Fridays, February 26 and March 5, 12:00-1:15 PM PST. Are you longing for world travel? Do you need a bit of Belle Époque Paris? Maybe you’re curious about musical modernism? Susan Waterfall is back, with Book Two of Debussy’s Préludes for Piano, which will provide you with all of the above. Armchair travel is a necessity during the pandemic. Historic and current performances along with fascinating art and photographs will bring to life Debussy’s final twelve preludes, written before the outbreak of World War One. Here’s another opportunity for lifelong learners to find out more about Debussy and deepen their appreciation of these gems of the piano repertoire.
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 PM Pacific, January 27-March 17. Sight-Singing continues from the fall session and is designed to help you sharpen your skills as sight readers and musicians. Daniel will also enhance the class with the tricks and hacks to make sight singing easier. Two equal sessions (same level) are offered to keep the classes intimate.
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM Pacific, January 27-March 17. Sight-Singing continues from the fall session and is designed to help you sharpen your skills as sight readers and musicians. Daniel will also enhance the class with the tricks and hacks to make sight singing easier. Two equal sessions (same level) are offered to keep the classes intimate.
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Pacific, January 27-March 17. Learn to love this beautiful art form and appreciate the marriage of poetry and masterfully composed music. This session will delve deeper into the concept of the song cycle, as well as specific poets and themes.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Pacific, January 25-March 15. Join us as we explore the great legacy of American songs spanning the 1920s through the 1960s. Singers will be assigned music that will enhance their sense of style while working on vocal and performance technique; and perform their selections in front of the class in collaboration with Daniel, creating their own unique performance.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 10 AM-11:30 AM Pacific, January 25-March 15. Come join a small group of seasoned singers who want to hone their skills and become better at their craft. If you sing in a local chorus, at church, at events, or even privately, this class will help you find better vocal technique and artistry, and will help you refine your voice and performance skills.
Learn more and get tickets »Rescheduled to January 22; originally scheduled for October 30. A discussion with baritone Christòpheren Nomura about his journey from the San Francisco Boys Choir to appearing on Broadway, and the various fascinating stops along the way. You might remember Christòpheren from his extraordinary and powerful performances at the 2018 Mendocino Music Festival, of the Brahms Four Serious Songs, and in baritone solos in Beethoven Symphony No. 9.
Learn more and get tickets »Two-day workshop, Sat-Sun January 16-17, 1:00-2:30 PM PST. Do you struggle with what to do with the words, your face, or your hands when you sing? Do you want to understand how to communicate better to an audience, to convey the meaning and depth or humor of your song? This two-day workshop will give you tools and help you work through your songs with deeper understanding. Bring a memorized musical theater song, aria (in any language), pop or art song to this class in acting styles for singers.
Learn more and get tickets »Two-day workshop, Sat-Sun December 12-13, 1:00-2:30 PM PST. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a set of symbols that linguists, singers and actors use to describe the sounds of spoken and sung languages. It will enable truer foreign language diction, as well as help with English diction. Understanding the IPA will help you learn how to pronounce with ease and understanding. Join Jenny and Daniel in a two-day workshop to enhance your singing, your foreign language accent or learn a new skill!
Learn more and get tickets »Kim Nalley’s interesting view of American music and her relationship to it will be supplemented by her insights into what made some of the singers from the past so great. There will be musical examples and, hopefully, fun will abound!
Learn more and get tickets »This is the second part of Susan Waterfall’s opportunity to treat your ears and eyes to an in-depth exploration of Debussy’s colorful and captivating Préludes for Piano, Book One, written in 1909-10. She has assembled memorable historic and current performances, and will guide you through the visual and literary images that inspired Debussy to create sound worlds that had never before been imagined. You can follow along with a score, if you have one, or just allow the music to…
Learn more and get tickets »Hip. Imaginative. Fun. Fresh. Funky. Side Note is a group of seven twentysomethings, from wildly different musical backgrounds, who draw on their diversity to create an all-new sound. It’s contemporary a cappella—pushed to the limits of pop, R&B, funk, rock, musical theater and jazz. Side Note will be giving a breakdown of how the group has been running virtual rehearsal and recording sessions during the pandemic, including a demonstration of at-home recording techniques, feedback sessions, layering individual vocal tracks into…
Learn more and get tickets »Treat your ears and eyes to an in-depth exploration of Debussy’s colorful and captivating Préludes for Piano, Book One, written in 1909-10. Susan Waterfall has assembled memorable historic and current performances. She’ll guide you through the visual and literary images that inspired Debussy to create sound worlds that had never before been imagined. You can follow along with a score, if you have one, or just allow the music to transport you to the fantasy destinations and to the portraits…
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 5:15 PM-6:15 PM Pacific, September 16-November 4. Can’t tell the difference between a B♭ and a flat tire? Have you sung in a choir for years and still don’t know what all the “hashtags” (#) mean? Let us unravel the not-so-secret code of good musicianship and sight-reading. We’ll help make your singing experience more enriching and fun by giving you the tools you need to not only help your whole choral experience but enlighten your musicianship skills as well. Each class will progressively cover different aspects of musicianship and sight-singing.
