Westmont Magazine A Musical Partnership

In September, Westmont and the Santa Barbara Symphony announced a strategic partnership to collaborate musically and enhance music education for local youth. Nir Kabaretti, music and artistic director of the Santa Barbara Symphony, expressed appreciation for the initiative. “I would like to thank my colleague Michael Shasberger and his team at Westmont for collaborating on this unique model that will enable us to connect the different phases of music education, from elementary school students up to college students, with our professional symphony. Westmont’s academic expertise will enrich the symphony’s youth ensembles with a well-designed curriculum to strengthen their experience and musical knowledge and develop their curiosity and creativity, which will help them in anything they choose to do in life.”

Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship and conductor of the Westmont Orchestra, and Daniel Gee, assistant professor of music and conductor of the Westmont College Choir, will work with the symphony to develop curricula and raise financial aid for private lessons.

Gee, who co-conducted the symphony’s performance of “The Unanswered Question” by Charles Ives in April, has been developing a closer relationship with the orchestra. Westmont music professors and the symphony’s professional musicians will assist with youth symphony sectional rehearsals and masterclasses in coming months. Westmont musicians, both choral and orchestral, will collaborate with Kabaretti and the members of the Santa Barbara Symphony to build artistic partnerships between the collegiate and professional musicians.