National Steinbeck Center Announces Nea Big Read Activities

Monterey County to Read and Celebrate SUN, STONE, AND SHADOWS: TWENTY GREAT MEXICAN SHORT STORIES During the NEA Big Read with Several Activities

Salinas, CA, August 31, 2016 — The National Steinbeck Center was a recipient of a grant of $14,000 to host the NEA Big Read in Salinas. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The National Steinbeck Center was one of 77 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host an NEA Big Read project between September 2016 and June 2017.

The book selected by the NSC for the 2016 Big Read is Sun, Stone, and Shadows: Twenty Great Mexican Short Stories edited by Jorge Hernández González. Activities will take place beginning September 2016. Events will be held Salinas, Monterey, King City and other Monterey County locations.

NEA BIG READ 2016

Sponsored by the National Steinbeck Center and in partnership with

· The Western Stage

· Hartnell College

· Hijos del Sol

· Maya Cinemas

· Salinas Public Libraries

· Monterey Public Library

· Monterey County Free Libraries

· California State University, Monterey Bay

· Hartnell Library and Learning Resource Center

· Monterey County Office of Education

· “Voices of California,” Department of Linguistics, Stanford University

Free admission to all NEA Big Read events below

SEPTEMBER
_________________________________________________________________________
Sept. 6: NSC, 10-5pm
National Read a Book Day! Free NSC admission 10am-5pm! 10% off books in NSC bookstore! Pop-up discussion of “My Life with the Wave” at 12pm. Contest for copies of Sun, Stone, and Shadows.

Sept. 9-15: Maya Cinemas, Main St. Salinas
Hola Mexico Film Festival showcases great Mexican films. See schedule.

Sept. 10: The Western Stage, Mainstage Theater, Hartnell College, 7:30pm
Opening Night of Bandido. A brilliant retelling of the controversial life and death of Tiburcio Vásquez, a thief and hero. This play is a stunning biography, a thumping melodrama, a political epic and a musical satire by the contemporary theatre icon Luis Valdez.

Pop up exhibit by the National Steinbeck Center. From Sept. 16 through Nov. 1 bring a Bandido ticket to the National Steinbeck Center for free admission. Show a copy of Sun, Stone, and Shadows to The Western Stage Box Office for a half-price ticket to see Bandido.

Sept. 10: National Steinbeck Center, 5pm
Mariachi Festival and Tequilla tasting. See www.steinbeck.org for details.

Sept. 11: The Western Stage, Mainstage Theater, Hartnell College, 2-5pm.
Bandido Talk-Back Session with Director, Cast, and David Serena, Monterey Peninsula College Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science. Q&A with panel. Pop-up exhibit by the National Steinbeck Center.

Sept. 11: Alisal Street, Salinas, 11-5
El Grito Parade and Festival: Celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Stop by the NSC pop up exhibit for the chance to win a free copy of Sun, Stone and Shadows in Spanish or English.

Sept. 13: Hartnell College Library, 10-1pm
10th Anniversary Celebration: Celebrate the building’s birthday with cake and giveaways, including copies of Sun, Stone, and Shadows.

Sept. 14: National Steinbeck Center Bookstore, 6pm
Books and Bites: Come discuss stories in the first half of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. Book group led by Susan Shillinglaw, Director, NSC.

Sept. 16: National Steinbeck Center, 3-7:00pm
NEA BIG READ Kick-Off and Open House: Free admission all day! 3:00: Archives highlights from our Steinbeck-Mexico collection. Pop up exhibits by all BIG READ partners. 3:30: “Steinbeck’s Mexico,” Susan Shillinglaw, Director of the NSC. 4:30: The Western Stage premieres a dramatic adaptation of “My Life with the Wave.” 5:00: Music by CSUMB concert band, Sharp Nine. 5:30: “Voices of California,” Stanford University’s project on oral histories in Salinas. 6:00: Tacos served on the patio.

CSUMB Library launches its art contest: “Cover Art.” Submissions due by October 17. See
https://csumb.edu/library/big-read-2016

Sept. 17: Monterey Public Library, 1pm
Sun, Stone, and Shadows Discussion with Susan Shillinglaw

Sept. 19- Oct. 16: John Steinbeck Library
SET THE SCENE ART CONTEST for students aged 13-18 and adults 19 and up. All entries will be displayed at the John Steinbeck Library, and the public will vote on their favorite. A panel of local artists will also judge the entries. See contest rules and prizes on the Library's website.

Sept. 21: National Steinbeck Center, 5:30pm
Sweet Wednesday (with pan dulce): “What Can Literature Tell us about Ourselves?” Rafael Gomez, Professor of Mexican Literature and Spanish at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Sept. 24: Monterey Public Library, 1pm
“When We Were Mexico: A Frontier Province and Its Capital—Monterey,” Dennis Copeland, Monterey’s manager of museums, cultural arts, and archives.

Sept. 24: John Steinbeck Library, 10am-6pm
Stories on Saturday: The Fantastic Unreal. Programs throughout the day focusing on the first section of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. See Library's schedule.

Sept. 25: The Western Stage, Mainstage Theater, Hartnell College, 2-5pm
Bandido Talk-Back Session with with legendary playwright Luis Valdez and David Serena, MPC Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science. NSC Pop-up Big Read Display.

Sept. 27: CSUMB Student Center, 2pm
The Western Stage performance of “My Life with the Wave” followed by

Discussion of “Tell Them Not to Kill Me” with Donaldo Urioste, Professor of Spanish and
Chicano Literature

Sept. 28: Maya Cinemas, 153 Main St, Salinas, 7pm
BIG READ Steinbeck Film Series: Forgotten Village (1941) with introduction by Ruben Mendoza, CSUMB Professor of Mexican Archaeology. Q&A at closing with Susan Shillinglaw and Ruben Mendoza.

Sept. 29: National Steinbeck Center, 5:30pm
Sweet Thursday: “The Mexico We Left Behind” Claudia Melendez, author of A Fighting Chance and journalist at the Monterey Herald, leads a discussion of Sun, Stone, and Shadows.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1 & 2: National Steinbeck Center 11am to 5pm, both days.
Salinas Artists’ Open Studio “From Pen to Brush”: Artists ages 17-30 from Hijos del Sol will showcase artistic interpretations of the 20 stories of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. On Oct. 2 at 2pm, there will be a panel discussion with the artists.

Oct 1: Cesar Chavez Library, 10am-6pm
Stories on Saturdays: Scenes from Mexican Reality. Programs throughout the day focusing on second section of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. See Library's schedule.

The Western Stage performance of “My Life with the Wave” at 2:30pm

Oct. 5: Maya Cinemas, 153 Main St, Salinas, 7pm
BIG READ Steinbeck Film Series: Tortilla Flat (1942). Film intro. tba.

Oct. 6: National Steinbeck Center 5:30pm
Sweet Thursday: "A View of Mexican Culture by Exploring Human Behavior." Leslie Price, Professor of Psychology at MPC and Hartnell.

Oct. 6: Castroville Library, 6pm
The Western Stage performance of “My Life with the Wave”

Oct 8: John Steinbeck Library, 10am-6pm
Stories on Saturdays: The Tangible Past. Programs throughout the day focusing on the third section of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. See Library's schedule.

