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Welcome to The Department of Performing Arts!
Ventura College's Performing Arts Department prepares students to become highly skilled performing artists. We are pleased to offer small academic classes, applied study with highly qualified faculty, and a wide variety of music, theater and dance ensembles. Our students work alongside our dynamic faculty to develop the knowledge and skills to excel in a variety of fields. Use the sidebar links to explore our department's Music, Theatre Arts, and Dance programs.
Registration Now Open for Fall Semester!
Fall 2024 Registration is now open, and the VC Performing Arts Department has so many great learning opportunities in Music, Theater, and Dance (both in-person and online) for all types of students. Plus, all three areas offer fantastic performing opportunities for students of all levels. Visit each discipline's page by using the MUSIC, THEATRE, and DANCE buttons in the sidebar for more information on Fall 2024 Classes.
Once your student portal has been created, visit my.vcccd.edu and select Register for Classes. Search classes by selecting ‘Fall 2024’ and using the appropriate CRN#.
Pay fees (approximately $75 per class). Fees includes: tuition, health fee, & student activity fees.
Auditions (required for applied private lessons and most ensembles - See auditions tab for more information as available)
CLASSES
Click here for a .pdf reference sheet of Fall 2024 Classes (as of 7/24/24)
QUESTIONS?
For any questions or assistance in registering for classes, please contact the VC Admissions Office. Service is available in person or remotely.
[Applications are now closed. Good luck to all our participants!]
MARCH 2024! This brand-new competition will be open to all musicians of all ages residing in Ventura County AND to any current students or alumni of Ventura College, Oxnard College or Moorpark College (See eligibility requirements).
Open to every instrument, piano, and voice category!
Up to two winners will be selected to perform their chosen selection accompanied by the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra (Ashley Walters, director) in concert on March 9th, 2024 at the Performing Arts Center at Ventura College.
Application deadline: January 23
Preliminary Round: February 6
Monday, February 26, 2024 (5:15pm - 9:00pm, entire period attendance required)
Monday, March 4, 2024 (5:15pm - 9:00pm, entire period attendance required)
Saturday, March 9, 2024 (afternoon or early evening Dress Rehearsal with Orchestra)
Winners Performance: Saturday, March 9, 7:30-9pm; (entire period attendance required)
Eligibility
The Allegro Solo Competition is open to students of any age that meet the following eligibility requirements:
Applicant Must be 1.) a current resident of Ventura County OR 2.) a student currently enrolled at Ventura College, Moorpark College or Oxnard College OR 3.) an alumni of Ventura College, Moorpark College or Oxnard College.
To be eligible, All applicants must perform live in front of the judges at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center during the scheduled Preliminary Round on Tues, Feb 6 (4-9pm)
Applicant must be available for all required rehearsals (As outlined in "Important Dates" section)
Applicant must be available for the entire winner's performance on Saturday, March 9 (7:30-9pm)
Repertoire requirements
Contestants will audition with a single movement from any concerto, or with a solo of their choice that has orchestral accompaniment
Selections should be one single work (no multi-movement works)
Selections must be no longer than 20 minutes
Both Piano & Orchestra accompaniment music for solo must be available
For the Preliminary Round only, Contestants may perform their solo without accompaniment if they wish.
The Laurel Project starts its third season with a performance by the Duo Apollon, featuring soprano Anastasia Malliaras and Taso Comanescu on guitar. Hailed for their "grace, poise, and fearless expressivity," the duo has performed recitals for venues and concert series throughout Los Angeles, including the "Sundays Live" series at LACMA. Duo Apollon was selected as winners of the 2019 Beverly Hills National Auditions, which gave them the opportunity to perform a series of concerts throughout Los Angeles and its surrounding communities. The duo's debut album, FOLKSONGS was released in August 2023 with Navona Records.
Greek-American soprano Anastasia Malliaras is dedicated to exploring new artistic and vocal dimensions. Known for her warm and bright timbre, her voice has a distinctive elegance and natural tone. She has performed a range of operatic roles including Nannetta, Olympia, Zerbinetta, Marie, and Frasquita. This spring, Anastasia will debut with Opera Mississippi as Pamina in The Magic Flute. In 2023, she was an apprentice at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, covering Despina in Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte and making her professional debut as Mrs. Hayes in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. Previously, she was a Studio Artist at Central City Opera, portraying Ruth Baldwin in Musto’s Later That Same Evening. She has also been involved in the Young Artist Vocal Academy at Houston Grand Opera and the iSing! International Young Artist Festival. Anastasia has achieved recognition in various prestigious competitions, including the Loren L. Zachary Competition, the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition at Opera San Jose, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Los Angeles District and Western Regionals. She is also an active performer on the concert stage in Los Angeles, having been featured as the soprano soloist in Messiah with the Dream Orchestra of Los Angeles and performing with the Los Angeles Symphony. A USC graduate with a Master of Music degree in Vocal Arts, Anastasia is also the co-founder and a vocalist in the chamber music ensemble Duo Apollon. The ensemble released their debut album, Folksongs, in August 2023 with Navona Records.
American guitarist Taso Comanescu has emerged on the classical music scene
as a colorful performer full of subtle nuance, strong musicianship and a variety
of repertoire that creatively captures his audiences. Comanescu is an in-demand
solo performer, ensemble artist and instructor whose accomplishments have
taken him around the globe with numerous recitals in the United States, Europe
and Asia. During the 2023-2024 season, Comanescu performed a solo recital at
the Los Angeles Guitar Festival headlining the event alongside virtuosos Pepe
Romero, Antonio Rey and Adam Del Monte. His debut solo recording,
“Epitaphios”, showcases music from around the world and his second album,
“Renaissance | Baroque”, features transcriptions originally for lute, vihuela,
theorbo and baroque guitar. Taso has also performed and recorded with
internationally acclaimed dramatic tenor Charles Castronovo. He received his
degrees from Pepperdine University studying with Christopher Parkening and
the University of Southern California under Scott Tennant. Taso has been a
member of the music faculty at Pepperdine University since 2011 and is a
featured instructor at EliteGuitarist.com. In addition to his pursuits in classical
music he is a member of the Greek Rebetiko Trio and LA-based rock band Blind
Sparrow. Connect with Taso on Instagram and Facebook @tasocomanescu
TasoGuitar.com
Presented as part of The Laurel Project: Faculty & Guest Artist Concert Series
Laurel Project presents:
Fortuna Wind Quintet
Suzanne Duffy, flute
Kimaree Gilad, oboe
Sarra Hey, clarinet
Nick Akdag, bassoon
Jon Titmus, horn
The Laurel Project's second concert will feature the return of the Fortuna Wind Quintet. This ensemble is formed by VC faculty members Kimaree Gilad on oboe, Nick Akdag on bassoon, and Jon Titmus on horn, joined by guest artists Suzanne Duffy on flute and Sarra Hey on clarinet. The program, inspired by the energy and power of the 2024 Paris Olympics, features music by composers Milhaud, Ibert, Bozza, Debussy, and more.
Presented as part of The Laurel Project: Faculty & Guest Artist Concert Series
Step into the vibrant world of Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical that breathes life into the creative process. Inspired by the painter Georges Seurat’s iconic painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," this stunning work delves into the struggles and triumphs of the artist, blending Sondheim’s unforgettable music with a poignant exploration of art, love, and legacy.
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin.
Performances are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Ventura College Orchestra
Ashley Walters, conductor
Glinka: Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D 944 "The Great"
On Saturday, October 26, Ashley Walters leads the VC Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra in a program that includes the overture from Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila and Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C major.
