Five Years Strong

SandBox welcomed its first guests on June 24, 2021 with my dear friend Mads Tolling presenting two sold out shows in one day! (of course with Covid restritions a sold out show was about 24 guests) Five years later SandBox has become a destination for exceptional artists who authentically engage with our community generously sharing their artistsry and themselves. The sum of the prizes won among them all, Grammy Award winners and nominees, poet laureates, etc. are too numerous to count at this point. And while those distinctions remain important, I measure the true value of SandBox by the unsolicited heartfelt and profound words so many of you have shared with me after experiencing an event here. A constant refrain from our performers is the feeling that each concert is met by an audience eager to embrace whatever we bring to the table with curiosity, enthusiasm, and open hearts. Thank you for being such a vital part of making each passing year of SandBox more memorable than the last.

The legendary Assad Duo in one of their final appearances together.

Entering the industrial district of Sand City to experience these world class performers could possibly challenge one's expectations. However, that step so many of you have repeatedly taken helps explain why SandBox is more than just a venue. It has become home to the artistic experience itself. Hearing the hum of your voices lined outside the door in anticipation of the show, the smiles on your faces as you enter, the hugs, the hellos, all of this contributes to the magic of SandBox. Without you it would be nothing but an empty box.

Alina Bercu and Friends

This is also a time to celebrate five years of Musikiwest, the non profit that lives in SandBox. Our musicians have visited twenty-four middle and high school classrooms throughout Monterey County and engaged with more than two thousand students through free interactive programs centered on empathy, collaboration and conflict resolution. These visits use chamber music as a model for communication and positive collaboration while introducing students to world-class artists and the transformative power of live performance.

Team "WolfganG" engaging with youth from the El Sistema program in Watsonville.

We encourage youth 18 and under to attend SandBox events with free admission. Throughout the year we present our signature Free Bach's Lunches where we invite you in for music, conversation and observation in an informal and welcoming atmosphere. This is all made possible through generous grants from The Arts Council for Monterey County, Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Yellow Brick Road and support from you through the annual MCGives campaign which last year raised a record of $76,000+!

Musikiwest super heroes with the students Seaside Middle School

It is humbling to see that the SandBox community of artists and audience alike come together in support of those in need. Our Music Heals program raised funding to support those enduring the conflcit in Ukraine. With 5 days notice we held a sold out event featuring violinist, Francisco Fullana where all the proceeds were given to the Pajaro flood victims. And most recently we all came together in support of a friend dear to many of us Edwin Huizinga on his road to recovery from serious health issues. The village that is SandBox is woven from the strongest fabric, defined by generosity, compassion, and a shared commitment to caring for one another.

Happy Fifth Anniversary to all of you who have joined me in building SandBox. I can hardly wait to share with you future porjects and events. Enjoy this past performance as a small gift/reminder of what happens in the box., the SandBox that is:)

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/03e494_b247b3b373fe4d7f94574598bee6e048/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Katherine Siochi, principal harp of the San Francisco Symphony captures everyones hearts with the music of Ludovico Einaudi

I have so many phots to share but here are just a few for now. Hope to see you all very soon!

Tammy Hall and friends!

In conversation with Anne Geniushene for a Musikiwest Free Bach's Lunch

The cast of Ballad of the Brown King by Margaret Bonds and Langston Hughes

Mike Marshall and Catarina Lichtenberg

A "Wolfgang" concert with Blair Francis Paponiu,, Jason Issokson, Michelle Djokic and Leonid Plashinov.

Summer's Bountiful Harvest in SandBox.

The last thirty days in SandBox brought an extraordianry array of rich offerings. In late June we worked with Regenertive CA to present the Award Winning documentary film "Common Ground" The sell out audience was treated to the sobering and inspiring film followed by an enlightening discussion with guest panelists who are specialists in the field of regenerative farming. Many thanks to the executive producer, Laura Turner Seydel for bringing the film to SandBox! And thank you to the CEO of Regenertaive CA, Kristin Coates for her work with this wonderful organization.

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In mid July we welcomed another sell out crowd for "Alina Bercu and Friends". Romanian pianist Alina Bercu came to SandBox from Germany for a week of music making that will not be forgotten by anyone who was lucky enough to be in SandBox that evening. Alina's "friends" were the prize winning violiniust Nancy Zhou, principal violist of the SF Symphony Jonathan Vinocour and yours truly, Michelle Djokic on cello. This concert was made possible by the generous visionary and master of countless memorable film scores, Mark Mancina. These musicians met only one time the afternoon of the concert yet magically shared a breathtaking performance of glorious Schumann Piano Quartet. Alina then took us on an iunfiorgettable ride with her effortless technique, effervescent inner passion and endless pallette of colors that shone in every note of solo sonatas by Beethoven and Prokofiev. We were honored to have the one and only Clint Eastwood in the front row listening to every note. The following day Alina held a masterclass for students of the Neiman Paino Studio in the free Bach's Lunch presented by Musikiwest.