Oct 9: Alisal Street, Salinas, 10am-2pm
Ciclovia- Open street project where people enjoy art, music and activities with no motor vehicle traffic. NSC pop up exhibit and chance to win prizes, books, and more.

Oct. 12: National Steinbeck Center Bookstore, 6pm
Books and Bites: The second half of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. Discussion led by Susan Shillinglaw, Director, National Steinbeck Center.

Oct. 13: National Steinbeck Center, 6pm
Sweet Thursday: Reader’s Theater Extravaganza: Performance of “The Panther” by Everett Alvarez High School students, directed by Taylour Matz. Performance of “Permission Granted” by Alisal High School students, directed by Veronica Pulido. Coordinated by Mike Roddy..The Western Stage performance of “My Life with the Wave.” Discussion to follow.

Oct 15: Cesar Chavez Library, 10am-6pm
Stories on Saturdays: The Unexpected in Everyday, Urban Life. Programs throughout the day focusing on the fourth section of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. See Library's schedule.

Oct. 15: King City Library, 12pm
The Western Stage performance of “My Life with the Wave”

Oct. 19: Hartnell Student Center, 12:30pm
The Western Stage performance of “My Life with the Wave”

Oct. 19: Maya Cinemas, 153 Main St., Salinas, 7pm
BIG READ Steinbeck Film Series: Viva Zapata! (1952) Intro by Donaldo Urioste, CSUMB.

Oct. 20: National Steinbeck Center 5:30pm
Sweet Thursday: “Mexico in the Modern Imagination,” Ruben Mendoza, CSUMB Professor of Mexican Archaeology.
_______________________________________________________________________
Oct. 21: National Steinbeck Center, 12-2pm
Archives Q&A with highlights from our Steinbeck-Mexico collection.

Oct 22: John Steinbeck Library, 10am-6pm
Stories on Saturdays: Intimate Imagination. Programs throughout the day focusing on the final section of Sun, Stone, and Shadows. See Library's schedule.

Oct. 23: Artesanias, Fiestas & Cultura, 27 4th St., Gonzales, 1pm
“El Mexico que Dejamos”: Discussion of Sun, Stone, and Shadows in Spanish, led by Claudia Melendez.

Oct. 26: Maya Cinemas, 153 Main St, Salinas, 7pm
BIG READ Steinbeck Film Series: The Pearl (1947). “Legend and Ecological History” by William Gilly, Professor of Biology at Stanford University.

Oct. 27: National Steinbeck Center 5:30pm
Sweet Thursday: “The Bull in Commerce and Culture,” Bruce Elliott, former Senior
Biologist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Oct. 28: National Steinbeck Center, 10am-5pm
Día de los Muertos Exhibit opens: Curated by Jose Ortiz, founder of Hijos del Sol, the exhibit touches on themes and images of the holiday.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 1: National Steinbeck Center
Día de los Muertos and Closing Party. The NSC and our local partners invite you to
join us for our final event and street parade celebrating NEA BIG READ.

All local events will be posted on the NSC website, www.steinbeck.org.

For more information about the NEA Big Read, please visit neabigread.org. For more information about programs contact Lisa Josephs at archives@steinbeck.org or visit the NSC website, www.steinbeck.org.

The National Steinbeck Center opened in 1998 as the only museum in the world solely dedicated to the life, works, and legacy of John Steinbeck. Located in Salinas, California the National Steinbeck Center is situated in the heart of Steinbeck Country and the sites and sounds immortalized in dozens of Steinbeck's novels.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the agency is celebrating this milestone with events and activities through September 2016. Go to arts.gov/50th to enjoy art stories from around the nation, peruse Facts & Figures, and check out the anniversary timeline.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.steinbeck.org

Why JockMenLive.com, the “Facebook” for Muscle, registers a monthly Growth of +108 Percent

When Social Media Meets Live Cam - the next generation of Gay Adult Entertainment

The Netherlands, August 25, 2016 - How to bring innovation in the adult industry? A totally unique LiveCam – Social Media – Hookup / Dating and forum platform is registering an overwhelming success. It’s the next generation in Adut Entertainment, Social Media meeting Live Cam.

JockMenLive, the online community for bodybuilders, male athletes, jocks and their admirers, decided to offer community-driven environment to their free members where… they get paid to post! They can spend their JockBucks on a cam show with one of the over 250 models ready to flex their muscles in (and out) their posing trunks, custom made muscle pics & videos, tips and bodybuilding sponsorships.

In addition to this, members have their own profiles, can interact over Skype, communicate via news-feeds, or even broadcast their own shows for fun and profit. Coming next will be new dating and Hook-up Tools, allowing members and models to find Mr. Right, Mr. Right Now, or even arrange Live Muscle Worship sessions with some of the top names in the muscle world.

“From the inception of JockMenLive, we wanted to create a new kind of user experience”, says JML lead, Shaun L, “Cam sites are ubiquitous, and sex is easy to come by online. What our members kept telling us is that they were looking for something more. The wanted 'relationship' , and to be part of something.. We surveyed them, asking them for specific suggestions, then we delivered. That’s how our platform became the next generation in Gay Adult Entertainment: a totally unique Live Cam – Social Media – Hookup / Dating and forum platform.”

All started with a much-requested old-fashioned forum, where members could exchange pics, interact with models and with each other, and exchange information. According to Shaun L, “We were a little terrified, as there is little worse than an empty, inactive forum - but our members got busy making that space their own. That feature has been an overwhelming success.”

The other most frequently requested feature was the ability to use Skype. “Skype has always been the enemy of normal cam sites. Models can easily be tempted off-site, and the losses can be staggering to a small company such as ours. But, we decided to listen to what our members were saying: Skype still provides the most intimate cam-to-cam, voice to voice experience, and our members really want intimacy.”

“The internet is an amazing tool”, Shaun L continues, “but research has shown that it can also lead to social isolation. We want to use this media to allow people to come together. Our members were clear - they want our platform to increase their connectedness to other human beings. It's our goal to provide a fully realized Social Cam site for this Market, and then expand to new niche's over time. Once we make JockMenLive.com the Facebook of Muscle, we can do the same for any other fan group. We'll never be the Walmart of the Cam world, nor do we wish to be. We'd much rather be known for great concierge level service, unique products, and for really listening to our valued members.”

The idea to create a concierge service for their members proved to be successful, JockMenLive has been growing at an average rate of +108% per month. “Plus, our members are very loyal because they are treated as a community, not as consumers.”

JockMenLive.com is now bringing fans of the masculine male, everything they asked for - Live Cam with some of the most famous faces in the adult and bodybuilding world, forums, videos, facebook style profiles where members can upload photos, videos, interact using news-feeds, and leave reviews of any models anywhere.

