Join our Teaching Artists, Students, Parents, Community Partners and Board of Directors

Celebration Brunch & Concert

Starring Laby Harmony Project Students

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Fundraising Brunch followed by Student Concert

Ventura Beach Marriott
2055 Harbor Boulevard
Ventura, CA 93001

Denise Danne & Sheila Schwedes, Co-Chairs

Laby Harmony Project uses music training to promote the healthy growth and development of children. The program provides high quality tuition-free music instruction to children in grades K-12, currently serving over 160 students in Ventura year-round. By collaborating with students, families, and local partners, and together with our generous supporters, we are building a stronger, healthier, and more musically engaged community.

New West Symphony League volunteers Sheila Schwedes and Denise Danne have teamed up as co-chairs leading the charge for the Laby Harmony Project event to be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the Ventura Beach Marriott from 11 am to 2 pm.

“This year, we are reiterating to our cherished sponsors and donors that the Laby Harmony Project is designed and orchestrated to mold a student’s musical journey during pivotal development stages,” said Sheila.  “They can embark on this musical odyssey as early as kindergarten and journey all the way through high school.  We are exploring avenues to offer multi-year pledges and even leave a lasting legacy gift for them, ensuring their musical voyage is rich and enduring.”

2024 HONOREES

Suzanne Falletti is a lyric-coloratura soprano and a two-time Grammy Award winning artist who was a member of the full-time Metropolitan Opera Chorus for 24 seasons.  She attended the University of Northern Iowa earning a B.A. in Music and a Master of Music Degree in Opera Performance and Music Literature from the Eastman School of Music.  Suzanne was a Regional Winner and Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.  As an Adjunct Voice Faculty member of NYU’S Tisch School of the Arts, many of her students have appeared on Broadway.

Pauline Frechette is a composer/performer with a foundation of playing in youth symphonies on violin.  Pauline feels her greatest gift and passion is composing music.  Her works are best defined as Neo-classical, defined as “The use of modern techniques within the classical form composing music that reflects one’s own compositional voice.”  Her compositions have been performed by the Baltimore Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

David Campbell is a legendary composer-arranger-conductor and musician.  David has worked on over 450 Gold and Platinum albums, representing combined sales of nearly a billion records.  The go-to arranger for a Who’s Who of top music stars, Campbell’s work can be heard on the recordings of an incredibly diverse roster of artists, including Adele, Beyoncé, Johnny Cash, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift and U2.  Albums Campbell has contributed to have received over 50 Grammy Award nominations and awards and his film work has garnered two Academy Awards.

Join us as We Witness
The Musical Trajectory of Students’ Lives

Laby Harmony Project helps shape the musical trajectory of students’ lives at critical developmental periods. From Pre-Orchestra (K-2) into Musicianship – from choosing their “forever” instrument to entering an intensive program of ensemble training – we are here for every child from Kindergarten until they graduate High School. You can be too!

You can sustain this program for their future

Choose a gift level and pledge that amount for the next three years.
Consider a Legacy Gift by creating a bequest for the Laby Harmony Project.

What your gift will do

YOU can provide a “Forever” instruments for students to take home in grades four through twelve.

YOU can make sure students have sheet music at their appropriate level to perform and to practice.

YOU can ensure that we keep our office space in Ventura at Bell Arts Studios.

YOU can help our teaching artists keep their skills up-to- date and ready to address every student’s needs.