President's Welcome

PRESIDENT’S

WELCOME

I want to personally welcome you all to our 2021 Festival Mozaic Summer Season. Considering where we all were a year ago, it feels incredibly uplifting to be here. Back then, we faced incredible uncertainty as to how an organization that derives more than half of its operating revenue from live event ticket sales could survive while shut down. Not only did we lament the lack of gathering to enjoy the beautiful music we all love, but we worried about our staff’s livelihoods and the responsibility of shepherding a 50-year-old SLO institution.

However, the most incredible group of individuals I have ever served with, your board of directors, answered the call. Frank, hard conversations were held via monthly Zoom meetings. We focused on keeping the staff employed, while developing strong fiscal policies that significantly increased reserves. I want to publicly thank each board member for their unswerving dedication to this Festival, because your work as a team has been stellar! Collectively, Festival Mozaic can now emerge back to live performances in arguably the best financial position it has been in for many years.

Thanks also to Lloyd, Scott, Dave, our staff and legion of awesome volunteers for their dedication and continued passion. So, on behalf of the board of directors, staff, donors and friends, it is my great pleasure to welcome you back to our Festival — ENJOY!

Rick Sample, President, Board of Directors

HISTORY OF FESTIVAL MOZAIC

In May of 1970, a trio of music professors at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) came together to explore the possibility of starting a summer music festival in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California. A year later, the inaugural season of the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival took place with three performances in venues on Cal Poly’s campus, as well as the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

Fifty years later, the vision of Clifton Swanson, Ronald Ratcliffe, and John Russell lives on through Festival Mozaic, which hosts a two-week summer festival of more than 30 events, a year-round chamber music and presenting series, and a vibrant virtual presence.