To learn more about JockMenLive.com or to request more pictures, please contact press@jockmenlive.com

Contact:
Shaun L
Better Cam Company B.V.
Dokweg 27/B
1976 CA, IJmuiden,
The Netherlands
415-462-5913
press@jockmenlive.com
http://jockmenlive.com

Humboldt Legends First Cannabis Company to Participate with Sale in County of Humboldt's Pilot Program to ‘Track and Trace’ Origins of Cannabis Grown in County

With the state of California on the verge of approving the recreational use of marijuana in November, at least one company is ahead of the curve when it comes to transparency

Humboldt County, CA, August 24, 2016 — With the state of California on the verge of approving the recreational use of marijuana in November, at least one company is ahead of the curve when it comes to transparency, consumer confidence and environmental responsibility.

Humboldt Legends brings together a group of heritage cannabis farmers with some of the highest environmental standards in the industry. One of its farmers participated in the first transaction in the pilot program for the County of Humboldt to track the movement of marijuana through each step of the supply chain, from grower to distributor to consumer. The purchaser was KIVA Confections, a medical cannabis company that focuses on gourmet chocolate confections.

Called “track and trace,” the county utilizes the services of Switzerland-based security company SICPA Security LLC, which can track the origins of every batch of marijuana sold in the county using QR code stamps, much like they currently do for cigarettes.

After a cultivator harvests and packages their cannabis crop, they put the traceable, counterfeit-resistant stamp on the product. The QR code, which can be scanned by a smart phone, includes information about the product, including the name of the strain (“Steelhead Sativa,” for example), the date it was harvested, who grew it (name of cultivator and farm), strain type, and THC and CBD (primary ingredients in marijuana) yields.

This allows not only the government to track the origins of the product, but also distributors and especially consumers to do the same, so they know exactly what they're buying is from Humboldt County, that it is legal, who it was grown by and the strength of the strain of cannabis.

“It's an incredibly exciting moment, for me personally and from an industry standpoint,” said one of Humboldt Legends' farmers and co-founder, Scott Davies, who has been a grower for 20 years. “Humboldt County is the first county in the state to adopt this under the MMRSA (Medical Marijuana Safety and Regulations Act) guidelines. It's been a long time coming, but this way we are able to tell our story, begin to add taxes to local and state coffers and get rid of the kinds of products that are bad for the environment. I've worked all my life for this moment.”

Humboldt Legends, A California Benefit Corporation, was founded in 2015 by Davies, owner of Winterbourne Farms, together with other Humboldt County farmers, industry professionals, and community leaders. Its mission statement is simple yet profound: “Give the plant back to the people, grow for good, and use business to inspire environmental responsibility.”

Davies said the mission of Humboldt Legends is to apply the same level of confidence and concern consumers have for “the lettuce they purchase” to cannabis.

“If consumers care about the wine they buy and the food they eat, they should also care about the cannabis they use, it's the most logical thing in the world,” said Davies, who likened cannabis track and trace to how wine and cigarettes are also labeled and tracked. “Track and trace increases consumer confidence, absolutely.”

Humboldt County's “Humboldt Cannabis Pilot Program,” the first of its kind in the state, started Aug. 1 and concludes in November. The county's pilot program will be fully compliant with the so-called Adult Use Act — California Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Proposition 64 — should it pass in November.

“A local track and trace program is critical to demonstrate that the county’s medical cannabis regulatory program incorporates enforcement principles important to local and federal law enforcement, including preventing distribution of cannabis to minors, preventing the diversion of cannabis to other states, preventing cannabis revenue from supporting criminal enterprises and preventing the growing of cannabis on public lands,” said Humboldt County Agricultural Commissioner Jeff Dolf.

For Davies, this collaborative effort between Humboldt County, SICPA (which worked with the county on a pro-bono basis to develop the program), and the cannabis industry, which includes cultivators, distributors and dispensaries, is truly historic.

“There's a huge emotional impact in Humboldt County and we celebrate this partnership with local government in this endeavor,” he said. “Overall, it's a win-win for everybody.”

Davies added that the program also helps to retain the branding and reputation of Humboldt County as producing some of the best, if not the best, cannabis in the country. What Napa County is to wine, Humboldt County is to cannabis, he said.

About Humboldt Legends
Humboldt Legends, A California Benefit Corporation, was founded in 2015 by a group of heritage cannabis farmers who have decades of experience growing marijuana by innovative and sustainable methods, together with other Humboldt County industry professionals and community leaders. Humboldt Legend’s farmers respect the land as well as your health, so they don't use any non-organic chemicals or watershed-damaging methods in their 100% sun-powered fields. Humboldt County's unique terroir serves as a foundation for Humboldt Legends farmers to grow and produce the highest quality cannabis. Humboldt Legends will be launching with the 2016 Fall Harvest.

About SICPA
Switzerland-based SICPA Product Security, LLC, performs track and trace services in about 160 countries, tracks 109 forms of currency, tracks over 77 billion products per year including soda, beer and tobacco and has contracted with the California Board of Equalization since 2005 to track all cigarette sales in the state.

About KIVA Confections
KIVA Confections provides consistently potent, great-tasting, gourmet chocolate confections that set a whole new standard for edible medical cannabis. Founded in 2010 by Scott Palmer and Kristi Knoblich, KIVA Confections™ is a California-based not-for-profit collective. KIVA makes high quality medical edibles for patients, crafted from all natural ingredients and skillfully combined with cannabis. Each batch is lab-tested to ensure consistent THC potency. The company currently offers more than a dozen varieties of chocolate edibles and is one of the most recognized medical cannabis companies in California.

Resources:
humboldtlegends.com
humboldtgov.org/TrackAndTrace
humboldtorigin.org
kivaconfections.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.humboldtlegends.com

Eco Carmel, Monterey County’s First Entirely Eco-Friendly Green Store, Celebrates its Sixth Anniversary, Expansion of its upstairs Showroom

Eco Carmel, Monterey County’s first entirely eco-friendly general merchandise store, celebrates its sixth year in business this month, featuring an expansion of its upstairs showroom and a 20%-off sale of organic mattresses.

Carmel, CA, August 23, 2016 — Eco Carmel, Monterey County’s first entirely eco-friendly general merchandise store, celebrates its sixth year in business this month, featuring an expansion of its upstairs showroom and a 20%-off sale of organic mattresses.

“We have expanded upstairs with additional 600 square feet to better showcase and expand our mattresses, bedframes, furniture and home design products,” said owner Kristi Reimers. “This will also be a great space to hold small classes where people can learn about how to make their lifestyle more healthy and planet friendly.”

As part of the sixth anniversary celebration, Eco Carmel is having a 20%-off sale of its organic mattresses, which will continue through the month of August.

Located in the Stonehouse Terrace on San Carlos between 7th and 8th streets in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Reimers opened Eco Carmel in August 2010.

The first of its kind in Monterey County, Eco Carmel offers sustainable, environmentally friendly products, including paint, stains and finishes, hardware items and fixtures, as well as items for home, baby, pet and garden.

While retaining its mission of offering eco-friendly products, Eco Carmel’s main focus is on offering healthier products for people and alternatives to toxic products that are in everyone's homes and offices.

“Today, we are inundated with toxic chemicals, through our food, furniture, wall finishes, body products, and clothing, not to mention the home and office products and gadgets we own,” said Reimers. “Our bodies are overloaded with chemicals that cause illnesses ranging from tiredness to cancer. Eco Carmel is dedicated to offering products that are the safe alternatives to these toxic products. We will also be adding detoxification products to assist the body in purging what it inevitably takes in every day.”

