Music Academy of the West’s 2026 Music Note Gala raises $1.2M for music education and community access

View in Browser Audra McDonald headlined the sold out celebration honoring Cheryl Goldberg in support of scholarships and transformative music education programs

SANTA BARBARA  — The Music Academy of the West raised a record-breaking $1.2 million at its 2026 Music Note Gala, held Friday, August 14, at the spectacular oceanfront Bella Vista Estate in Summerland. The evening honored Cheryl Goldberg, Music Academy Board member and Founding Contributor to The Muse, the Academy’s forthcoming Music Education Center. Her visionary leadership and transformational philanthropy are helping shape the institution’s future. The annual benefit generated vital support for scholarships, music education, and community access while celebrating the power of music to inspire, connect, and transform lives.

The Gala featured Broadway legend and six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, accompanied by Broadway music director Andy Einhorn on piano, Academy alum bassist Ian Walker, and drummer Greg Sadler. McDonald performed selections from the Great American Songbook before joining members of the Music Academy’s Sing! youth choir for a moving performance of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

Set against panoramic views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the evening included an elegant dinner by Seasons Catering, wines generously provided by Montgomery Vineyard, Brewer-Clifton, Fine Wines International, caviar by Petrossian, and a spirited paddle raise led by auctioneer Jim Nye.

“The extraordinary generosity shown at this year’s Music Note Gala is a powerful affirmation of the Music Academy’s mission and its growth,” said Shauna Quill, President and CEO of the Music Academy. “The funds raised will directly support full scholarships for our Fellowship Institute, expand opportunities for young musicians through our High School Intensive, and sustain Sing! as a free program for youth throughout Santa Barbara. We are profoundly grateful to Audra McDonald, Cheryl Goldberg, and every donor who made this evening such a meaningful investment in the next generation.”

 

HONORING CHERYL GOLDBERG

The 2026 Music Note Gala honored Cheryl Goldberg, Founding Contributor to The Muse, the Academy’s forthcoming Music Education Center and a member of the Music Academy Board of Directors.

Goldberg’s visionary leadership and transformational 2025 $20 million gift are helping make possible a new year-round home for music education, artistic creation, and community gathering in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. The Muse, scheduled to open in 2028, will expand access to performances, rehearsals, workshops, and educational opportunities for people of all ages.

“Supporting the Music Academy is an investment in possibility—what becomes possible for a gifted young musician, for a child discovering their voice, and for a community brought together through music,” said Goldberg. “I am deeply honored by this recognition and inspired by the Academy’s vision for a year-round Music Education Center that will welcome generations of artists and audiences.”

“Cheryl’s belief in the Music Academy extends far beyond a single program or moment,” Quill added. “She has made an enduring investment in the cultural life of Santa Barbara and in the generations of musicians and community members who will experience The Muse in the years ahead.”

INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION

Proceeds from the Music Note Gala support full scholarships for the Music Academy’s Summer Music Festival & School Fellowship Institute, which provides exceptional young musicians ages 18–34 with intensive training, mentorship, and transformative performance opportunities.

Funds also support the Academy’s High School Intensive, a two-week summer program for gifted musicians ages 14–18, and Sing!,the Academy’s free after-school choral program that serves more than 260 youth throughout Santa Barbara County each year.

Through these programs, the Music Academy provides young musicians with opportunities at every stage of their development while broadening access to exceptional music and music education across the community.

2026 MUSIC NOTE GALA COMMITTEE

The Music Academy gratefully acknowledges the leadership of Gala Committee Co-Chairs Andrea Hein and Rachael Douglas and the dedicated members of the 2026 Music Note Gala Committee, whose support made the evening possible.

Gala Committee Co-Chairs

Andrea Hein
Rachael Douglas

Honorary Committee Members

Cheryl Goldberg, Honoree
Mally Chakola
Casey Kallenbach

Committee Members

Michele Brustin
Dana Denton
Melody Ellison
Todd Gerber
Cinny Kennard
Eileen Read
Jenna Jobst Reichental
Danner Schefler
Peter Taffae
Jill Taylor
Anne Towbes
Todd Yancey

Creative Team

Katelin Ridenour, La Vie Events
Allison Jackson, The Allision Jackson Company

Photography by David Mendoza III.

ABOUT THE MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST

Since 1947, the Music Academy of the West has provided classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with transformative educational and performance experiences. As part of its annual Summer Music Festival & School, the Academy presents the Fellowship Institute, which trains up to 150 fellows ages 18–34, alongside the High School Intensive, a two-week program for gifted musicians ages 14–18. The Festival showcases more than 100 performances and events, including masterclasses and a fully staged opera.

Year-round Music Academy programs include Sing!, a free after-school youth choral program, and the Mariposa Concert Series, featuring Academy-affiliated artists and alumni. In 2028, the Academy will open The Muse, its Music Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara, expanding access to music education, rehearsal, and performance opportunities for the community. Learn more at musicacademy.org