ARTICLE: La Jolla Music Society Applauds Big SummerFest, More at ‘State of Conrad’

Times of San Diego

October 21, 2022

More than 200 supporters and patrons of the La Jolla Music Society gathered this month for the inaugural “State of The Conrad” event, which included news of a new ticket revenue record.

From the stage of The Baker-Baum Concert Hall at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, President and CEO Todd Schultz laid out milestones and successes from the past season and outlined the society’s plans for the future.

The accomplishments included:

– Being the first organization in the region to launch a full season after California lifted COVID restrictions.
– SummerFest 2021, with 70 concerts and events in three weeks, followed by a full winter season with 54 performances.
– Audiences beginning to approach pre-pandemic levels by the end of the winter season, with 12 of the final 15 concerts exceeding sales goals.
– SummerFest’s growth. The event offered 90 concerts and events in four weeks in August and set a new all-time ticket revenue record for the festival.
– The WinterFest Gala and the SummerFest Gala both setting new fundraising records earlier this year.
– More than 10,000 people throughout San Diego County being served through the organization’s extensive learning and engagement programs.
– The Conrad hosting 96 rental dates, among them bookings by the San Diego Symphony, Camarada, Art of Élan, San Diego Opera and the San Diego Ballet.
– Hosting private events, at The Conrad from the gala for the San Diego Unified Visual and Performing Arts Foundation to proms for both The Bishop’s School and La Jolla High School. Others include bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and numerous corporate events.

The society’s new season began Oct. 8 and continues Sunday with British saxophonist Jess Gillam and pianist Thomas Weaver. In addition, on Oct. 29, students from Mission Bay High School’s music programs perform at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall.

Musicians also will fan out in the community to work with students at several San Diego schools, including the Creative, Performing and Media Arts Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, Correia Middle School and Challenger Middle School.