Podcast Series: OJAICAST 2022

SEASON 2

Welcome to OJAICAST, where we pull back the curtain to take a sneak-peek at the upcoming Ojai Music Festival, June 9 to 12, in beautiful Ojai Valley, California. All are welcome here, from newcomers to long-time music fans. In-depth insights and special guests will help introduce this year’s programming and whet your musical appetites for what’s to come with host Emily Praetorius.

Episode 1

Our first episode introduces us to our 2022 Music Director AMOC, the multidisciplinary collective which incorporates music, dance, poetry, theatre in all their work and their ambitious programming that begins on Thu June 9. Guests: Ara Guzelimian, Zack Winokur, and Keir Gogwilt

Emily Praetorius, producer and host
Louis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com)

OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks

Music Excerpts in Episode 1:
Craigie Hill, by Keir GoGwilt and Celeste Oram
Performed by Keir GoGwilt

Prelude to the Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc, by Julius Eastman
Performed by Julius Eastman

Rebonds B, by Iannis Xenakis
Performed by Steven Schick

Gretchen am spinnrade, by Eric Wubbels
Performed by Eric Wubbels and Mariel Roberts

Episode 2

From early morning sunrise to evening sunset, AMOC dives into the music of icons George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell, the life and music of Julius Eastman alongside world premieres of works by Anthony Cheung and new staging of Messian’s Harawi. Guests: AMOC member and flutist Emi Ferguson and composer Anthony Cheung.

Emily Praetorius, producer and host
Louis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com)

OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks

Music Excerpts in Episode 2:
Gay Guerilla, by Julius Eastman
Performed by Julius Eastman

Stay on It, by Julius Eastman
Performed by Julius Eastman, Doug Gaston, Amrom Chodos, Dennis Kahle, Benjamin Hudson, Joseph Ford, George Mitkoff, Jan Williams, Peter Kotik

Harawi, mvts. 2, 6, 10, by Olivier Messiaen
Performed by Hetna Regitze Bruun and Kristoffer Hyldig

Episode 3

Let Festival weekend begin! In this episode we look at the Saturday program which is quintessential Ojai Music Festival — music of Bach and Bach re-imagined and three premieres of some of today’s most exciting composers Matthew Aucoin, Carolyn Chen, and Andrew McIntosh. Guests: AMOC co-founder/composer Matthew Aucoin and AMOC member and violinist Miranda Cuckson.

Emily Praetorius, producer and host
Louis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com)

OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks

Music Excerpts in Episode 3:
cross/collapse, by Catherine Lamb

About Bach, by Cassandra Miller
Performed by Quatuor Bozzini

Tanz Tanz, by Reiko Füting
Performed by Olivia de Prato

Prelude in G Minor, by Bach
Performed by Emi Ferguson and Ruckus

Little Jimmy, by Andrew McIntosh
Performed by Yarn/Wire

Episode 4

More music, meditation, and dance plus community events end the four-day Festival starting with Meditation with the music of Julius Eastman, followed by Hans Otte’s The Book of Sounds, and two world premieres Dance in the Park and Rome is Falling. To end this jam-packed Fesrival, the Sunday Finale will display the virtuosity of all 17 AMOC members as a collective. Guests: Ara Guzelimian, Julia Eichten, and Doug Balliett.

Emily Praetorius, producer and host
Louis Ng, sound engineer (lensonproductions.com)

OJAICAST theme by Thomas Kotcheff and Louis Weeks

Music Excerpts in Episode 4:
The Book of Soundsmvts. 1, 10, by Hans Otte
Performed by Ralph van Raat

Also available on SPOTIFY and APPLE PODCASTS
OJAICAST SEASON 1

ABOUT OUR OJAICAST HOST 
Emily Praetorius, former Ojai Music Festival intern and Rothenberg Intern Fellow, is a current Composition DMA candidate at Columbia University. She previously studied composition and clarinet performance at the University of Redlands (BM) and composition at Manhattan School of Music (MM). She has studied with Kathryn Nevin (clarinet), Susan Botti, Georg Friedrich Haas, George Lewis, and Anthony Suter. Emily is from Ojai, CA and lives in New York City where she is a proud co-owner of Kuro Kirin Espresso & Coffee.

Meet our 2022 Interns!

We are excited to share our stellar team of interns with you. These students represent the next generation of musicians and arts administrators. The Festival depends on them for critical support in a variety of management areas including production, stage management, operations, box office, marketing, and more. Our interns this year span the US from Indiana to Kansas to California. We are delighted to welcome back a few Ventura County locals to our internship program as well. Our impressive roster of interns is ready to bring their passion and experience to the Ojai Music Festival team and make the 76th Ojai Music Festival a year to remember.

Bryce Cox
Bryce Cox is a flutist and is pursuing a BM in music performance at Boston University, where she studies with Linda Toote. Throughout her pre-college and college studies, she has explored a number of musical endeavors and creative outlets.