Reimers said Eco Carmel takes pride in being a resource for the community. If the store doesn't have something that someone needs or wants, they can research it and even add it to the store's offerings.

“In the end, a lovely side effect in carrying healthy alternatives is that these products are better for the earth,” she said.

The idea for Eco Carmel grew out of Reimers' desire to make a change in the world.

“Eco Carmel is an idea that has sprung out of my dream of making a difference in the world, of applying my passion and knowledge for natural health and well-being of the body, as well as the planet, in an inspirational and educational setting,” said Reimers. “Inspiration can lead to making conscious choices that will facilitate sales of products that will aid a person into becoming more “eco” friendly for themselves and to the planet.”

Reimers sees Eco Carmel as an interactive and educational experience for discerning, environmentally and health-conscious consumers.

“At Eco Carmel we are not salespeople working in a store selling items to a consumer” said Reimers. “We are educators in an interactive and experiential eco center assisting the public in making the most economic, environmentally beneficial and healthy choices for themselves, their families and their home.”

Reimers chose to open Eco Carmel within the historic Stonehouse Terrace, a courtyard shopping and office area, because she had a special connection to the property. The property has been owned by her family since the early 1930s and was originally her grandparents’ home.

Eco Carmel is located at San Carlos between 7th and 8th in the courtyard of the Stonehouse Terrace in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The store is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information, call (831) 277-0173, visit www.ecocarmel.com or email store@ecocarmel.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ecocarmel.com

London Leicester Square Theatre – London, UK Margo Rey- Presented by Ron White August 30, 2016

WHO: Margo Rey In Concert

WHAT: Seven-time Billboard charting singer-songwriter Margo Rey will grace the stage of the London Leicester Square Theatre on August 30, 2016.

Hollywood, CA, August 23, 2016 - Margo Rey is known for the creation of her own style of ‘Organica’ music that can be explained as an unorthodox hybrid of pop music that is rooted in Jazz with deep ethno-rhythmic grooves, textural guitars, keys and lush vocals. Margo continues to deliver her array of vibrant and sultry singing talents that easily compliment her gentle and uplifting melodies. Margo is known to combine a variety of organic sounds and pour every bit of emotion into each song she creates. Her alternative pop singles have captured a worldwide audience with her enduring, socially conscious lyrics and her unforgettable, groove oriented musical arrangements.

Margo’s musical efforts have not gone unnoticed. Margo has earned nine Top 20 charted hits on Billboard and others including, “Let The Rain,” “Between Us,” “Habit,” “Tempted” and more! AXS has touted, “Rey [is] one of the most in demand and inspiring singer/songwriters of our day.” Songwriter’s monthly praised, “‘Margo Rey is elegance personified. Her exquisite look, impeccable poise, effortless grace and sublime talent.”

In more recent years, Margo became the National Ambassador for non-profit organization Brides Against Breast Cancer. Margo has battled breast cancer herself and while striving through her struggles she continued to pursue her music career. She also has received much recognition after performing at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for a special one-night event benefitting The Noreen Fraser Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on raising funds for women’s cancer research.

Margo Rey’s philanthropic efforts and her distinctive style of ‘Organica’ have generated her prosperous fan base across the world. Margo Rey is a must-see performer and if you cannot catch her in California she will be continuing her residency as an opening act of her husband, and well-known comedian Ron White at the Parlor Lounge in Las Vegas.

WHEN: August 30, 2016

WHERE: LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE
6 Leicester Pl,
London WC2H 7BX, United Kingdom
MARGOREY.COM/TOUR

SHOW TIME: 6:45 PM

TICKET PRICE: £16

CONTACT INFO: For Margo Rey (Chip Schutzman, Miles High Productions, 323-806-0400, chip@mileshighproductions.com)

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
PO Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
323-806-0400
http://margorey.com

The Monterey Symphony Announces its 71st season, entitled "Shakespeare in Music"

The Monterey Symphony has announced that its 71st season, entitled "Shakespeare in Music," will feature four eclectic chamber concerts, including two in October and a Christmas concert in December

Monterey, CA, August 20, 2016 - The Monterey Symphony has announced that its 71st season, entitled "Shakespeare in Music," will feature four eclectic chamber concerts, including two in October and a Christmas concert in December, (each at All Saints Episcopal Church in Carmel) plus one more event at Carmel's fabulous Sunset Center on back-to-back dates in January.

Tickets
Single Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at 831-646-8511 or online at www.montereysymphony.org. Tickets will also be sold 90 minutes before show time at the venue.

General admission tickets for concerts at All Saints’ Episcopal Church (Dolores & Ninth Ave, Carmel) are priced at $25 for general admission and $10 for students and active military.

General admission tickets for concerts at the Sunset Center (San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel) are priced at $50 for Premium Seating and $25 for general admission.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 1 - CHAMBER MUSIC WITH CLARINET
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
October 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The first program in the Monterey Symphony’s 2016/17 Chamber Series will feature the clarinet, including works by Kokai, Debussy, and Brahms. The music on this program may not often be heard, but it will be masterfully presented by musicians from the orchestra, including Concertmaster Christina Mok, violin; Steve Sanchez, clarinet; Tina Minn, violin; Chad Kaltinger, viola; and Drew Ford, cello.

Program:
Kokai - Quartettino for Clarinet and String Trio
Debussy - String Quartet in g minor, Op. 10
Brahms - Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet, Op. 115

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 2 – MYRIAD FACES OF RUSSIA
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
October 18, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Presented as a part of the ICONS in Transformation International Contemporary Art Exhibit at All Saint’s Episcopal Church that runs from September 25 – November 20, 2016. An exhibition of contemporary art and traditional icons with 130 selects pieces by Russian-born artist, Ludmila Pawlowska.

This all-Russian program presented by our October concert Guest Artists: Anna Petrova, piano; Rebecca Anderson, violin; and JeongHyoun Christine Lee, cello; will feature composers from around the turn of the twentieth century - Arensky, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev. Stravinksy’s Suite Italienne is an arrangement of music from his ballet Pulcinella for cello and piano, and the deep and dark Prokofiev Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano was composed for friends lost during the Stalin regime. The Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor by Arensky may not be well-known, but it is a highlight of the program!

Program:
Igor Stravinsky
Suite italienne for Cello and Piano (arr. from Pulcinella)
Sergey Prokofiev
Sonata No. 1 in f minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 80
Anton Arensky
Piano Trio No. 1 in d minor, Op. 32

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 3 - CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
December 8, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

This delightful program features concertos, sonatas, interludes and tangos! Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and Bach’s Brandenburg No. 5 highlight this concert program that parries itself with the Hampton String Quartet’s Mozartian rendition of holiday favorites. Do not miss this performance of passionate players including guest artist Michael Peterson, harpsichord, and Monterey Symphony musicians including Dawn Walker, flute; Concertmaster Christina Mok, violin; Jessica Poll, violin; Chad Kaltinger, viola; Isaac Pastor-Chermak, cello; and Bruce Moyer, bass, in a concert that will also include works by Ibert, Leclaire, and Piazzolla.

