Events Archive - Rancho La Puerta
Events Calendar
Types of Events:
Spa Services

Winemaker Kristin Magnussen Shute

Kristin Magnussen Shute is the award-winning winemaker for Valle de Guadalupe winery Vinos Lechuza. Started by her father Ray Magnussen as a hobby in 2010, Lechuza has grown into one of the most popular wineries in the region because of their dedication to the craft and the merging of old world and new world styles. Lechuza is known for their sophisticated but approachable wines that have won over sommeliers and chefs around the world and have landed them accolades that include a coveted place on the wine list at The French Laundry in Napa, California (3 Michelin Stars). Kristin is proud of her family’s commitment to working “without borders” as ambassadors to Mexico’s modern wine movement around the world.

 

Check out all the chefs for 2025 Culinary Week

Cooking Class with Claudia Sandoval

Chef Claudia Sandoval was born and raised in sunny San Diego, California, to a family originally from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Chef Claudia grew up with her mother and grandmother, who taught her how to cook from a young age. In 2015 she went on to become the the winner of the sixth season of MasterChef U.S. with Gordon Ramsay.

After winning the coveted title of MasterChef, she began a successful culinary consulting and catering company under the name “Claudia’s Cocina,” in addition to working with important brands like Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, Nestlé, Disney, T-Mobile, and Tajín; Chef Claudia published her bestselling cookbook “Claudia’s Cocina: A Taste of Mexico”.

Chef Claudia has moved on from contestant to Judge on various shows like, Chopped, Chopped Jr., MasterChef Latino, on Telemundo, and is now Judge on MasterChef Latinos on Estrella TV. Most recently Chef Claudia released a new food travel show called “Taste of the Border” on Discovery+.

Chef Claudia never stops, most recently launched her own line of Celebrity Chef Meal Delivery through a partnership with Home Bistro, ensuring that people all over the US can have a taste of what Chef Claudia is cooking.

 

Check out all the chefs for 2025 Culinary Week

Cooking Class with Claudette Zepeda

Claudette Zepeda is an award-winning, San Diego-based celebrity chef and culinary entrepreneur known for her fearless style and bold approach to regional Mexican cuisine. A celebrated culinary anthropologist, Zepeda draws upon 20+ years of experience working in restaurant kitchens, as well as her extensive travels around the world and throughout Mexico. Zepeda’s multi-faceted expertise is showcased in her role overseeing the creative vision as Founder of Chispa Hospitality with projects in Australia and México. VAGA restaurant in San Diego’s North County is where she authors a love letter to her hometown with a menu that celebrates local flavors and immigrant influences. Seen on 2022 Netflix’s edition of Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, winning her challenge & on Iron Chef México where she successfully won her challenge and tied in the finale. Also in the fall of 2022, she showcased her talents by beating Bobby Flay’s Titans on Bobby’s Triple Threat and winning the cash prize.

In 2019 Zepeda Founded Viva La Vida, LLC. Through Viva La Vida, Zepeda helps Mexican women support their families without sacrificing their safety. Expanding into a 501c3 in 2023 and establishing a fund dedicated to helping Hispanic women break from generational poverty in the United States.

 

Check out all the chefs for 2025 Culinary Week

Cooking Class with Reyna Venegas

Executive Chef Reyna Venegas prepares fresh and delicious food that energizes, inspires, and nourishes guests. She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.

As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna recently completed the Integrative Nutrition program at the University of California, San Diego, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.

She and her husband Chef Marcelo Hisaki own Restaurante Amores, a hidden culinary jewel in the heart of Baja. Their cuisine is influenced by Mexican, Japanese and French cultures, using local produce with respect, love, and creativity. They have been selected by the Michelin Guide Mexico in 2024 and received the Exceptional Service Award.

Chef Reyna, as the manager of Team Mexico for the Bocuse d’Or since 2022, has been instrumental in guiding the team to compete in this prestigious culinary event. In 2023, Team Mexico was recognized with the Social Commitment Award for their impactful initiatives addressing food insecurity among migrants in Baja California. Now, they are poised to proudly represent Mexico once more at the Bocuse d’Or Americas 2024 in New Orleans, aiming to secure their spot in the Bocuse d’Or Finale 2025.

 

Check out all the chefs for 2025 Culinary Week

A week of Delicious Culinary events!

Culinary Week
July 19 – 26, 2025

Join us for a foodie adventure during Culinary Week, where we’ll celebrate the vibrant flavors of Baja California cuisine. Using the freshest organic produce, talented chefs will prepare dishes that showcase Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and traditions. From savory seafood to spicy salsas and organic produce, you can savor the bold and complex flavors that make this cuisine unique. You’ll have the chance to learn from expert chefs and explore our beautiful organic garden that produces the ingredients for our delicious meals. Join us for an unforgettable, five-star week of gastronomic excellence, fun, and community!

