Festival Week Celebrates Local Music

A week of live music is in store for visitors and residents in Malibu. Performances are taking place at and restaurants throughout the city until Friday and the Malibu Music Awards will take place Saturday. Also, on Wednesday, there will be a classical music concert at the featuring a piano historian and young local musicians who have gained international fame.

The live performances leading up to the Malibu Music Awards is a new feature for the event, which was founded by local composer Terence Davis.

"It provides emerging talent a chance to perform in Malibu," he said. "You never know who is in the audience here in Malibu. You never know who is going to say, 'You know, I'm a music producer. I happen to live in Malibu, and here's my card.'"

Musicians from a variety genres will perform at Malibu Country Mart as well as , Kristy's, , , , , , ,, , , , and . Go here for the schedule.

"The local restaurants need our business," said Davis about another purpose for the Music Festival. "The tourist season is over. Now, it's time for local residents to visit our local restaurants and really give them the support they need."

The concert at Malibu Stage on Wednesday will serve as a fundraiser for the Malibu Symphony Association, which is collecting money toward the goal of forming a Malibu symphony orchestra, an idea Davis first had about six years ago.

"I felt for an entertainment town that was founded as the Malibu Movie Colony, that we really should have our own chamber orchestra, symphony orchestra or some cultural groups like that," Davis said.

The concert will include Robert Estrin, who performs a show called "The Living Piano," which takes the audience through the progression of the piano's development since 1500. In addition to performing on different versions of the instrument, he dresses in costumes from the various eras.

Also performing at the concert will be 11-year-old Malibu resident , who has gained international fame for his ability to play complex and well-known pieces on the piano at a young age.

"Lots of people are hearing about him, and there's a buzz about him," Davis said. "He is absolutely a musical prodigy."

Opening the show will be , a group of singing sisters that recently moved to Malibu. Cimorelli's covers of modern pop tunes, usually done in a capella, have received nearly 80 million views on YouTube.

"I'm involved with several substantial musicians who are pretty well-known, who don't get anywhere near that kind of activity on YouTube," Davis said. "I just think they're on the verge of something great."

The week will conclude with the fourth annual Malibu Music Awards at Malibu Country Mart. Among those being honored is actress and singer Lainie Kazan with the "Lifetime Achievement Award."

"She has had a long career in music, is a wonderful person and somebody we really wanted to recognize," Davis said.

Other honorees will include Frank Stallone with the "American Songbook Award," music teacher and event organizer Julia Holland with the "Music Educator of the Year Award" and Malibu Country Mart owner Koss Real Estate with the "Community Service Award."

"Koss has supported lots of arts events, including this one," Davis said. "They've really stepped forward and are active in the community. Besides being a landlord, they're really aware of how important it is to connect with the community."

In addition to the Malibu Symphony Association, this week's events will support children's music programs, community music efforts and the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology.

For more information about the Malibu Music Awards and Festival, including how to purchase tickets for the classical music concert and the awards ceremony, go to www.malibumusicawards.com.