There are some new players in town. One of the few bright spots to grow out of the pandemic shutdowns is a new group, the Santa Barbara Chamber Players (SBCP), who will play their first concert on January 28, with a program that includes Antonín Dvorak’s 7th Symphony, Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite,” and Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring.”
The nonprofit group was formed as a way for local musicians to share their love for music with the community, inspiring and creating space for the next generation of musicians. “The SBCP is dedicated to providing accessible, affordable music to Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley, with reasonably priced tickets and a number of complimentary tickets offered to youth education programs. The goal is to inspire the next-generation of musicians and audience, while simultaneously providing unique, professional-level performance opportunities for the young rising stars of tomorrow,” stated founders Sherylle Mills Englander, Nancy Mathison, and Simon Knight.
“The selections for our first concert were important as they set the tone for our group and set a vision for what is to come. We were able to engage with local musicians who are passionate about these selections and will bring great performances,” said Mills Englander.