OCEANSIDE — The annual Oceanside Music Festival will bring top performances and the theme of old Hollywood to five different venues in October.
In addition to a wide variety of singers and musicians, dance performances will be included for the first time as part of the festival entertainment.
The festival kicks off with a gala and fashion show at the Quantum Learning Network Conference Center Oct. 9. Student vocalists from Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista high schools will sing 1930s and 1940s songs from the big screen during a fashion show of Garment Gourmet women’s wear. Clothing will range from casual wear, to business dress, and formal wear. Models include Miss Oceanside Abby Tamondong.
“We tried something a little innovative,” Eliane Weidauer, chair of the Oceanside Music Festival, said. “Singers sing during the models’ walk.”
On Oct. 13, the High School Showcase will give schools an opportunity to shine at MiraCosta College Theatre. Dancers, singers and musicians will share the stage in performances choreographed by Dave Massey and by students.
“It’s to showcase programs high schools have in place,” Weidauer said. “They range from beginner groups led by new teachers with whole new programs to groups who win awards.”
“We’re adding the dance element and MiraCosta dance performance for a broader base,” Weidauer added.
The pace of the festival changes Oct. 14 when church choirs and praise groups perform at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church.
St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Christian Church Choir will be a showstopper with an a cappella performance.
“It’s all a cappella,” Weidauer said. “It takes incredibly talented people with very sharp ears for everybody to stay in tune. It allows the audience to just focus on phrasing and the human voice. You get goose bumps.”
Oct. 19 marks the midpoint of the festival and the premier of “Hooray For Hollywood, the Musical” at Sunshine Brooks Theatre, which was written by Weidauer specifically for the festival.
“The story supports music we wanted to see in the festival,” Weidauer said. “It’s reminiscent of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.”
The musical is about a girls’ boarding school that is about to be closed until the staff and students put on a show to raise money to keep it open. There is also a spicy love interest between two teachers at the school.
“It’s going to be fun,” Weidauer said. “The audience will truly enjoy it. Everybody will walk away humming at least one song.”
The final day of the festival New Ground Chamber Music will perform chamber music with a light, upbeat twist at First Christian Church Oct. 21.
“It was the brightest concert last year,” Weidauer said. “Nobody will be nodding off in this group.”
The Oceanside Music Festival is an Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation fundraiser for student arts scholarships.
Weidauer said she hopes the wide variety of music and student performances will encourage festivalgoers to further support music education.
This is the 11th year the festival has been held. For tickets and more information, go to ocaf.info.
