Music Academy of the West archives, 1944-2024

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Summary

Title:
Music Academy of the West archives
Dates:
1944-2024
Abstract:
This collection consists of audio and video recordings of Music Academy of the West concerts, recitals and masterclasses dating from 1961 to 2005, as well as Music Academy of the West organizational records dating from 1944 to 2024.
Extent:
109.64 Linear Feet (117 document boxes, 19 half document boxes, 784 audiotape reels, 194 compact discs, 4 DVDs, 46 videocassettes, 5 cartons)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Music Academy of the West archives, PA Mss 65. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of audio and video recordings of Music Academy of the West concerts, recitals and masterclasses dating from 1961 to 2005, as well as organizational records dating from 1944 to 2024.

Organizational records include general administrative and annual files, board and executive committee minutes, alumni and faculty files, newsletters, historical photographs, Music Academy of the West Summer Festival photographs, press clippings, and programs, and Music Academy of the West Women's Auxiliary files.

Some artists and faculty covered in the organizational records include Maurice Abravanel, Lotte Lehmann, and Marilyn Horne.

Biographical / historical:

Located in Montecito, California, the Music Academy of the West was founded in 1947 by Southern California arts patrons, as well as musicians, conductors, and composers including Lotte Lehmann, Otto Klemperer, and Arnold Schoenberg. Artists and faculty attending the eight-week summer music festival have included Burt Bacharach, Grace Bumbry, Marilyn Horne, Peter Rejto, Jerome Lowenthal, and the Takács Quartet. Past directors have included Maurice Abravanel (music, 1954-1980), Martial Singher (voice, 1962-1981) and Marilyn Horne (voice, 1997-2018). The summer music festival and conservatory offers 140 merit-based scholarships to students from around the world in the study of voice, vocal piano, solo piano, instrumental, and collaborative piano.

Acquisition information:
Donated by the Music Academy of the West, 2006; 2019; 2026.
Arrangement:
  • Series 1, Audio recordings
  • Series 2, Videotapes
  • Series 3, 2019 addition - organizational records
  • Series 4, 2026 addition - organizational records
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by David Seubert and Danielle Hoffman, 2007; revised by Zachary Liebhaber, 2019. Revision by Holly Snyder and Katie Poon, 2024. Addition by Ali Phelps, 2026.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-30 14:41:53 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. Access copies must be made before listening to recordings.

Series 4 has been minimally processed. It may contain restricted materials. Please contact the Department of Special Research Collections in advance to request access.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Music Academy of the West archives, PA Mss 65. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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