She currently performs in the Boston University Wind Ensemble and with a flute trio. In the past, she has been involved in summer festivals such as the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in July 2021, the Curtis Institute of Music Young Artists Summer Program in the summer of 2020, and Luzerne Music Center in the summer of 2018 and 2019. She is also a finalist in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra Young Instrumentalists Competition.

In addition to being a musician, she is also an active writer and published her first book, Consigned to Oblivion, in 2020. She runs a website for her writing, as well as The Peculiarity Project, a project dedicated to giving LGBTQ+ youth a platform to share their stories.

Caleb Durant
Caleb Durant is a Los Angeles-based hornist and sound engineer focused in the fields of experimental and contemporary classical music. He believes in the enriching power of music, and always seeks to provoke thought through his musical ventures. An earnest advocate for new music, Caleb has worked extensively with composers and new music groups, such as  Thornton EDGE and the HOCKET ensemble. He is fascinated with musical innovation and experimentation, and he strives to share that same sense of wonder and amazement with all.

Originally from Fresno California, Caleb now operates out of Los Angeles. He is a student at the USC Thornton School of music, and has studied under the tutelage of Kristy Morell and Steve Becknell.

Landon Wilson
Landon Wilson is currently a third-year undergraduate pianist at Manhattan School of Music, where he studies with Jeffrey Cohen. He also works in the Office of Admissions at MSM and serves as a student intern with Mid-America Performing Arts Alliance (MAPAA), a non-profit organization pairing an international concert series with educationally-based performance opportunities in the Midwest. In addition, Landon is currently developing a new recital series in his native Kansas, which will feature musicians from MSM, Juilliard, and the international opera stage. His role as a festival producer is multi-faceted; Landon leads a small team that coordinates fundraising, audience outreach, and artistic programming to bring leading talent to an enthusiastic audience in the heart of the United States.

Evan Losoya
Evan Losoya is a composer, pianist and oboist based in Los Angeles. He received his BA degree in music composition and a minor in linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He currently studies composition with Michael Fink and piano with Vicki Ray at the California Institute of the Arts where he is pursuing his MFA degree in the Performer-Composer program. He performed regularly with the UCSB Ensemble of Contemporary Music and performed as 1st Chair Oboist with the UCSB Wind Ensemble. At CalArts, he works as a music theory teaching assistant in the Herb Alpert School of Music and often performs his own compositions in the OK Composer concerts. Since 2021, Evan has served as chairman of the Grand Arts Consortium (GAC) and has also worked as a transcriber and arranger for GAC’s Grand Feature Film Orchestra. He composed two full-length original film scores for two silent films in the summers of 2017 and 2019. In 2017, Evan debuted his book of original piano solos titled “At the Moment” at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Walnut Creek, CA. As the 2016 winner of the Young Artists’ Competition, he performed as piano soloist with the Solano Symphony Orchestra. A pianist in a jazz band, Evan has recorded music at Skyline Studios in Oakland, CA and Capitol Records in Los Angeles.

Brendan Baker
Brendan Baker has been running live productions for the past year with his job as an instructor at Burbank Music Academy as well as his club at Cal Lutheran: Musician’s Club and he’s hoping to deepen his understanding of running live music shows as well as make connections with people inside the music industry. He has been taking vocal lessons since he was fourteen, but found a second love for Music Production when he entered college. In the last semester, he has produced 6 different live events of varying sizes with his Club, and in doing so have learned how to operate in all roles of stage management, and stage setup.

 

 

Eliana Choi
Eliana Choi is a student of Westmont College majoring in Psychology and minoring in Music. She has led many organizations and events, including the orientation committee at Westmont College. One of her goals in life is to make a positive difference wherever she is.

 

 

 

 

 

Juan Gonzalez
Juan Gonzalez is currently a senior at California Lutheran University and a Music Department Assistant. He has experience audio engineering from his music production classes, as well as producing outside of class. He is also president of the Musicians’ Club of CLU, which is one of six chapters of Musicians’ Club across schools in southern California.

 

 

 

 

Carissa Corrigan
Carissa Corrigan was honored to be the Valedictorian of her high school graduating class and is the proud recipient of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation Bronze Medal for Community Service. She is also an honoree of the National Hispanic Recognition Program. Carissa pursues her academic studies with rigor as an Augustinian Scholar at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, and plans to graduate in May of 2023 with a Bachelors of Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Carissa began playing oboe at the age of 11, although she began her musical journey with piano at the age of six. She has been studying oboe for nine years. She is currently a student of Adelle Rodkey, alumna of Wheaton Conservatory of Music.

Kangchen Norbu
Kangchen Norbu is an undergraduate student studying International Studies and Political Science who seeks the opportunity to foster his passions and cultivate a dedication toward acts of community service. He will be returning for his second year of the Festival internship program.

 

 

 

 

 

Maddi Baird
Maddi Baird is a Los Angeles-based composer and sound artist who combines creative activity (performance and installation-based works) with empirical forms of research to explore connections between nature, human experience, and sound.