Program:
Corelli - Concerto Grosso, Op.6, No. 8 "Christmas Concerto" (arr. for String Quartet)
Piazzolla - Tangos for Violin and Double Bass
Leclair - Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in D Major, Op. 9, No.3
Ibert - Deux Interludes for Flute, Violin and Harpsichord
Christmas Carol Selections from the Hampton String Quartet's What if Mozart wrote, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'
White Christmas - Winter Wonderland - Let it Snow
J.S. Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D Major, BWV 1050

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 4 - CURTIS ON TOUR: CURTIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Sunset Center, Carmel
January 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m & January 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

Presented in cooperation with the Sunset Center.

CURTIS ON TOUR: CURTIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music

Do not miss this special treat to hear some of America’s greatest young musicians from the renowned Curtis Institute of Music! Featured will be legendary violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi and violist and Curtis president Roberto Diaz, along with five outstanding violin students performing Mozart’s five violin concertos – a truly unique and profoundly musical event!

Performance 1 – Friday, 13 January 2017, 8 p.m.
Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-flat major, K. 207
Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219

Performance 2 – Saturday, 14 January 2017, 2 p.m.
Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211
Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218
Sinfonia concertante in E-flat major, K. 364

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org/

Monterey Symphony's six-concert season opens in October, celebrates Shakespeare, Big Sur

The magic of one of the world's most-celebrated coastlines was the inspiration for Big Sur: The Night Sun, an original piece by Emmy Award-winning composer John Wineglass that will highlight the first of six concerts comprising the 71st season of the Monterey Symphony.

Monterey, CA, August 17, 2016 - The magic of one of the world's most-celebrated coastlines was the inspiration for Big Sur: The Night Sun, an original piece by Emmy Award-winning composer John Wineglass that will highlight the first of six concerts comprising the 71st season of the Monterey Symphony. The three-time Daytime Emmy winner composed the music in honor of the Carmel Centennial Celebration, with the support of the Big Sur Land Trust, to premier at the Symphony’s season-opening program, scheduled Oct. 21-23.

The season, entitled "Shakespeare in Music," will run through May under the direction of Monterey Symphony Music Director and Conductor Max Bragado-Darman. Each concert will feature at least one work influenced by Shakespeare.

MAIN CONCERTS:
Concert times
The six concert programs, which run October 2016 through May 2017, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood Hall in Salinas on Fridays, and at Carmel's Sunset Center on Saturdays (8 p.m.) and Sundays (3 p.m.). A pre-concert lecture will be offered an hour before each event.

Youth Concerts
The Symphony’s long tradition of youth outreach and education continues this season with eight free Monday Youth Concerts on October 24, November 21, and April 24 at Sunset Center and March 20 at Sherwood Hall. Youth Concerts are held on Mondays at both 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., allowing thousands of students from Monterey, San Benito and south Santa Cruz Counties to experience the magic of Great Music Live. Contact dross@montereysymphony.org to reserve space for your school group.

Tickets
All Subscription packages (6 concerts/4 concerts/3 concerts) are available now by phone or online. The 4 concert mini-series option requires selection of the concerts when purchased and the same seats are guaranteed for each concert; whereas the 3 concert flexpass option allows concert selection at any time with the same seats attempted, but not guaranteed.

Single Tickets may be purchased beginning September 1 by phone at 831-646-8511 or online at www.montereysymphony.org. Tickets will also be sold 90 minutes before show time at the box office at Sherwood Hall or Sunset Center.

General admission tickets for Friday concerts at Sherwood Hall (940 N. Main Street, next to the Salinas Sports Complex) are priced at $25.

Tickets for 8pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday concerts at the Sunset Center (San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel) are priced at $80, $60, $40 and $30.

SUNSET CENTER

Saturdays at 8:00 PM Sundays at 3:00 PM	6 CONCERTS Full Series	4 CONCERTS Full Series	3 CONCERTS Flexpass	SINGLE TICKETS
TIER 1	$474	$316	$237	$80
TIER 2	$354	$236	$177	$60
TIER 3	$234	$156	$117	$40
TIER 4	N/A	N/A	N/A	$30
SHERWOOD HALL Fridays at 7:30 PM	6 CONCERTS Full Series	4 CONCERTS Full Series	3 CONCERTS Flexpass	SINGLE TICKETS
GENERAL ADMISSION	$120	$80	$60	$25

Concert I: Oct. 21-23
The Monterey Symphony gloriously opens its 71st season with Big Sur: The Night Sun, a commissioned orchestral work from local Emmy-winning composer John Wineglass, written for the Carmel Centennial Celebration in conjunction with the Big Sur Land Trust. Wineglass, a Washington D.C. native, lives today on California's spectacular Central Coast, 20 minutes from Point Lobos, one of the breathtaking locations he says inspired Big Sur: The Night Sun, which he characterizes as a "symphonic tone poem."

Ludwig van Beethoven’s magnificent concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello in C Major, Op. 56, the “Triple Concerto”, will showcase the talents of three rising stars: Anna Petrova, piano; Rebecca Anderson, violin; and JeongHyoun Christine Lee, cello, in an exciting performance of the only concerto that Beethoven composed for more than one instrument.

In a season that honors Shakespeare in Music, exactly 400 years after the great artist’s death, the second suite from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet adds a moving and profound tone. This work utilizes some rarely used instruments in the orchestra, such as tenor saxophone and cornet, and concludes a colorful and riveting season opener!

Pianist Anna Petrova, a native of Bulgaria, has been honored at numerous international competitions, including the José Roca (Valencia), Val Tidone (Italy) and Maria Yudina (St. Petersburg) Competitions, and was a semifinalist at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition in Belgium in 2010, where she performed as soloist with the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia under Paul Goodwin.

Violinist Rebecca Anderson is a versatile soloist and chamber musician whose recent performances range from solo appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, contemporary music premieres with A Far Cry and eighth blackbird, and collaborative projects with Questlove and Ben Folds. She has appeared as a soloist with the Oregon Symphony, Olympia Symphony, and Columbia Symphony orchestras, and in Europe with a recital concert at the Conservatorio de Bologna in Italy. Most recently, she was a first-prize winner at the 2013 American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition for senior division violin.

Cellist JeongHyoun Christine Lee, a native of Seoul, Korea, has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Korean Broadcast Symphony Orchestra, and Calgary Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has served as the Co-Principal of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Lee has performed in Europe and Asia with Curtis on Tour and was recently featured as a Young Artist at Music from Angel Fire and a Caramoor Rising Star at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. She recently performed with Juilliard’s contemporary ensemble, AXIOM, and has attended summer festivals such as the Taos School of Music, Encore, the Great Mountains Music Festival, Orford, and Hotchkiss Summer Portals. She has participated in Prussia Cove Master Classes with Ralph Kirshbaum and the Académie Musicale de Villecroze with Miklós Perényi.

