Association of California Symphony Orchestras Celebrates its 50th Anniversary and Convenes its 2019 Professional Development Conference in Monterey

The Association of California Symphony Orchestra’s (ACSO) 2019 Annual Conference kicks off its 50th anniversary year by bringing its members back to where it was originally founded in 1969 — Monterey!

Los Angeles, CA, June 25, 2019 – The Association of California Symphony Orchestra’s (ACSO) 2019 Annual Conference kicks off its 50th anniversary year by bringing its members back to where it was originally founded in 1969 — Monterey! Hosted by the Monterey Symphony, the conference is the premier professional development and networking event for the staff and boards of California’s orchestras and classical music presenters. It will take place August 8–‐10, 2019 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside, and it consists of three full days of plenaries, sessions, peer forums, workshops, and networking events. ACSO will also be hosting a 50th anniversary party at the beautiful Monterey Bay Aquarium that will feature a performance of composer John Wineglass’ orchestral composition Big Sur: The Night Sun.

While ACSO serves classical music organizations, the conference is open to all nonprofit professionals, as the world–‐renowned plenary speakers and breakout sessions will explore nonprofit management fundamentals, such as fundraising, marketing, programming, operations, and governance.

The incredible lineup of plenary speakers includes Nina Simon, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History and the founder/CEO of the OF/BY/FOR ALL movement; Vu Le, creator of NonprofitAF.com and Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps, a Seattle nonprofit that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color; and Patty McCord, Principal of Patty McCord Consulting and author of Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, and former Chief Talent Officer of Netflix for 14 years.

ACSO is a member service nonprofit with nearly 150 organizations and their 2,000 board and staff in its network. ACSO’s members are comprised of professional, academic, youth, and community–‐based orchestras, choruses, and festivals in California and the Western United States. Over 300 ACSO members are expected to attend this year’s conference.

According to ACSO’s Executive Director Sarah Weber, “As our birthplace, Monterey is the perfect place for ACSO to turn fifty. The theme of our conference is ‘Making Waves: Began in Monterey, Beyond California’ because in our fifty years, orchestras and classical music presenters across the state have become more vibrant, healthy, and diverse, and more ensembles exist now than ever before. ACSO has expanded beyond the borders of California, and the issues our orchestras face go far beyond the state. As our field continues to evolve, we are ready to lead out for the rest of the country.”

For further information or to find out how you can attend, please visit ACSO’s website at www.acso.org/conference or contact ACSO at (800) 495–‐2276 or at office@acso.org.

Contact: Maria Romano de León

Tel: (800) 495–‐2276

E–‐mail: mromanodeleon@acso.org

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.acso.org/conference

Dance Student From Carmel Academy of Performing Arts Accepts Apprenticeship at Prestigious Spanish Ballet Company

A student of the Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, Alexandra Huffman (Wen Wen), has been accepted for a ballet apprenticeship with the prestigious Ballet de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

Carmel, CA, June 25, 2019 — A student of the Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, Alexandra Huffman (Wen Wen), has been accepted for a ballet apprenticeship with the prestigious Ballet de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

With two full scholarships awarded, Wen Wen leaves the Monterey Peninsula in late June for La Scala, Milan and IB Stage, Barcelona, continuing her passion and study before entering the trainee position in Barcelona and company rehearsals in August.

“I am looking forward to my apprenticeship with Ballet de Catalunya as it gives me the opportunity to dance in what I consider the center of dance, Europe, yet I know CAPA will always be here and my special dance home,” Huffman told Carol Richmond, her first teacher, when she was home in Monterey this week and back at CAPA for the ballet intensive with her teacher Philip Pegler and Twyla Tharp dancer Matthew Dibble.

Huffman, who was adopted in China by Andra Aeslyn and Al Huffman of Carmel, began dance lessons at CAPA when she was age 3. Her summers have been filled with intensive ballet programs; four years with Paris Opera Ballet, Princess Grace Academy, San Francisco Ballet School and Prague Masterclasses. She recently graduated after two years at the year-round program in Washington D.C., Kirov Academy of Ballet.

The Huffmans made valiant attempts to adopt a daughter for six long years. Those years were spent applying for adoptions in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and various other countries, only to be turned away with governmental twists and turns, a failed match and many promises heartbreakingly crushed.

Andra Huffman’s sister had adopted a child from China, so with a final monumental push to realize their dream, they went to meet their new daughter. The second morning the 17-month-old toddler awakened in the United States, Andra was called Momma, and the new family never looked back.

“We will watch in awe of Wen Wen’s dedication to the performing arts, welcome her home at every opportunity and follow her progress and performances,” said Richmond, founder and director of CAPA.

