The Mozart effect

Is it even possible that a 17-year-old virtuoso violinist, who has headlined at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden, has not only raised international awareness about the need for multiple sclerosis research, but has also raised more than $1.5 million through his own charity called Children Helping Children? Yes, it is for young Jourdan Urbach, who will be performing at the Ventura Music Festival on May 7.

Although most concertgoers are familiar with the annual festival, they may not know about artistic director Nuvi Mehta’s extensive educational outreach program for students. This year, Mehta, along with a couple of musicians, brought the outreach program to some 3,000 Ventura County children. They took the program to 24 elementary schools in Ventura and Oxnard, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs, Casa Pacifica and the law enforcement program Police Activities League (PAL.)

Geared toward First, Second and Third graders, for many of the children, the outreach effort is their first exposure to classical music. The program is participatory as Mehta teaches the groups about rhythm, harmony and melody. Students learn the fundamentals of music and then join in by creating a composition of their own.

Executive director Cheryl Heitmann said the children respond well to hearing their ideas played as a musical piece. “The kids get very engaged,” Heitmann said. “Sometimes they will get to come up afterwards and talk to the musicians and touch the instruments and play them.”

Every year, Mehta uses a different classical composer or piece. “This year, he used some Stravinsky and some Copland,” Heitmann said. “Maybe at other times he will use Gershwin or Mozart or Bach. He tries to mix it up a bit.”

The outreach program also includes secondary schools where music students get the benefits of a master class. Heitmann said there is an abundance of evidence that music education raises a child’s ability to learn. Sometimes it is a direct connection such as applying rhythm to learning about fractions. Other times, studies say that four years of learning to play an instrument will significantly raise their SAT scores along with their grades.

“We don’t have this kind of music education in the schools anymore, and it really is too bad,” Heitmann said. “It is just a shame that it is so ignored.”

Heitmann said that this year the festival included a new group of young people for the first time. Residents of the Steven Perren Juvenile Justice Facility participated in a music education program designed just for them. As teenagers, their interests are different from those of school children, so the program was run by a professor from Cal State, L.A., along with a few of his student musicians.

“They do a kind of Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz,” Heitmann said. “They did some workshops and actually have the kids play the instruments with them.”

The response was so positive that the festival is attempting to obtain a grant to do it again next year. “It was powerful, actually, to see so many young people who are at a crossroad in life.” Heitmann said. “You could see many of them really become engaged and interacting with each other in ways they normally wouldn’t. It really shows that music is the universal language that reaches everybody.”   

joanbien@sbcglobal.net 

Ruskaya!

Music . . . the soul of Russia
by Michel Cicero

World-class jazz and classical music are promised and faithfully delivered every year by a select group of established as well as up-and-coming musical artists. The festival, which is held in various locations throughout Ventura, provides a rare opportunity to be enriched by the finest compositions performed by the most gifted players from around the world.

In its earliest days as the Ventura Chamber Music Festival, the event signaled the beginning of a cultural paradigm shift in the city of Ventura. Some 15 years later, its reach has extended beyond the county as it has earned the respect of the global music community.

Visit the festival Web site for performance and ticket information. www.venturamusicfestival.org, 648-3146.

Thursday, April 30, 3 p.m.
Nona’s Courtyard Café
Tea & Trumpets with the Festival Brass
The event’s traditional kickoff performance is a subdued but regal high tea with the Festival Brass Quintet performing.

Friday, May 1, 8 p.m.
Ventura Missionary Church
The Jerusalem String Quartet
They’ve been described as “uncommonly taut,” with a penchant for Russian composer Shostakovich, making them a nice fit, thematically, for the festival.

Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m.
Ventura Missionary Church
The Romero Family
Known the world over as the “Royal Family of Guitar,” the Romeros offer the classical equivalent of shredding.

Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m.
Ventura College Green
Chris Botti
The popular trumpeter will serve up smooth jazz with an edge at this outdoor performance. Botti draws from a variety of influences and subgenres to create something less common than it would appear on the surface. Bring a picnic and an open mind.

Monday, May 4, 7:30 p.m.
Temple Beth Torah
David Krakauer’s Acoustic Klezmer Project
Say what? Traditional Jewish party music is updated with elements of hip-hop, funk and jazz for a new twist on the dance mix.

Tuesday, May 5, 7:30 p.m.
Community Presbyterian Church
Alexander Ghindin
By the age of 13, he became laureate of the Moscow Young Pianists Competition. Since then the Russian pianist has gone on to win numerous competitions and praises. His style is evocative, heartfelt and agile.

Thursday, May 7, 7:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
Rising Stars: Sophie Wingland and Jourdan Urbach
Two prodigies with a lot of heart — one a Ventura native, the other a lauded philanthropist — demonstrate the power of natural ability paired with tenacity.

Friday, May 8, 8 p.m.
Community Presbyterian Church
Mehta 2 — A Family Affair
Music Festival artistic director Nuvi Mehta will perform a selection of favorite sonatas for violin and piano with his renowned father, Dady Mehta. The concert will be hosted by actor Peter Strauss.

Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m.
Ventura Missionary Church
Burning River Brass: “Russian Carnival”
One of the most respected brass ensembles in the U.S. has been said to deliver “consistently stirring performances.”