Preview Luncheon with Guest Artists
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
Glen Deven Ranch, Big Sur, CA
$50/person
Register at 831-646-8511 or www.montereysymphony.org/special-events

Symphony of Flavors
Pre-show soiree pairing local musicians with featured local wine, beer, and tasty bites included with concert ticket
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

Sunset Center Terrace
Concert II: Nov. 18-20
The Romantic music of Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn distinguish the Monterey Symphony’s second concert of the season, opening with Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56 by Brahms, an elegant and well-orchestrated theme and variations on the popular “St. Anthony Chorale” featuring the Honors Orchestra of Youth Music Monterey County in their annual Side-by-Side Program appearance, playing onstage with Monterey Symphony mentors.

This concert will also feature the Overture, Op. 21 and Incidental Music, Op. 61 from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a burgeoning stage that highlights the local talents of singers Mary Young Bragado and Angelique Zuluaga, actors Michael Jacobs and Doug Toby, and community chorus I Cantori di Carmel, directed by Dr. Sal Ferrantelli. You will not want to miss this exciting and entertaining collaboration celebrating Shakespeare in Music!

Mezzo-Soprano Mary Young Bragado, wife of the Monterey Symphony’s Music Director Max Bragado-Darman grew up in Princeton New Jersey and graduated as a singer/choral conductor from the University of Michigan. She has directed numerous works throughout the U.S. and in Spain. She has sung in recital and with many choral groups in the U.S. and Europe. Including the prestigious University of Michigan Chamber Choir, the Kenneth Jewell Chorale in Detroit, and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.

Soprano Angelique Zuluaga has performed opera, oratorio, and chamber music throughout the U.S. and South America and can be found frequently collaborating with composers in new works. Performance highlights include: soloist in Brahms’ Requiem with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir; Handel's Ode to St. Cecilia with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Zankel Hall under the direction of Ton Koopman; and soprano soloist with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas’ St. Matthew Passion Brazilian tour under the direction of Kent Nagano.
Actor Michael Jacobs received his B.A. from Whitman College, then went on to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts/West and became a member of the first graduating class in 1976. In New York, he studied at the Herbert Berghof Studios with Uta Hagen and Michael Beckett and in California he became a member of the Shakespeare Santa Cruz Company for 3 years, working and studying with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company from England. In 1987, he was cast in The Normal Heart at the GroveMont Theatre, which began a 27-year stint as actor-in-residence for what is now the Pacific Repertory Theatre.

Doug Toby worked as an actor in the film industry for several years and appeared in a number of films and television shows such as Hill Street Blues, The Rockford Files, and the 1984 film Red Dawn. Doug has been involved with many amateur productions since relocating to Monterey County including the Renaissance Festival and the annual Mystery plays of the Friends of the Monterey Symphony.
I Cantori di Carmel (Italian for The Singers of Carmel) conducted by Dr. Sal Ferrantelli, has been bringing choral classics to the Monterey Peninsula since 1981, performing concerts twice annually, in the spring and fall, at the Carmel Mission Basilica and at other venues throughout the year.

Preview Luncheon with Guest Artists
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
Sardine Factory, Cannery Row in Monterey, CA
$50/person
Register at 831-646-8511 or www.montereysymphony.org/special-events

Symphony of Flavors
Pre-show soiree pairing local musicians with featured local wine, beer, and tasty bites included with concert ticket
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunset Center Terrace
Post-concert Supper Club with Guest Artists
Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Il Fornaio, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
$70/person
Register at 831-646-8511 or www.montereysymphony.org/special-events

Concert III: Feb. 17-19
The Monterey Symphony opens its third program of the season with one of Arturo Toscanini’s favorite works: the Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 by Ludwig van Beethoven. The tragic story of Gaius Marcius Coriolanus – who unsuccessfully invaded Rome – was dramatized by both William Shakespeare and Viennese poet and author Heinrich Joseph von Collin.

Acclaimed violinist Sergej Krylov will dazzle audiences with his exhilarating performance of the Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op.47 by Jean Sibelius, the only concerto composed by the brilliant Finnish composer. Rounding out this program will be the legendary Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 by Johannes Brahms, an audience favorite that has thrilled listeners since it premiered in 1883. Do not miss this opportunity to hear three monuments of musical perfection!

Sergej Krylov, born in Moscow, began playing violin at age 5 as the son of an outstanding violin maker, Alexander Krylov, and a famous Russian pianist and teacher, Liudmila Krylova. He performs with world-famous orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, and the Chamber Orchestra “Moscow Soloists,” among others. He was lauded by late conductor Mstislav Rostropovich as "one of the top five contemporary violinists".

Concert IV: March 17-19
Bruno Aprea will guest conduct the Monterey Symphony for the fourth program of the season, featuring works by Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, and Bernstein. The fiery overture from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Forza del Destino – or ‘the force of destiny’ – sets the tone for this musically broad and brilliant concert.

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s fantasy overture Romeo and Juliet and two movements from the dramatic symphony Romeo and Juliet (“Love Scene” and “Romeo Alone”) by French composer Hector Berlioz, one of the greatest orchestrators of all time, amplify this performance of powerful and passionate themes. The Symphonic Dances from the ever-popular West Side Story by American composer Leonard Bernstein will conclude this rich and rousing concert.

Bruno Aprea, former Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Palm Beach Opera, began his musical career as a pianist studying under his father, Tito Aprea, at the Conservatoire of S.Cecilia in Rome. He met with considerable success at a very young age, paving the way to a career on the international concert circuit and playing on numerous occasions with the Accademia di S.Cecilia Orchestra.
He conducted at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, in a Gala evening with Mirella Freni and in a number of concerts at the Opera of Monte Carlo, including one in aid of Unesco, broadcast in Eurovision in 1979. In Italy he conducted all the main symphonic orchestras and toured in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania. In Israel, invited by Shlomo Mintz, he conducted the Israel Chamber Orchestra of Tel Aviv, in South Africa the SABC of Johannesburg, and in Brazil, invited by Eleazar de Carvalho, the Orquestra Sinfonica of Sao Paolo. He has also conducted the Philarmonia Hungarica, the Presidential Symphonic Orchestra of Ankara and the Bilbao Symphonic Orchestra.

Concert V: April 21-23
The fifth concert program in the Monterey Symphony’s Season of Shakespeare opens with the demanding arias of Desdemona from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Otello, with guest coloratura soprano Cyndia Sieden. Included are the famous “Willow Song” and the “Ave Maria” from Act IV.
Cyndia Sieden also appears in the monumental Symphony No. 4 in G Major by Gustav Mahler, one of his shorter symphonic works. Although the soprano is featured in the fourth and final movement only, this entire symphony was based on the song “The Heavenly Life,” which he composed for an earlier song cycle titled Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Don’t miss this chance to hear Mahler’s magical symphony and highlights from one of Verdi’s most mature roles in a spectacular Spring concert!

Soprano Cyndia Sieden studied with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in master classes in Carmel Valley, CA in the early 1980s and has moved among the Baroque, classical, romantic and modern/contemporary repertoire at most of the world’s great opera houses, including Munich’s Bavarian State Opera, Paris’ Opéra Bastille, Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu, Brussels's La Monnaie, and London’s Royal Opera House and English National Opera, as well as in Beijing and Australia. Her Metropolitan Opera debut was in the title role of Alban Berg’s Lulu, and she returned there in 2008 for the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. With a great sympathy for the works of Richard Strauss, she often performs Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos (Munich, Japan, Vienna), Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier (Paris Châtelet) and Aminta in Die schweigsame Frau (Palermo).

