex Maradudin,  Pat Morgan, Nancy Posch, Lucinda Prewitt, Carol Reynolds, Sharon Tetrault, Sheila Woodward