Every year, Southern California’s most adventurous and open-minded classical music audiences gather in the idyllic surroundings of Ojai’s Libbey park to experience a unique and intimate music festival. Since 1947, the series has been curated by an individual music director: composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland; performers such as soprano Dawn Upshaw and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. This year, the music director is a soprano and conductor rolled into one: boundary-shattering musical dynamo Barbara Hannigan. KUSC’s Gail Eichenthal got the scoop from longtime Ojai Festival Artistic Director Thomas Morris, who says, the Ojai Music Festival is a powerhouse of new music with an audience that wants to be challenged.

Arts Alive
From the Central Coast to San Diego, from Santa Monica to Palm Springs, there are fascinating people creating incredible art and performances. KUSC will be covering those experiences on Arts Alive. And when you’re in the mood for a little more, like a longer version of an interview, more Arts Alive coverage is available online at kusc.org/artsalive.