Montecito Schools Music at CVR Holiday Festival

On Saturday, December 8, Montecito was treated to an outdoor live music performance from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel [OLMC], Montecito Union [MUS], and Cold Spring School [CSS] students. The area in front of Giovanni’s on Coast Village Road was transformed into a festival holiday center, with white chairs in the roped off parking area, homemade cookies from the chefs at the Four Seasons Biltmore, a visit with Santa Claus, and the lighting of the CVR Christmas Tree. The stage was geared up with pro-sound techs Steve Epstein and Jamie Faletti [Keller Williams and CVR Association].

The music line up started with the OLMCS guitar and ukulele bands led by Jocelyn Tipple followed by the OLMCS choir conducted by Robert Aswad. The choir gave a remarkable high-level performance in a capella with perfect harmonies. Pam Herzog conducted the MUS chorus, which came on strong and held court with standing ovations for encores after their finale of “White Christmas” with the audience joining in. The MUS strings orchestra, conducted by Ron Zecher, pulled off “We Will Rock You” with a good bass line. Tipple returned with the MUS band for a few simple songs followed by Sarah Di Salvo conducting the CSS chorus to end the show.

Emcee Bob Ludwick, CVR Association President, with elf helper Trey Pinner, Vice President, introduced each act and talked about the event. Bob said, “CVR is owned by the City of SB and tonight took two months to get permits. However, we thank the City of SB for supplying the electricity to light the 23 palm trees along CVR, each in memoriam for the 23 people that died early this year in the mudslides, and to Energy Freedom Inc. Carpinteria for the lights. This event is done entirely by volunteers. We thank our sponsors the Four Seasons Biltmore, Cava Restaurant, Here’s the Scoop, the 1187 Building Owners for letting us perform here, the Olive Mill Plaza, the Montecito Journal newspaper, and K.Frank.”  Many who attended said, “Let’s make this an annual tradition!”