As the sun set behind the hills of Moorpark on Sunday, June 29, 2025, something truly special unfolded beneath the swaying palms of Rancho de las Palmas. The New West Symphony hosted its Third Annual Summerfest Dinner and Concert, a night filled with celebration, community, and unforgettable music.

This year’s Summerfest wasn’t just another elegant evening — it marked the Symphony’s 30th Anniversary, commemorated with a pearl-themed party under the stars. Pearls, symbolizing timeless wisdom and beauty, proved a fitting tribute to an orchestra that had spent three decades delivering just that. In collaboration with Studio Channel Islands and Studio CT, the Symphony featured visual artists who displayed their artworks during cocktail hour. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and live auction in support of the Symphony’s programs. Grammy®-winning Artistic and Music Director Michael Christie entertained the guests as Master of Ceremonies.

Themed Dancing Through the Decades, the show featured a lineup that dazzled from start to finish. Multi – instrumentalist Ilya Serov and his celebrity band presented a lineup of talented musicians including longtime Chicago frontman Jason Scheff, one of the most sought – after guitarists Shea Welsh, the genre-bending Ariana Savalas, soul singer B. Valentine, and an American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov.

The organization also took time to honor the community that made its 30-year journey possible. Honorees included community leaders who made a generous contribution to the anniversary campaign — including Saralee Baldwin, Linda and David Catlin, the Cassar family including Mark, Debi, Keets and Hugh Cassar, Betsy Chess, Eileen Laspa, Board Chair Dr. Paul Finkel, Patricia and George Jones, John Hammer, Anthony P. Spohr, Michele and Dr. Russell Spoto, Mucci Taylor, Debra and Paul Vaughan, and the late Miriam Wille, who was honored in memoriam.

The event celebrated the orchestra’s artistic achievements and raised funds for education programs. Under the leadership of CEO Natalia Staneva and Artistic and Music Director Michael Christie, the Symphony has expanded its education programs for underserved youth that includes Laby Harmony Project and re-launched their state of the arts Music Van Program. The new Music Van, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, was unveiled during the event. This nationally acclaimed program brings orchestral instruments to schools for a “hands-on” experience. The classroom on wheels is now available to thousands of elementary school students throughout the year.

In the end, it was a joyful and high-spirited summer show — a perfect blend of music, memories, and gratitude. Summerfest 2025 reminded everyone just how much magic a symphony can bring to a community.

For more information or to support the Symphony’s many artistic and education programs, go to https://newwestsymphony.org/summerfest-2025/ or call 805-435-2775.