With support from the California Arts Council, the CARMEL BACH FESTIVAL INC will present Crossing Cultures, innovative string ensemble concerts and clinics, to schools in Seaside, Salinas, and Marina. Our work will support ongoing efforts to advance music programs and create opportunities to experience the transformative power of live classical music. Our activities will inspire meaningful connections that encourage, acknowledge, and respectfully engage all students and cultures.
Our core program is a 22-day summer festival in July with 30 performances. In addition, we offer over 20 free community events at six diverse venues across the Monterey Peninsula, including free brass concerts, lectures, master classes, open rehearsals, and a community concert in Seaside. Our training programs are the Virginia Best Adams Master Class for singers and the Baroque and Classical Academy for strings, both for young people in the early stages of their professional careers. Our interactive family concert is designed to be a shared experience for multi-generational audiences in a relaxing environment and is a free concert. All are part of the July festival. Crossing Cultures presents various ensembles (brass, strings, etc.) performing and coaching at school sites. Sing Out Loud! is our newest program, teaching songwriting to 5th graders. Our programs enable diverse, marginalized, and under-served student bodies to hear, observe, and work with our professional musicians.