Maddi is currently pursuing an MFA in Experimental Composition and Sound Practices with an emphasis in Integrated Media from California Institute of the Arts.

 

 

 

Denise Lopez
Denise Lopez is a senior at California Lutheran University where she is majoring in Music with an emphasis in Technology. She had previously earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology at UC Santa Barbara. Denise’s passion for music was integral for her to begin her studies anew in the field of music. She has had the opportunity to intern at Moorpark College while earning her AA in Music for transfer, as well as traveling abroad and performing at various venues in Central Europe. She hopes to have a career in the music industry, as she is curious about the creative and technical processes involved in the arts. In her spare time, Denise enjoys journaling and traveling with her friends and family.

 

 

 

Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation Prevention Policy

Ojai Music Festival (OMF) is committed to providing a workplace free of sexual harassment and discrimination (which includes harassment or discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions) as well as unlawful harassment and discrimination based on such factors as race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age for individuals over forty years of age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, military and veteran status, denial or use of family and medical care leave, and any other factor made unlawful by federal, state, or local law.  OMF strongly disapproves of and will not tolerate unlawful harassment or discrimination against employees by supervisors or co-workers, as well as by third parties in the workplace or with whom the employee comes into contact in connection with their employment.  This policy applies to all OMF employees, paid or unpaid interns, volunteers, and any other persons providing services to OMF pursuant to a contract.

Harassment includes verbal, physical, and visual conduct, as well as communication though electronic media of any type, that creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile working environment or interferes with work performance.  Such conduct constitutes harassment when (1) submission to the conduct is made either an explicit or implicit condition of employment; (2) submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis for an employment decision; or (3) the harassment interferes with an employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.  Harassing conduct can take many forms and includes, but is not limited to, slurs, jokes, statements, gestures, pictures, or cartoons regarding an employee’s sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, physical disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity veteran status, or other protected status.

Sexually harassing conduct in particular includes all of these prohibited actions as well as other unwelcome conduct such as requests for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, verbal conduct of a sexual nature (for example name calling, suggestive comments, or lewd talk) or physical conduct (including assault, unwanted touching, intentionally blocking normal movement or interfering with work because of sex or any other protected basis).  An employee who unlawfully harasses a co-worker may be personally liable for the harassment.

If an employee believes he/she or a co-worker has been subjected to any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment, they should immediately contact their supervisor or Managing Director either orally or in writing.  A supervisor who learns of any misconduct which may be in violation of this policy or learns of an employee’s complaint or concern about a possible violation of this policy must immediately report the issue to the Managing Director.

Upon receipt of any complaint, OMF will immediately undertake a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation conducted by qualified personnel, preserving confidentiality to the extent possible.  The investigation will provide all parties appropriate due process and reach reasonable conclusions based on the evidence collected, as well as determine appropriate options for remedial action to resolve the situation.  If an employee has a complaint being investigated under this policy, he/she can find out about the progress of the investigation by contacting the Managing Director.

Retaliation against OMF employees or any other person for the good faith reporting of possible acts or incidents of discrimination or harassment, as well as participation in any workplace investigation, will not be tolerated.  If an employee believes he/she or a co-worker have been subjected to any form of unlawful retaliation, he/she should immediately contact his/her supervisor or Managing Director, either orally or in writing.  Upon receipt of a retaliation complaint, OMF will undertake an investigation consistent with the provisions of this policy.  OMF employees shown to have engaged in such retaliation will be disciplined, up to and including termination.

Sexual harassment and retaliation for opposing sexual harassment or participating in investigations of sexual harassment are illegal.  In addition to notifying the OMF about discrimination, harassment, or retaliation complaints, affected employees may also direct their complaints to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), which has the authority to conduct investigations of the facts.  The deadline for filing complaints with the DFEH is one (1) year from the date of the alleged unlawful conduct.  If the DFEH believes that a complaint is valid and settlement efforts fail, the DFEH may seek an administrative hearing before the California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC) or file a lawsuit in court.  Both the FEHC and the courts have the authority to award monetary and non-monetary relief in meritorious cases.  Employees can contact the nearest DFEH office or the FEHC at the locations listed in OMF’s DFEH poster or by checking the state government listings on line or in the local telephone directory.

 

Mary McGowan, company manager

Cath Brittan, producer

Doug Balliett, double bassist, composer

Emi Ferguson, flutist

Davóne Tines, bass-baritone

Jay Campbell, cellist

Coleman Itzkoff, cellist

Zack Winokur, co-founder and artistic director

Bobbi Jene Smith, dancer, choreographer

Or Schraiber, dancer, choreographer

Conor Hanick, pianist

Keir GoGwilt, violinist, writer

Julia Eichten, dancer, choreographer

Miranda Cuckson, violinist, violist

Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor

Jennifer Chen, managing director

Julia Bullock, soprano

Matthew Aucoin, co-founder

Paul Appleby, tenor