6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY September 26-october 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Is Monterey County ready for yet another way to consume arts and culture? Christina Bailey, who just made a big comeback from Nashville to Monterey, is betting yes as she presents residents with five nights of something that will start as a book club, followed by four nights of partying. The title of this music education event series is Baroque & Unknown, of which Bailey is the director. The theme is the question: Where are the women? Or to be more precise: Where are all the women composers in the history of music? Or to be very, very specific: Where are the female composers of the Baroque era? Bailey seems to have an answer, and after attending all five nights of the event, you will hopefully have one too. Bailey is the founder of The Creative Voice, “dedicated to fostering creative expression in adults,” she says. Her company is first and foremost a voice studio, but a voice studio with great ambitions. Prepared by the University of Maryland’s Boulanger Initiative, with help from a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County, she is launching a series that shines a spotlight on the unknown women composers of the Baroque era, combining immersive music education, live performances and curated experiences while spotlighting local nonprofits. Each of the five nights will feature thought-provoking discussions with guest speakers from across the nation, interactive exhibits and live music performances from local musicians—all designed to create an unforgettable night of music history, disguised as a party. Each night will feature 15-20 minutes of music, actors in Baroque attire, “and a feast table with small bites and prepared-for-the-occasion cocktails.” The goal of the series is to honor unheard voices in classical music and also ask, “What if a music history lesson felt like a cocktail party?” while inviting Monterey music lovers into a night of music, conversation and even immersive theater. A former rock musician, Bailey once led the local band Honeymoon (voted Best Band by readers of the Weekly in the early 2010s). Bailey still loves rock, but also enjoys classical music. On top of that, she is an experienced event organizer and coordinator. The series will highlight the lives and works of 10 unknown composers, such as the queen of Mexican Baroque, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-95)— only one of her works survives to this day. Each evening will also feature an overarching cultural question, fostering robust community discussions on topics such as “Where are the women and how can we uplift them?” and “How can we sustain our creative social circles?” Expect conversations to cover broader cultural influences, including a special focus on Mexican Baroque during a Día De Los Muertos celebration. Among the performers are the Central Coast Chamber Choir, women from The Creative Voice and Wendi Kirby Music. Stephanie Valadez and the Mecate Ensemble present the sole surviving work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz—alongside a new composition by Valadez, a composer and executive director of Xicameri Productions—and selected musicians from the Monterey Symphony. Valadez is a guest speaker that evening (Nov. 1), and joins a lineup of speakers including Kathryn Radakovich from the Boulanger Initiative of the University of Maryland; musicologist Charissa Noble from San Diego State University; Nicola Reilly, executive director of the Monterey Symphony; and John Wineglass, a local composer. The Baroque & Unknown series is just the beginning. Upcoming themes such as “Romantic & Unknown” and “Barrio and Unknown” will further highlight composers from various musical traditions and backgrounds, continuing the mission to amplify historically overlooked voices. Baroque & Unknown 7pm Thursday, Sept. 26; 6:30pm Thursdays Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 1, Nov. 14. Wendi Kirby Music, 550 Hartnell St., Monterey. $30/book club night; $50/per night (except book club); $240/all-access pass. thecreativevoice.co/baroque. Baroque Bash A new event series brings the unknown female composers of the Baroque era to life. By Agata Pop˛eda “I believe this series will have a big impact on both music lovers and students,” says Christina Bailey of her new music education series, Baroque & Unknown. “What if a history lesson felt like a cocktail party?” tALeS From tHe AreA coDe DANIEL DREIFUSS
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