Summer Gala set at the spectacular oceanfront Bella Vista Estate, raising vital support for music education and the arts in Santa Barbara.
(Santa Barbara, CA) — The Music Academy of the West will host its annual Music Note Gala on Friday, August 14, at the breathtaking Bella Vista Estate. Celebrating the Academy’s 79th season and looking toward a vibrant future anchored by its forthcoming Music Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara, the evening will celebrate the transformative power of music while raising essential support for scholarships and community access.
This year’s Gala features the extraordinary Audra McDonald—winner of six Tony Awards—currently starring in HBO’s The Gilded Age. Joined by her trio led by Broadway music director Andy Einhorn, McDonald will perform selections from the Great American Songbook, an influential and enduring repertoire of American popular song shaped by Broadway and Hollywood. A special collaboration with the Music Academy’s Sing! Children’s Choir will be a centerpiece of the evening.
“Music education changes lives. It builds confidence, creates belonging, and reminds us of our shared humanity,” said McDonald. “I’m honored to join the Music Academy of the West for the Music Note Gala and to support the programs that provide extraordinary training and transformative musical experiences for young artists and for the Santa Barbara community.”
Gala Honoree
The 2026 Music Note Gala will honor Cheryl Goldberg, Founding Contributor to the Academy’s Music Education Center and a member of the Music Academy Board of Directors. Her visionary leadership and philanthropic support are helping to shape the future home of the Center in downtown Santa Barbara—an enduring investment in music education and community access.
Investing in Music Education
Proceeds from the Gala directly support full scholarships for the Music Academy’s Summer Music Festival & School Fellowship Institute, which presents nearly 120 concerts, masterclasses, and public events each season. Funds also support the Academy’s new High School Intensive, a two-week summer program for gifted young musicians ages 14–18, and Sing!, the Academy’s free after-school choral program serving more than 260 local children annually.
“The Music Note Gala supports the heart of the Music Academy’s mission—bringing transformative music education and extraordinary artistry together for meaningful impact,” said Shauna Quill, President and CEO of the Music Academy. “Through our Fellowship Institute, new High School Intensive, and Sing! Children’s Choir, we support young musicians at every stage of their training—rooted here in Santa Barbara, with an impact that reaches far beyond our community. The Gala celebrates the power of music to inspire, connect, and transform lives across generations.”
The Music Academy gratefully acknowledges the dedicated members of the 2026 Music Note Gala Committee, whose leadership and support help make this inspiring evening possible.
2026 Music Note Gala Committee
Gala Committee Co-Chairs
Andrea Hein
Rachael Douglas
Honorary Committee Members
Cheryl Goldberg, honoree
Mally Chakola
Casey Kallenbach
Committee Members
Michele Brustin
Dana Denton
Melody Ellison
Todd Gerber
Cinny Kennard
Eileen Read
Jenna Jobst Reichental
Danner Schefler
Peter Taffae
Jill Taylor
Anne Towbes
Todd Yancey
Creative Team
Katelin Ridenour La Vie Events
Monique Rodriguez Bella Vista Estate
Allison Jackson Pineapple Productions
Secure Your Gala Experience
Purchase a Table Package by April 1 for elevated experiences, premier seating, and enhanced opportunities to make a meaningful philanthropic impact. Visit: musicacademy.org/gala.
Single Tickets will be on sale in early May, if available.
Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy, in 2015 she received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. A Juilliard-trained soprano, McDonald maintains a major career as a Grammy-winning recording and concert artist. Her latest solo album, Sing Happy, was recorded live with the New York Philharmonic for Decca Gold. Known for her luminous soprano and profound dramatic insight, McDonald brings uncommon depth and humanity to every performance, captivating audiences across genres and generations.
Andy Einhorn
Andy Einhorn is a leading Broadway music director and conductor who most recently served as music supervisor and music director for the award-winning revival of Gypsy starring Audra McDonald. His Broadway music supervising and conducting credits include Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler, Carousel starring Renée Fleming, Holiday Inn, Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Brief Encounter, and Sondheim on Sondheim. Since 2011, Einhorn has served as music director and pianist for Audra McDonald, performing nationally and internationally at venues including The London Palladium, with the Sydney Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. Together, they have recorded two albums, Sing Happy and Go Back Home. Einhorn is also on the faculty of The Juilliard School, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Brevard Music Center.
About the Music Academy of the West
Located in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West provides classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with transformative educational and performance experiences. As part of its annual Summer Music Festival & School, the Academy presents the Fellowship Institute, which trains up to 150 fellows ages 18–34, alongside the High School Intensive, a two-week program for 105 gifted musicians ages 14–18. The Music Festival showcases more than 100 performances and events, including masterclasses and a fully staged opera. The 2026 Summer Music Festival & School will run June 17–August 8, 2026.
Year-round Music Academy programs include Sing!, a free, after-school children’s choral program and the Mariposa Concert Series, featuring Academy-affiliated artists and alums. In 2028, the Academy will open its Music Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara, expanding access to music education, rehearsal, and performance opportunities for the community. Learn more at musicacademy.org.
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Press Contacts
Kerry Allen
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
kallen@musicacademy.org
805‐895-9491
Kate Oberjat
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
koberjat@musicacademy.org
805‐895-7908