About BNC — The Catalunya Ballet
The Catalunya Ballet was created with the objective of filling a void that has existed for decades in Catalunya. The company will be able to represent and identify Catalunya as a production center of dance with its own personality and capability to present the greatest dance classics of all time while also bringing new and avant-guard works to the stage.

With the constitution of this new company, based on classical dance as its axis and precursor of any other type of modality, especially neoclassical and contemporary dance, young talented dancers from our country finally have the opportunity to be part of a national ballet company rather than join the continuous flight of Catalan and Spanish dancers to international companies.

The BNC will have the presence of internationally renowned dancers, teachers and choreographers with an original artistic program of classical, neoclassical and contemporary repertoire. The company will present works by internationally recognized choreographers as well as some of the greatest Catalan choreographers in the history of dance.

The BNC is the resident company at the Cultural Center of Terrassa (CCT, which is recognized as the theater with the most extensive dance program in Catalunya. Opening in 1980, the CCT is a center that offers a diverse program of activities directed at all types of audiences.

Auditions BNC 2019

Carmel Academy of Performing Arts
Mission Street & Eighth Avenue
Carmel, CA 93923
(831) 624-3729
www.carmelacademyofperformingarts.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.carmelacademyofperformingarts.com

Dance Student, Carmel Academy, Performing Arts, Apprenticeship, Spanish Ballet Company, Alexandra Huffman

Entertainment Lineup at 2019 Monterey County Fair Features Rising Country Star Mitchell Tenpenny, Tickets On Sale Online Now

Rising country music star Mitchell Tenpenny tops the entertainment lineup at the 2019 Monterey County Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019, with advance tickets on sale online now.

Monterey, CA, June 25, 2019 — Rising country music star Mitchell Tenpenny tops the entertainment lineup at the 2019 Monterey County Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019, with advance tickets on sale online now.

Country star Tenpenny, whose 2018 hit “Drunk Me” hit #2 on the U.S. country charts, will perform Thursday, Aug. 29 on the Garden Stage, and tops the list of country artists performing at the fair. Acts include a Carrie Underwood Tribute (Saturday, Aug. 31) and Garth Guy (Saturday, Aug. 31), a tribute to Garth Brooks. Journey Revisited (Friday, Aug. 30), a tribute to the great Bay Area band Journey, will also perform during the fair.

Tenpenny’s follow-up single, “Alcohol You Later,” released on Riser House/Columbia Nashville, also quickly climbed the country charts. Nashville resident Tenpenny released his debut album, “Black Crow,” in 2015, and his second album and full-length major label debut album “Telling All My Secrets” in 2018.

Established in 2011, Journey Revisited is an ensemble of top-tier professionals with the drive to deliver a faithful musical experience. Journey Revisited is dedicated to bringing the studio recordings of Journey to life on stage.

Two lead vocalists, Frank House and Kevin Jachetta, bring the classic Steve Perry- Gregg Rolie sound with their authentic re-creation of Journey’s distinctive vocals. Journey Revisited is on point in recreating that classic Journey sound, you won’t find a tighter sounding band around.

Dean Simmonds began his career as a Garth Brooks tribute artist in 1994. In 1996, producer John Stuart discovered and hired him to perform in the world famous “Legends in Concert” in Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City, and several tours and one-night performances throughout the USA and Canada. Simmonds is still the only “Garth” on the Legends’ roster and still performs in many of the Legends shows.

Simmonds has also produced his own full-length show based on Garth’s live concerts. In 2014, Dean’s “Garth Guy” show was featured on the national television show, “World’s Greatest Tribute Bands” on Mark Cuban’s network, AXS TV.

The Carrie Underwood Tribute features country singer Kaylee Starr performing country superstar Underwood’s many hit songs.

All live music is free with fair admission. A full schedule of entertainment will be released this summer.

Advance tickets are available online at: https://tickets.montereycountyfair.com/tickets.

Ticket packages available online include:

>2019 Advanced Carnival Fun Pack, good Aug. 29 – Sept. 2, 2019. This ticket is valid for one ride-all-day carnival wristband and is redeemable at Carnival Customer Service. Does not include fair admission. Wristband, $25

>2019 Advanced Fair Admission, good Aug. 29 – Sept. 2, 2019. Valid for one entry into the Fair. Adult, $9; Child, $5; Senior, $9.

>2019 Advanced Rodeo Performance, Aug. 30 – Sept. 1, 2019.

Valid for one rodeo performance on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Fair admission is not included. General admission, $5.

>2019 Advanced Sunday Rodeo Family Fun Pack, good for Sept. 1, 2019. Valid for two adult fair admissions, two child fair admissions and four entries into one Sunday Rodeo performance (3:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.). General admission, $35.

The Monterey County Fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 29-Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey. The theme of the 2019 fair is “High Tides and Carnival Rides.”

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility.

For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.montereycountyfair.com