Concert VI: May 19-21
Come hear Michael Noble – winner of the prestigious Carmel Music Society Piano Competition in 2013 – perform Antonin Dvořák’s Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 33 with the Monterey Symphony! Dvořák’s violin and cello concertos receive ample stage presence, but the concerto for the piano is the most balanced of the three and a favorite of audiences and musicians alike.

The season of Shakespeare in Music concludes with the overture from Otto Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, a German Singspiel based on the infamous Shakespeare comedy, and Belgian composer César Franck’s Symphony in D Minor, his most famous orchestral work. Make sure you do not miss this opportunity to hear an evening of beautiful, lively, and splendidly crafted music. Come close the 71st season of the Monterey Symphony in this concert programmed to delight fans of great classical music, live!

Pianist Michael Noble gave his first recital when he was six and has gone on to perform concerts across Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition to winning the Carmel Music Society competition in 2013, he was also the first-prize winner in the Crescendo Music Awards (Tulsa, OK) in 2009, and is a two-time laureate of the Chopin International Competition of the 1,000 Islands. He is a graduate of Idyllwild (Calif.) Arts Academy where he was awarded the Outstanding Musician Award of 2005-2006. In 2008, he attended the Paris Conservatoire to work with Nicholas Angelich, and made his debut with the Tulsa Symphony in 2011.

CHAMBER CONCERT SERIES:

Tickets
Single Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at 831-646-8511 or online at www.montereysymphony.org. Tickets will also be sold 90 minutes before show time at the venue.

General admission tickets for concerts at All Saints’ Episcopal Church (Dolores & Ninth Ave, Carmel) are priced at $25 for general admission and $10 for students and active military.

General admission tickets for concerts at the Sunset Center (San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel) are priced at $50 for Premium Seating and $25 for general admission.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 1 - CHAMBER MUSIC WITH CLARINET
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
October 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The first program in the Monterey Symphony’s 2016/17 Chamber Series will feature the clarinet, including works by Kokai, Debussy, and Brahms. The music on this program may not often be heard, but it will be masterfully presented by musicians from the orchestra, including Concertmaster Christina Mok, violin; Steve Sanchez, clarinet; Tina Minn, violin; Chad Kaltinger, viola; and Drew Ford, cello.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 2 – MYRIAD FACES OF RUSSIA
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
October 18, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Presented as a part of the ICONS in Transformation International Contemporary Art Exhibit at All Saint’s Episcopal Church that runs from September 25 – November 20, 2016. An exhibition of contemporary art and traditional icons with 130 selects pieces by Russian-born artist, Ludmila Pawlowska.

This all-Russian program presented by our October concert Guest Artists: Anna Petrova, piano; Rebecca Anderson, violin; and JeongHyoun Christine Lee, cello; will feature composers from around the turn of the twentieth century - Arensky, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev. Stravinksy’s Suite Italienne is an arrangement of music from his ballet Pulcinella for cello and piano, and the deep and dark Prokofiev Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano was composed for friends lost during the Stalin regime. The Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor by Arensky may not be well-known, but it is a highlight of the program!

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 3 - CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
December 8, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
This delightful program features concertos, sonatas, interludes and tangos! Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and Bach’s Brandenburg No. 5 highlight this concert program that parries itself with the Hampton String Quartet’s Mozartian rendition of holiday favorites. Do not miss this performance of passionate players including guest artist Michael Peterson, harpsichord, and Monterey Symphony musicians including Dawn Walker, flute; Concertmaster Christina Mok, violin; Jessica Poll, violin; Chad Kaltinger, viola; Isaac Pastor-Chermak, cello; and Bruce Moyer, bass, in a concert that will also include works by Ibert, Leclaire, and Piazzolla.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 4 -
CURTIS ON TOUR: CURTIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Sunset Center, Carmel
January 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m & January 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

Presented in cooperation with the Sunset Center.

CURTIS ON TOUR: CURTIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music
Do not miss this special treat to hear some of America’s greatest young musicians from the renowned Curtis Institute of Music! Featured will be legendary violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi and violist and Curtis president Roberto Diaz, along with five outstanding violin students performing Mozart’s five violin concertos – a truly unique and profoundly musical event!

Max Bradago-Darman, Music Director and Conductor of Monterey Symphony
Max Bragado-Darman has served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Monterey Symphony since July 2004. Mr. Bragado-Darman was Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Castile and León in Valladolid, Spain, for nine years. From its formation in 1991, he built it into one of the most prestigious orchestras in Spain. Under his direction, the orchestra performed for enthusiastic audiences in all the major cities of Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany. He recorded with this ensemble many unknown works of the Spanish repertoire as well as most of the orchestral works of Turina and Rodrigo on the Naxos label.

In May 1995, Max Bragado-Darman was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. Under his direction, the orchestra grew in popularity due to his rapport with audiences, the community in general, and his innovative programming. He has worked with distinguished artists such as Alicia de Larrocha, Teresa Berganza, Horacio Gutièrrez, Elmar Oliveira, Dubravka Tomsic, Andre Watts, Angel Romero, Gary Graffman, and Aaron Rosand among many others.

As a guest conductor, Max Bragado-Darman has performed in the United States with the symphony orchestras of Honolulu, San Diego, Nashville, Delaware, West Virginia, Cedar Rapids, Savannah, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Austin, Fresno, and Boulder. He has led the National Orchestra, the Radio Television Orchestra and most other orchestras of Spain, as well as orchestras in Portugal, England, Argentina, Germany, and Mexico. In the fall of 2003, he made his debut at the distinguished Wexford Opera Festival with the Granados opera “Maria del Carmen,” in a version he researched and edited himself.

His conducting career has been guided by the knowledge he received from teachers and musicians such as Robert Fountain, Robert Baustian, George Szell, Igor Markevich and Franco Ferrara. Most recently, Max Bragado-Darman has appeared on the podiums of orchestras in Monterrey, Mexico and Mexico City. In the spring of 2009, in the heart of Andalucia he took on the challenge of presenting a fusion of flamenco and classical music featuring a pianist, guitarist, dancer, and full symphony orchestra. He has been the conductor for the prestigious “Iturbi Piano Competition” in Valencia, Spain for the last two editions.

Max and Mary Bragado have two children: Julio who was formerly a dancer with The American Ballet Theatre and is now studying acting in New York City, and Ilia who teaches dance in Valladolid, Spain and is married to José Manuel Concejo. They have two grandsons, 7 year old Max and 5 year old Alejandro. Both grandchildren are enchanted with their “Abuelito” and “Granny.”

The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides triple performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater and Salinas’s Sherwood Hall, as well as youth education programs that include visits to classrooms by musicians and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported in part through the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Monterey Symphony, and through grants from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Buffet Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, Frisone Family Foundation, Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, The Harden Foundation, The Todd Lueders Fund for the Arts of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Monterey County Weekly Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, The Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, Samson Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation, Alexander F. Victor Foundation, and many other generous foundations and individual donors.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit our web site: www.montereysymphony.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa Announce tell us Your Favorite California Wine Month Contest in Honor of California Wine Month

We are lucky to live in a state abundant with fabulous wines…several of which we feature here at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa!

