Jazz On The Menu For Ventura Music Festival Dinner Fundraiser, Feb. 7 and Arturo Sandoval Concert, Feb 12

Online, January 27, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Jazz will be the featured dinner special on Feb. 7 when Ventura's Sidecar Restaurant hosts a fundraising dinner and intimate concert. Proceeds from the event, a part of the local eatery's "Grilled Cheese and Jazz Series," will support the Ventura Music Festival's (VMF) mission to enhance the appreciation and joy of music through education.

Rachel Flowers, the 2011 first-place winner and 2010 runner-up in the Ventura Music Festival's annual student jazz competition, is set to perform at the Sidecar Restaurant fundraiser and with legendary Grammy award-winning Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and his 18-piece orchestra at the VMF's Latin jazz concert on Feb. 12 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. A Hueneme High School junior who has been blind since birth, Flowers is excited for the opportunity to share her skills on the piano with multiple VMF audiences.

"This intimate concert event will serve as the opening act for Arturo Sandoval's upcoming Valentine's weekend performance," said Cheryl Heitmann, executive director of the VMF. "We love jazz and are proud to provide Ventura County audiences with live performances by both professional jazz musicians and up-and-coming stars."

Coda members Charles Levin, drums; David Robaire, bass; and Josh Nelson, piano will be joined on stage by Flowers, as well as three other VMF student jazz finalists: Tanner Dawson, a 16 year-old saxophonist, who finished third; 15 year-old trumpeter and flugelhorn player, Sara Sithi-Amnuai; and 16 year-old drummer, Cory Smith.

Music will be performed at the Sidecar Restaurant event from 6 - 9:30 pm, dinner and reservations, which are highly recommended, can be made by calling 805-643-7433. Sidecar Restaurant owner, Chef Tim Kilcoyne, will donate a portion of the evening's proceeds to the VMF.

For more information about the Ventura Music Festival's educational outreach programs or its complete 2011 concert series, go to: www.venturamusicfestival.org.

About the Ventura Music Festival
Founded in 1994, the Ventura Music Festival presents world-renowned classical, jazz, and crossover musicians in historic and intimate venues throughout Ventura and surrounding areas. Today, the festival stands as one of Ventura County's signature events, attracting upwards of 10,000 concert-goers. The Festival takes place over ten days in April and May, and presents individual concerts throughout the rest of the season.

For the 17th season, April 28 through May 7, 2011, the Ventura Music Festival welcomes jazz trumpeter, Chris Botti, Italian classical pianist, Roberto Prosseda, Grammy award-winning violinists, the Mark O'Connor String Quartet and Martina Filjak, winner of the 2009 Cleveland Piano Competition.

Each year, the Ventura Music Festival's Education Outreach Program presents live performances and interactive lessons to nearly 4,000 local students through its "Music in the Schools" program.

The Ventura Music Festival is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Information: (805) 648-3146 or www.venturamusicfestival.org.