A Night of Note(s)

It was an evening of high note when the Music Academy of the West hosted its annual gala for a record 410 guests on the Upper Lawn of the Montecito Club, raising $750,000 to support life-changing programming and the 78th summer festival with 150 fellows, out of 2,000 applicants from 19 countries worldwide.

“It helps inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers,” says Shauna Quill, president and CEO. “Every moment tonight fuels this vision.”

The bounteous bash, co-chaired by Mally Chakola and Casey Kallenbach, was the first time the gala was held at a location other than the Miraflores campus, allowing increased numbers to attend.

Guests were shuttled to Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner’s club from the music academy for cocktails and canapés before the Academy Gala Orchestra under conductor Daniela Candillari and Grammy-winning mandolinist, singer and songwriter Chris Thile performed Bach’s “Allegro” from “Concerto of Two Violins” with Angeles Hoyos, a Music Academy violin fellow from Tivoli, Columbia.

The academy’s Sing! Children’s Chorus joined in the fun in the Punch Brothers’ “My Oh My” before dinner and dessert and coffee in the clubhouse.

Among the throng of music lovers were Anne Towbes, Robert Adams, Thomasine Richards, Judi Weisbart, Rick Oshay and Teresa Kuskey, Peter and Kathryn Martin, Robert Weinman, Dan and Meg Burnham, NancyBell Coe, and Bob and
Val Montgomery.