Tag archives: Conor Hanick

Time to Make your Music Academy Plans
By Steven Libowitz   |   April 28, 2026

Changes have been sprouting up fast and furious in the less than three years since Shauna Quill took over at Music Academy of the West as president and CEO, including big turnovers in faculty, some trimming and realignment of the performances and master classes, as well as a staffing reconfiguration, including new Vice President of […]

All Hands on Deck with SBMC and More Musical Happenings
By Steven Libowitz   |   September 30, 2025

Another longstanding Santa Barbara-based chamber music program also launches its new season this weekend, as the Santa Barbara Music Club opens its 56th series of concerts featuring purely pianists. The “Six Hands at One Piano: Romantic and Modern Perspectives” program, slated for 3 pm on Saturday, September 27, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (4575 Auhay […]

A Mindful New Journey for Music Academy’s Mariposa
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 25, 2022

Music Academy (they lopped off “of the West” from the name this summer) doesn’t just have a new moniker, they’ve also created a brand-new series to continue the celebration of its milestone 75th year. Think of the new Mariposa Series as “homecoming” recitals held on campus to showcase what Academy alumni and faculty are up […]

Directing Fellow Craig Carves Her Career Path
By Steven Libowitz   |   August 9, 2022

The Music Academy created its first-ever directing fellow position this summer, and chose Canadian Sawyer Ann Craig, who has a degree from McGill and credits as both a singer and director all over Canada. Craig had the chance to work alongside the directors of each of the vocal performance events, including Sara Widzer, Peter Kazaras, […]

Return to Miraflores: A Site to be Seen
By Richard Mineards   |   July 22, 2021

Miraflores, the charming 10-acre estate that has been the Montecito home of the Music Academy of the West since 1951, was the site of major social gridlock when it hosted its annual gala with a sell-out crowd of more than 300, raising nearly $450,000 for funding and scholarships. The boffo bash, “Return to Miraflores,” was […]