The Long Beach Mozart Festival is in its 39th year and has grown into a community-wide arts organization, supported by four area churches and attracting volunteer support and enthusiastic audiences from the Long Beach and Southern California communities.
Our mission is to encourage the study and appreciation of classical music, including that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Festival provides performance opportunities, scholarships and encouragement to gifted young instrumental and vocal musicians.
Most Festival events are free to the public and include young artist competitions (piano, concerto and vocal), a piano recital by finalists, a vocal recital by finalists, a Sunday Morning with Mozart at area churches by Concerto finalists, and a Grand Finale Concert with the first place Concerto Competition winner performing with a professional orchestra and a Choral Concert with combined choirs from area churches and orchestra. There are also Terrace Theater Lobby performances by Competition finalists prior to the Long Beach Symphony Classics Concert in January.
The Mozart Festival has been recognized by and received a grant from the California Arts Council. On January 11, 2007, there was a very complimentary article in the Grunion Gazette entitled “Mozart’s Music Alive, Well in Long Beach”, in which it was stated that “our local volunteer-run festival dedicated to the music of Wolfgang and his contemporaries is alive and kicking, and shows no signs of slowing down.”
2010-2011 Honorary Board members:
The Honorable Gerrie Schipske, City of Long Beach Councilwoman
Enrique Arturo Diemecke, Conductor Long Beach Symphony
Steve Goodling, President Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
Randy Gordon, President Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Ralph S. Opacic, Principal, Orange County High School for the Arts
Dr. Donald Para, Dean of Fine Arts at CSULB
Dr. Connie Mayfield, Cerritos College Dean of the Arts
Dr. Peter Knapp, Chairman of Long Beach City College, College of Arts & Radio
The Reverend Amy Aitken, Cal Heights United Methodist Church
The Reverend Jerald Stinson, First Congregational Church
The Reverend Dr. Robert S. Langworthy, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The Reverend Alicia Forsey, Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach
Mozart Festival Board Chairman - The Honorable Samuel Warner
Artistic Director - Dr. Leland Vail
Members-at-large -
Alayne Armstrong
Beverly August
Diana Kelly-Hernandez
Mary Martin
Patricia Maxwell
Dorothy Montague
Theresa Van Andler
Patricia Waide
Festival Support -
Administrative Support/Treasurer - Dorothy Montague
Competition Chairpersons -
Concerto - Theresa Van Andler
Piano - Honorable Jan Donsbach
Vocal - Judy Berlyn
Amadeus Newsletter Editor - Marilynn Manderscheid
Webmaster - Ruth Warkentin
If you would like to contribute a tax deductible donation to the Mozart Festival, please send it to:
Long Beach Mozart Festival
5450 Atherton Street
Long Beach, CA 90815
Dr. Leland Vail, Artistic Director