Founded by KuanFen Liu in 2003, the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra (CHICO) is a vibrant ensemble based in Ventura CA, composed of musicians with professional training and a shared passion for artistic excellence and community engagement. CHICO delivers engaging performances to local audiences while nurturing the next generation of artists. Guided by Liu’s vision of making classical music both accessible and inspiring, CHICO is renowned for its creative programming, commitment to new works, and collaborations with composers, schools, and cultural partners across the region. Praised for its artistry, expressive versatility, and refined ensemble sound, CHICO is dedicated to sharing classical music with young audiences and underrepresented communities, fostering a love of music that transcends generations and circumstances. CHICO is proudly supported by community volunteers, whose generosity and dedication embody the orchestra’s mission to make music a shared and living art for everyone.

OUT OF THE HUB is an adventurous arrangement for vocalist and jazz orchestra by pianist/composer Bevan Manson for his longtime creative collaborator vocalist Suzanne Pittson. “Out of the Hub” is the lyric version of Freddie Hubbard’s “One of Another Kind,” originally recorded on Suzanne Pittson’s album Out of the Hub: The Music of Freddie Hubbard (2010). This suite of eclectic musical events unites classical and jazz musicians in Los Angeles, New Mexico and New York.
“As a composer, I have always looked for intersections between jazz and classical,” Bevan says. “To me, the richness in both genres can fertilize the other in ways we are not always accustomed to, especially in terms of form and motivic development. In other words, telling a musical story can be enriched by combining elements from both. When classical players are involved in a jazz or studio orchestra recording, they are often just given backgrounds. My inclination is to write lines for them, which adds more color and linear possibilities for the ensemble.”
Featuring Bob Sheppard (tenor sax), Bob McChesney (trombone), Matt Zebley (alto sax, solo), Trey Henry (bass), Matt Gordy (drums), Wade Culbreath (timpani), Brad Dutz (percussion), ​​Wayne Bergeron, Larry Hall, Gary Grant (trumpet), Brian Scanlon (clarinet), Tom Boyd (oboe), Brian O’Connor (french horn), Robert Beasley (trumpet), Carla Kountoupes (violin), Jerry Weimer (clarinet), Alex Murzyn (tenor sax), and Stefanie Przybylska (bassoon).