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00 PM Pacific, September 16-November 4 (eight weeks). Unravel the mysteries of vocal technique with this course on the basics of singing. Cover everything from breathing, to resonance, to vocal health and more. Keep your voice in shape while sheltering in place, and learn some new skills to further your singing and build your voice. Good for beginners and seasoned veterans who want to brush up their skills.
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM Pacific, September 16-November 4. For those who attended Beginning Sight-Singing or have some sight-singing experience. Daniel will enhance the class with tricks and hacks to make sight-singing easier. Sharpen your skills as sight readers and musicians. Class is progressive, so attendance is crucial. Don’t miss this chance to become more proficient at this basic skill. Prerequisite: Beginning Sight Singing (or permission of the teacher).
Learn more and get tickets »Wednesdays, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Pacific, September 16-November 4. A new option for Masterclass students; a course in German Lieder. Students will be assigned music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Franz, Brahms, Wolf, Mahler and R. Strauss. The class will also cover German diction. Learn to love this beautiful art form and appreciate the marriage of poetry and masterfully composed music. Best for more advanced singers, or singers who have taken the Masterclass, and/or have had experience with the German language.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Pacific, September 14-November 2. Come join a small group of seasoned singers who want to hone their skills and become better at their craft. If you have sung in a local chorus, at church, at events, or even privately, this class will help you find better vocal technique and artistry, and will help you refine your voice and performance skills. (Choose AM or PM, not both.)
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 10: AM-11:30 AM Pacific, September 14-November 2. Come join a small group of seasoned singers who want to hone their skills and become better at their craft. If you have sung in a local chorus, at church, at events, or even privately, this class will help you find better vocal technique and artistry, and will help you refine your voice and performance skills. (Choose AM or PM, not both.)
Learn more and get tickets »How do composers choose their texts? What draws them to a particular poem, poet, or poetic theme? Most composers of art songs have a strong love of literature and keen knowledge about what sort of texts attract them as a composer. When composers set poems to music, the words take on a level of their own. They are encased in musical sound, which adds its own pitch, rhythm and texture. Join us as we explore this beautiful world of poetry…
Learn more and get tickets »Pianist Spencer Myer has wowed, inspired and touched Festival audiences many times, and is a warm-hearted and engaging conversationalist. Live from his living room in New York, he’ll give you a glimpse into his insights and process, including the nitty-gritty of practice, and he’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have. You’ll see and hear him perform Chopin, Beethoven, Gershwin, and more.
Learn more and get tickets »A one-time, free introduction to Lieder. What is German Lieder? Lieder is literally the German word for songs, though the term is usually used in reference to German songs of the Romantic Period (19th Century) written for voice and piano. What makes Lieder unique is that the piano does more than merely accompany; it has an equal relationship with the voice and shares in the storytelling of the song. Join Jenny Matteucci and Daniel Lockert as they delve deep into…
Learn more and get tickets »Eight Wednesdays at noon, June 10-July 29. An eight-week series of weekly Wednesday noontime talks curated by Jenny Matteucci and Daniel Lockert. Topics range from the art of accompaniment to talks with composers, recitalists and more. Buy individually or as an eight-week series. Virtual; attend from anywhere. Missed the first one or two? For a limited time, buy the remaining (7 or 6) lectures at the series price ($80), still a savings.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 4:00-5:30 PM, June 8-July 27. This class is designed for the beginning singer who is ready to spread their wings. Music will be assigned based on voice type. New genres and styles will be introduced. Singers will be scheduled to sing for the class and work on songs in a nurturing, encouraging environment. Focus will be on vocal technique and presentation, to bring the shyest of singers out of their shell. Register as full Participant, or choose “View-only” at a reduced fee.
Learn more and get tickets »Saturday, July 25, is Closing Night. This night has traditionally featured a large choral work, so we have asked Jenny Matteucci and Daniel Lockert to join us to talk about a singer’s life as well as what is entailed in preparing the chorus for performance. Conductor Mary Chun and Stage Director Elly Lichtenstein will also be with us to tell just what it’s like to put an opera together—and you will be amazed at the incredible demands that are placed…
Learn more and get tickets »Saturday, July 18 is Big Band night! Allan Pollack, Kim Nalley, and the Festival Big Band rhythm section will all get together to talk about Jazz, pop, and the lives that all the players have led. They have played with some famous musicians, and stories of their experiences will be something you won’t want to miss. 7:30 PM, at your house.
Learn more and get tickets »On July 16, spend some time with Lucia Micarelli. Audience members begged us to bring her back after her stunning concert in 2018. She is an unbelievably talented, eclectic musician whose creativity seems almost limitless. A singer, a violinist, an explorer of styles, her musical life will fascinate you. Her fresh youthfulness spills over into her music, and an evening with her will lift your souls. 7:30 PM, at your house.