Monterey, CA, August 11, 2016 - We are lucky to live in a state abundant with fabulous wines…several of which we feature here at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa! What’s your favorite California Wine we serve at TusCA or Knuckles and why? Post favorites on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/hyattregencymonterey/?fref=ts all month long (pictures encouraged) and our favorite posts will receive a dinner for two at #TusCA paired with California Wines selected by Chef Steve!

Contest runs September 1st-September 30th. Winner announced October 5th.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course:
Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well-known attractions.

With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full service spa. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit www.hyattregencymonterey.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

Hofsas House Hotel Announces a Special Package in Honor of the Hotel’s 70th Anniversary November 2016 and Carmel-by-the-Sea’s 100th Anniversary October 2016

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating seven decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, August 10, 2016 - In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating seven decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which is as charming as the town itself. With firm roots in the past, the family is looking toward the future by keeping abreast of guests’ every need.

Owner and General Manager, Carrie Theis, announced today a special package in honor of the hotel and Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Anniversary.

Celebrate Carmel-by-the-Sea’s 100th Anniversary in October and Hofsas House Hotels 70th Anniversary this November with our History Tour! Delight in the special charms of Carmel on a leisurely, fun and informative two-hour guided walk past enchanting Fairy-tale cottages, through secret pathways, hidden courtyards and award-winning gardens. At the end of the tour, you’ll feel like a local. Cost is $25 per person. For September 1 – December 31st, 2016, guests who book this package will receive a Carmel-by-the-Sea history book complimentary upon arrival (value $26.00). . Learn about the 100-year history of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When booking use promotion code: HHWALKS. Promotion valid through December 31st, 2016. (block out dates apply)

Hofsas House Background:
Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey , Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove . The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome, as well.

For large groups — wedding parties, company meetings, family reunions and others — Hofsas House Hotel offers a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen that can comfortably accommodate 40 people. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on offer as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hofsas-House/155499294475480

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hofsashouse.com

Enjoy California Wine Month at Carmel's only wine-themed hotel

The rich history and spectacular scenery of California's wine country will be celebrated throughout the month of September -- California Wine Month -- with special packages and promotions at Carmel's only wine-themed hotel.

Carmel, CA, August 09, 2016 - The rich history and spectacular scenery of California's wine country will be celebrated throughout the month of September -- California Wine Month -- with special packages and promotions at Carmel's only wine-themed hotel.

Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites has partnered with 15 Carmel Valley wineries to create a unique guest experience, celebrating the bounty of Monterey County’s vineyards.

Each winery sponsors one room or suite, providing its own creative touches to the famous charm of Vendange, a bed and breakfast nestled just minutes from one of the world's most-spectacular beaches.

From the McIntyre Vineyards room, with its impressive, 100-year-old section of grapevine, to J. Lohr’s wine barrel on the balcony, every winery’s room at Vendange offers a signature luxury experience.

Participating wineries -- each of which are only a short, scenic drive from the hotel, include Blair, Cima Collina, Dawn’s Dream, Galante, Holman Ranch, J. Lohr, Joullian, Manzoni, McIntyre, Otter Cove, Tudor, Twisted Roots and Ventana.

The rooms at Vendange feature sleek, modern bathrooms, with imported Spanish marble. Sleeping areas have memory foam-top beds, deluxe linens, and high-definition flat screen televisions.

The separate Cottage Suite -- perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway -- offers 650 square feet of space, with a California King bed, a 50-inch, high-definition television, and kitchenette.

Located at 24815 Carpenter Street, Vendange is only a short walk from the charms and delights of Carmel, which are not easily experienced in a single day . Book a second night, Monday through Thursday, for an additional $35, and receive a $50 gift certificate to Carmel’s popular seafood restaurant,‪ #‎FlahertysSeafood Grill & Oyster Bar, or ‪#‎AndresBouchee, the chic French bistro with a ‪‪‪#‎California coastal flair. (This special California Wine Month offer, valid through September 30th, can only be booked through our website at vendangecarmel.com while supplies last.)

Book three nights in Vendange King Deluxe rooms and receive a complimentary bottle of Holman Ranch or Twisted Roots award-winning Monterey County wine to help us celebrate California Wine Month. This package is only available Sunday through Thursday throughout California Wine Month, from September 1 through September 30. Use this code -- LoveWine -- to book this very special package. ( Wine will be selected by the manager on duty upon arrival, based on availability.)

Vendange is located a short drive from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, just off scenic Highway 1, with free parking for guests. The hotel is only minutes from downtown Carmel’s famous shopping and fine dining, scenic 17-Mile Drive, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Telephone 831- 624-6400; email: reservations@vendangecarmel.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.vendangecarmel.com

Mesa Del Sol Vineyards & Retreat Celebrates California Wine Month this September

Ann Hougham, owner of Mesa del Sol Vineyards and Retreat offers guests an adventure in wine and eco-tourism.

Arroyo Seco, Greenfield, CA, August 08, 2016 – Ann Hougham, owner of Mesa del Sol Vineyards and Retreat offers guests an adventure in wine and eco-tourism. Family-owned for 10 years and recently made available to the public, the winery and vacation retreat offers guests award-wining wines as well as a haven to escape from the stress of the everyday world with its weekly rental program.

Mesa Del Sol is excited to celebrate California Wine Month this September with a Facebook Contest! Simply post on our Facebook Page what you love about Mesa Del Sol, from the wines to the property, and Ann’s favorite post will win a gift basket valued at $150 with fresh lavender from the property, signature wines and more! Entrants can simply post on the Mesa Del Sol Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/MesaDelSol) or email their submissions to marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com.

About Mesa Del Sol:
Mesa Del Sol’s historic buildings date back to the late 1800's with a stone building Mesa Del Sol is the perfect setting for a memorable family reunion, get away with friends, birthday and anniversary celebration, corporate retreat or artisan adventure. Our private, historical estate encompasses 14 walkable acres in the heart of the Arroyo Seco Highlands looking out over the Arroyo Seco River Canyon. Once the site of an early California health retreat and a stagecoach stop, the Estate sets the stage for an unforgettable get away. The entire property has been lovingly restored and includes a gourmet country kitchen, lush ornamental gardens, 55' pool and large open social areas, with several updated outdoor BBQ areas.

The estate features 5 bedrooms in the main house. There are also two other living quarters close to the main house. The Cowboy Cottage and the Stonehouse Bedroom. The Safari Tent available from April thru Thanksgiving of each year. See the pdf of the floor plans for more details. Some camping and RV (no hookups) space available. In addition to the comforts of bed and bath linens, a fully-equipped kitchen and generous amenities, our accommodations have all the modern conveniences you've come to expect. Our ample acreage with separate living areas allow each guest a sense of privacy and space, including room for tent camping!

Enjoy magnificent views in every direction of the surrounding mountain wilderness, sample our organic vegetable garden which provides fresh produce and feel free to collect fresh eggs daily from our chickens! Kids will love watching the wildlife in the trout pond. The front acreage is devoted to the organic vineyard, producing award winning wines which are available for tasting and sale.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.mesadelsolvineyards.com/