It’s been a few years since we saw conductor/composer Robert Spano in Ojai—his last foray was when he brought the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as part of the memorable 60th Festival in 2006. Since then he’s been appointed as Music Director of the prestigious Aspen Music Festival. On February 11, however, Spano will once again be in Ojai as part of the Festival’s annual gala event, “To Ojai, With Love.” This fundraiser at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa will showcase Spano’s talents as a pianist and composer in an intimate concert with clarinetist Laura Ardan, featuring the West Coast premiere of his piece under water. Hailed as a “cohesive and . . . lovely solo piano work” by the NY Times, under water pays homage to Debussy’s Engulfed Cathedral. Tickets for this special event begin at $250 and include cocktails, dinner, and the concert. Proceeds benefit the Ojai Music Festival and its BRAVO! Music Education program.

For those who wish to extend the Gala celebration into an Ojai weekend getaway, there are several “Patron Packages” offering unique experiences in the Ojai Valley and beyond, from wine tastings to orchard tours, to Hollywood film scoring sessions. For more information on these packages, click here, or contact Anna Wagner at 805.646.2094 x.105.

We hope you will be able to the Festival and Robert Spano for this special, once-in-a-lifetime event.