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This was followed by singer songwriter Jason Eady who is one of the most captivating stroytellers/songwriters we've encountered. It was a memorable evening where some of Jason's fans traveled as far away as Sacramento to be here that night. We were also treated to extraordianry wnes from wine maker Nat Wong of Blade and Talon.

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SandBox is a labor of love to be sure. There are times when we wonder why we are doing this and can we sustain an ats venue? Then we share these mircualous moments as a community where we leave everything at the door and sit together sharing goose bumps, tears, and laughs and our passion for keeping SandBox alive is re-ignited.

An excerpt from a letter shared recently by an audience member will sustain us for a cvery long time:

"Over and above the stellar evening, I have come to expect that I will be exposed to music new to me at The SandBox concerts. You have made an incredibly valuable contribution to the Monterey Bay Area community. Ours was a lucky day when you chose to move here and anchor your talents in our harbor. I am in awe of all that you have accomplished." Paul F. - Monterey

Thank you Paul! And thank you to all of you who have shared your enthusiasm for SandBox and for supporting our events and artists. Together we are building castles in SandBox.

We close out July with the first concert of its kind in SandBox. The intoxicating sound of the marimba will fill the air on Monday, July 29th with internationally recognized, prize winning percusssionist and composer Ksenija Komljenović. She is a Marimba One artist and will be playing on an instrument handcrafted by Marimba One in Arcata, CA. The program will journey from bach to Phillip Glass.. I can hardly wait to join Ksenija in Mariel by Golijov and Louange a Leternite de Jesus by Messiean. If you are reading this today, there is still time to get a ticket for the concert which will be Monday July 29th @ 7PM.

Thank you for taking this time with me as I try to slow down and reflect on all the wonderfdul memories we've made together in SandBox.

The Ballad of The Brown King ... destined to become an annual tradition.

Months ago after much investigation, I made the discovery of the christmas cantata, "The Ballad of The Brown King" by Margaret Bonds with text of Langston Hughes. However, trying to find the actual music caused many a sleepless nights and countless hours of research. Well it all paid off with our 2 SOLD OUT shows on Sunday, Dec. 3rd. Response from. the audience members included, "I was blown away", "This was the most delightful experience", "You must make this an annual tradition", "What a refreshing and inspired way to launch the holidays", "How is it possible no one has ever heard of this piece?". Our cast of nearly 20 musicians and singers were giddy with the shared experience of bringing to life a work that inspired each of us with the freshness and beauty of Margaret Bonds' composition. While most of us are familiar with Langston Hughes, far fewer are aware of one of his closest friends, composer, Margaret Bonds. I encourage you to explore her life and her work. She was a maverick back in her day and I would say her efforts to preserve the works of African American composers would be considered at the forefront of what many are trying to accomplish today. It was a great honor to dedicate our performances to the great Rosalyn Carter. Her passing is a great loss to the world but her contributions to peace and the betterment of the earth will be felt for generations to come.

Musikiwest, (a 501 c(3) organization) presented this event made possible by your donations and support of events held in SandBox. We are honored to have been awarded a Community Arts Grant by The Arts Council for Monterey County. We were blessed to have such incredible singers and musicians from the Bay area join us for this production.

Our community engagement continued on Monday, Dec. 4th when our Musikiwest acclaimed super hero musicians, Nancy Zhou, Daniel Dastoor, Katie Kadarauch and Michelle Djokic engaged with hundreds of students from the North Monterey County High School and Middle School presenting our scripted open rehearsals addressing conflict resolution through the collaborative nature of chamber music. These visits to the classrooms were made possible by generous grants from the Pebble Beach Company Foundation and Yellow Brick Road.

Musikiwest is once again honored to be included in the 2023 MC Gives campaign . Thank you in advance for your support for our efforts here at SandBox and outside in the classrooms. Every gift regardless of size makes a huge difference.

Here is a brief clip of the magic that happened in The Ballad of The Brown King this past weekend.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/03e494_38dbfa1b08b6491c92c49ec870bf1663/720p/mp4/file.mp4

And here is photo from our musicians in the classroom of the North Monterey County High School.

Please enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday. Wishing you all good health filled with great music and art in 2024!