Learn more and get tickets »Saturday-Sunday, July 11-12, 1PM-4PM both days. For ages 12-19. This two-day intensive workshop will get to the nitty-gritty of the Musical Theater world. Work on audition technique, monologues, performance etiquette, and more. Music will be hand-chosen for potential casting, and Jenny Matteucci and Daniel Lockert will help fine-tune performances. Leave with a better grasp of the tumultuous world of Musical Theater.
Learn more and get tickets »Opening Night, on July 11: With some scenic aerial footage of the tent site and fun discussions with Festival Orchestra musicians and the makers and shakers of the July season, get yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and feel again the heartening spirit of music in Mendocino. 7:30 PM, at your house.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 11:45AM-1:00 PM, March 23-May 11 (except 4/20). This class will focus on basic vocal technique while tackling the Old American Songs of Aaron Copland.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 7:15-8:30, March 23-May 11 (except 4/20). The next class for those who attended Sight Singing 1 and 2. Daniel Lockert will continue with the book Successful Sight Singing as well as enhance the class with the tricks and hacks to make sight singing easier. The Old American Songs by Aaron Copland score will be used for part of the class. A $10 score fee will be collected at the first class.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM, March 23-May 4 (except 4/20), plus a student public performance on Sunday, May 10 at 6PM. Come join a small group of seasoned singers who want to hone their skills and become better at their craft. If you sing in a local chorus, at church, at events, or even privately, this class will help you find better vocal technique and artistry, and will help you refine your voice and performance skills.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 5:30-7:00 PM, March 23-May 4 (except 4/20), plus a student public performance on Sunday, May 10, at 6 PM. This class is designed for the beginning singer who is ready to spread their wings. Music will be assigned based on voice type. New genres and styles will be introduced. Singers will be scheduled to sing for the class and work on songs in a nurturing, encouraging environment. Focus will be on vocal technique and presentation, to bring the shyest of singers out of their shell.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 7:15-8:30, January 20-March 9 (eight weeks). For those who attended Sight Singing I . Daniel Lockert will continue with the book Successful Sight Singing as well as enhance the class with the tricks and hacks to make sight singing easier.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 5:30-7:00 PM, January 20-March 9 (eight weeks). Emerge from just singing in the car, the shower, or even in a group, to become a more confident solo singer. Students will learn better vocal techniques as well as interpretive skills to unleash the solo singer buried deep inside, all in a safe and supportive environment to become brave and confident.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM, January 20-March 9 (eight weeks). Enjoy singing with others but get lost in a big group? Let us introduce you to the small ensemble repertoire. You will be partnered with another singer(s) and learn the skill of singing and holding your part.
Learn more and get tickets »Mondays, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM, January 20-March 9 (eight weeks). Join a small group of singers who want to hone their skills and become better at their craft. If you sing in a local chorus, at church, at events, or even privately, this class will help you find better vocal technique and artistry, and help you refine your voice and performance skills. Best for singers who have taken the beginning voice class, Finding Your True Voice, or who have had some private training.
Learn more and get tickets »Composer, musicologist and pianist Kayleen Asbo, the acclaimed cultural historian for the Santa Rosa Symphony, will introduce us through lecture and performance to four of the most fascinating women from music history. Meet Hildegard von Bingen, a Benedictine abbess of the 12th century whose art, music and writings about nature contain revelations of wonder for our own time; Italian courtesan Barbara Strozzi, whose ravishing works for voice and lute are models of intimate sensuality; the genteel Fanny Mendelssohn, who was…
Learn more and get tickets »September 9, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM. The Mendocino Music Festival Chorale is looking for singers for its small auditioned ensemble. Particularly seeking tenors, and potentially other voice types, for two concerts per year plus possible involvement in the Festival Opera. Rehearsals are Sundays 6:00-8:00 PM. Please prepare a song (accompanist will be provided) and be prepared to sightread a brief passage. Email jenny.matteucci@gmail.com for an audition slot, indicating which window of time you would like.
Learn more and get tickets »As a soloist or collaborator, Daniel Lockert is equally versatile on the piano, organ and harpsichord. A native of San Diego, CA, he began formal piano studies at the age of five. Throughout high school, he exclusively studied the organ. After getting his Bachelor’s in Piano Performance and a minor in organ from Loma Linda University, he attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and obtained an advanced degree in the specialized field of Accompanying, studying with the…
Learn more and get tickets »Kayleen Asbo is a passionate scholar: a cultural historian, musician, writer and teacher who weaves myth, music, psychology, history and art with experiential learning. A faculty member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for seventeen years, Kayleen also teaches regularly for the Osher Life Long Learning Institutes at UC Berkeley, Sonoma State University and Dominican University. Her classes on a wide array of topics ranging from Depth Psychology to Dante to Contemporary Classical Music have been hailed as “inspirational,”…
Learn more and get tickets »Lecture admission is included with your concert ticket. Ann Woodhead, Stage Director for this year’s opera, L’elisir d’amore, is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, actor, and director. This is her second production for the Mendocino Music Festival. Now a full-time Mendocino Coast resident, Ann lived in Sonoma County for 30 years, teaching at Sonoma State University from 1975-2001, where she was Professor of Dance. She has performed as a dance soloist in the U.S. and Europe; toured with her own dance…
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