Kinko’s, VCNB Give to Music Festival

Kinko’s and Ventura County National Bank have contributed a combined $25,000 to the Ventura Chamber Music Festival, more than doubling the amount of private contributions to the 2-year-old event.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Councilwoman Rosa Lee Measures, a leading supporter of the festival. “It is a most significant gift.”

Launched last year to showcase Ventura as an enclave of art and culture, the music festival received $42,400 in donations prior to the gifts from Kinko’s and VCNB.

Kinko’s donated $15,000 and Ventura County National Bank contributed $10,000. The city of Ventura has also allocated $50,000 for the event.

“We are just really excited and we haven’t completed our campaign,” said festival Chairwoman Virginia Mendoza-O’Neil. “There are several other businesses we are talking with. It has just been wonderful support from the community.”

Kinko’s and Ventura County National Bank, both based in Ventura, will co-sponsor this year’s festival, to be held May 7 to 12.

The festival will feature 16 concerts at various venues across the city. This year’s theme is the music of the Imperial Cities--St. Petersburg, Russia, and Vienna, Austria--highlighting the works of Franz Schubert.

Tickets prices will range from $18 to $28, and several free concerts have been added. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 648-3146.