Festival Mozaic

==Festival Mozaic== Festival Mozaic, previously known as the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, is a celebrated classical music festival that takes place in San Luis Obispo County, California. The festival was conceived in May 1970 by a trio of music professors from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) — Clifton Swanson, Ronald Ratcliffe, and John Russell — who envisioned a summer music festival that would enrich the cultural landscape of the region. The inaugural season of the festival occurred in 1971 with performances at Cal Poly's campus and the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Over the past five decades, Festival Mozaic has evolved into a prominent two-week summer event, featuring more than 30 performances, as well as a year-round chamber music series and a dynamic online presence. The festival's programming has expanded to include a diverse array of music genres such as early music, jazz, contemporary music, opera, and world music, alongside new commissions and world premieres. A hallmark of the festival is its utilization of unique venues throughout the Central Coast, including outdoor spaces and contemporary concert halls, which add to the immersive experience of the performances. Clifton Swanson served as the Music Director until 2005, during which time the festival welcomed renowned artists like Edgar Meyer, the Kronos Quartet, Turtle Island String Quartet, Richard Goode, Hilary Hahn, and Jeffrey Kahane. In 2005, Scott Yoo, a conductor and virtuoso violinist, succeeded Swanson as the Music Director. Festival Mozaic operates under the governance of the Mozart Festival Association, a nonprofit organization. It is recognized as a significant community asset in San Luis Obispo County, with a dedicated board of directors, a small professional staff, and a team of volunteers contributing to its success. The festival's mission is to deepen the classical music experience through diverse performances in San Luis Obispo County's venues, providing multiple entry points into the art form. Its vision is to be a premier destination music experience that appeals to a wide demographic by enriching and transforming interactions with classical music. Festival Mozaic values artistic excellence, community involvement, good stewardship, and making serious music fun. It pledges to showcase high-quality live performances, highlight diverse composers and artists, and select venues that offer historical and cultural value. Each year, Festival Mozaic honors the legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, creating a mosaic of classical music that resonates with the scenic beauty and lifestyle of the Central Coast. The festival's venues are integral to its identity, and the events are designed to be more than concerts, providing an immersive experience that celebrates the art form of classical music. Festival Mozaic is also committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, focusing on raising the profiles of underrepresented musicians and composers, attracting new audiences with varied ticket pricing and free events, and increasing the diversity of its board of directors. The festival actively recruits individuals from different backgrounds, professions, and life stages to reflect the community it serves.