Opera Santa Barbara to Present Free Concerts

Opera Santa Barbara will present a series of free noontime concerts at Santa Barbara and Ventura County libraries through mid-April.

Featuring the company's Studio Artists singing a variety of operatic repertoire and musical theatre selections, the intimate concerts will take place at Ojai Public Library (111 East Ojai Avenue) on October 5, February 1, and March 15; Ventura Public Library (651 East Main Street) on October 6, February 2, and March 16; Santa Maria Public Library (421 S. McClelland Street) on October 9, February 5, and March 19; Thousand Oaks Public Library (1401 E. Janss Road) on October 10 and March 20; Solvang's Wilding Museum (1511 Mission Drive) on October 11, January 31, and March 14; and Santa Barbara Central Library (40 East Anapamu Street) on October 25, November 1, February 21 and 28, and April 11 and 18.

Performances also will be presented at the Music Academy of the West (1070 Fairway Road in Santa Barbara) on February 8, and at Birnam Wood Golf Club (1941 East Valley Road in Santa Barbara) on February 14. All performances will begin at noon; admission is free.

Currently serving as Opera Santa Barbara Studio Artists are soprano Elle Valera, mezzo-soprano Chelsea Melamed, tenor Jonathan Walker-VanKuren, and baritone ByRon Mayes.

About Opera Santa Barbara

Founded in 1994 by Marilyn Gilbert and Nathan Rundlett, Opera Santa Barbara is committed to presenting productions and educational programs of the highest quality. Over more than two decades the company has staged more than 50 operas and devoted thousands of hours to community outreach. The organization remains dedicated to the core passions that animated its founding: celebrating and championing the breadth and beauty of opera, and contributing to the cultural enrichment of the Santa Barbara community. Additional information is available at www.operasb.org.