Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series has announced it is now under the fiscal sponsorship of the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Founded in 1981 by Dunn School Music Teacher Rose Knoles, the concert series has been welcoming classical artists to the community to educate and enrich ever since.
For the last 20+ years, the Santa Ynez Valley (SYV) Concert Series has served as a community outreach program of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. St. Mark’s Church will continue as the home venue for the SYV Concert Series, an alignment that opens a new chapter for the presenting organization.
“The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series exists to present extraordinary classical musicians in live performances to inspire, educate, and enrich the lives of people from Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos, Lompoc Santa Maria and Santa Barbara,” organizers said.
Most performances include a question and answer discussion between the artists and the audience led by artistic director Dr. Robert Cassidy.
On Jan. 23, the SYV Concert Series presented the Takács Quartet that performed a concert, then took part in the Q&A session. On March 1 the Concert Series presented the young tenor Giorgi Guliashvili and the world-renowned pianist and artistic director Carrie-Ann Matheson in a program of Italian arias and art songs.
“This is a pivotal moment in the 45-year history of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series,” said Cassidy.
“With fiscal sponsorship provided by the Santa Barbara Foundation and our continuing collaboration with St. Mark’s Church, we will continue offering thoughtfully curated seasons, featuring exceptional artists whose artistry touches people in profound ways,” Concert Series organizers said.
“We remain enormously grateful to St. Mark’s for its collaborative role in bringing wonderful music to our communities and for continuing to host our concerts in their acoustically superb venue,” they said.
The final concert of the 2025-26 season, on April 26, featured pianists Jacopo Giacopuzzi and Maddalena Giacopuzzi performing a piano four hands concert program.
The SYV Concert Series also presents two Young Artists Showcase each year to help promote music education and give performance opportunities to young classical musicians. The Spring Showcase was May 17 at St. Mark’s Church. This is a free community recital.
To learn more or to buy tickets, visit Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series.
For more about Santa Barbara Foundation, visit SBFoundation.org. Learn about St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church smitv.org.