Two years ago, the New York Philharmonic made a tour stop in Santa Barbara.  That, and a whole lot of negotiations, eventually led to yesterday’s announcement that the orchestra and Montecito’s Music Academy of the West agreed to a four-year partnership, beginning this summer.

Neither the orchestra’s nor the Academy’s website have posted a press release, but according to details in the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, here are the salient points:

• Alan Gilbert, NY Phil Music Director, will participate every year.
• According to the New York Times:  “Up to five Philharmonic musicians will be guest faculty for one week each summer in Santa Barbara, where they will give master classes, coach chamber music sessions, present lectures and give private lessons. And up to 10 academy fellows will travel to New York for 10-day apprenticeships with the orchestra.”
• The New York Philharmonic will perform at the Academy’s summer festival in 2015 and 2017, with Mr. Gilbert conducting.
• In 2017, there will also be a joint concert featuring Academy musicians in the NY Phil to celebrate the Academy’s 70th Anniversary.

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Photo credit:  courtesy of Alan Gilbert’s Twitter account