More About Culinary Week

Featured Chefs:
Reyna Venegas, Executive Chef, La Cocina Que Canta and Rancho La Puerta
Chef Claudette Zepeda, Entrepreneur & Iron Chef Mexico Winner 2022
Chef Claudia Sandoval, Winner of MasterChef US, Judge of MasterChef Latinos
Chef Maylin Chávez, Executive Chef & Entrepreneur Blue Evolution Seaweed and Oyster expert
Winemaker Kristin Magnussen, Vintner from Lechuza Vineyards in Valle de Guadalupe

A Folk Music Week

Rancho La Puerta Folk Festival

June 14 – 21, 2025

Embrace the power of music in an unforgettable week featuring top folk artists from across the nation at The Ranch for our second annual Folk Fest!  This week is curated for you to experience the healing power of music through daily concerts, artist talks and workshops, live recording sessions, and random acts of music. The serenity of The Ranch provides a perfect stage for some of today’s top folk touring artists to fully transform you. Join us and delight in a retreat for all the senses.

See our 2025 – Artists Bios, Playlist & Events

Amber Rubarth

“Songs so strong they sound like classics from another era.” – ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE

“You will leave with a crush on her.” – BOSTON GLOBE

Every so often an artist arrives with a lyrical ability to convey the simplest of things. With Amber Rubarth it’s all in the detail. Refreshingly unique in her styling, Rubarth has built an eclectic collection of songs from the fun and frivolous to the raw and destructive – her voice knows no bounds where genre is concerned.  But it’s in her lyrics where the most satisfaction is found. Inspired by the works of Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen, her musings on life are delightful in their innocence and have the capacity to appeal to the most diverse audience.

Touring from South Africa to Japan and all throughout Europe and North America, her appearances have included everything from a sold-out Carnegie Hall and Glastonbury (UK) to being handpicked to open for legendary artists including Emmylou Harris, Richie Havens, Dr. Ralph Stanley and Kenny Loggins.  Grand Prize Winner of the prestigious NPR Mountain Stage contest, songwriting is always at the heart of how Rubarth navigates the world.

 

Amber Rubarth made her acting debut starring alongside Joe Purdy in the feature film AMERICAN FOLK (out now on Amazon) winning numerous festivals and awards and being called “Superb… A heartfelt homage to American folk music,” by HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, and “Two wondrous new voices steeped in the folk tradition,” by ROLLING STONE.  She has scored and composed for many films including Sundance Film Festival winner ‘Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work’ and the award-winning documentary ‘Desert Runners,’ and recently co-produced a double album of 24 artists for the documentary ‘Fantastic Fungi.’  Her latest album COVER CROP is a meditation on sustainability and interconnectivity through the lens of 15 cover songs self-produced and recorded at her cottage in the woods of the Hudson Valley, New York.

– Official website:  https://www.amberrubarth.com/
– IG: @AmberRubarth
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberRubarthMusic/
– Youtube video: https://youtu.be/7CIeq-EK3gg?si=7UKmPDqV_08z8K4G

Jason Cupp

Jason Cupp (Guest Sound Engineer, Psychology of Creativity)

Jason Cupp brings over two decades of experience in the music industry. As a record producer, audio engineer, and tour manager, Jason has collaborated with a wide range of artists spanning multiple genres, from multi-platinum Grammy-winning pop acts to independent rock and Americana artists. With a portfolio of over 50 albums, including notable credits such as The Milk Carton Kids, Jon Brion, Tim Kasher, Ratboys, and American Football, Jason’s expertise extends beyond the studio. Recently, he has integrated his educational background in psychology to explore the intersection of creativity and group dynamics. Originally from the Arizona desert, Jason now calls the Midwest city of Saint Louis home.

 

– IG: @WorldCupp

– Facebook: @jason.k.cupp

Carissa Stolting

Carissa Stolting (Co-Producer and Host, Moderator, Founder of Unmanageable)

Carissa Stolting is an artist & event manager, and the founder of Left Bank Artists. In 2014, Stolting created Left Bank with Grammy award-winning artist and cultural ambassador, Abigail Washburn, with the intent of building an arts management company that champions artistic integrity and creativity. Left Bank has since become the management home to wildly innovative artists like Leyla McCalla, Rachel Grimes, Wu Fei, Allison Russell, and more.

Responding to the expansive creative vision of artists on the Left Bank roster, Carissa partnered with grant-writer and development strategist Celine Thackston to create Unmanageable, a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to build power and mobilize resources for independent artists engaged in social change work. Unmanageable was founded in 2020 and has since raised over 2.6M for artists and their large-scale creative projects which aim to encourage a more compassionate and loving world.

– Official website: www.unmgmt.org

– IG: @revoltingstolting

Concert with Larissa Maestro

Larissa Maestro (Artist, Cellist, Multi-Instrumentalist)

is a composer, cellist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger, based in Nashville. Their work as an artist is broad and varied, a testament to a deep love of creation, expression, and collaboration.

Larissa was named “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2022 Americana Music Awards, and is the first cellist and first member of the Asian American Pacific Islander community to receive the award. Since arriving in Nashville in 2007, Larissa has co-founded a community orchestra (The Nashville Concerto Orchestra), joyfully screamed 90s covers to thousands of people with local supergroup My So-Called Band, started a Star Trek podcast (Into the Wormhole with Larissa and Lauren), created countless string arrangements for recordings and live performances, and appeared on stages big and small, in person and on network television.

The list of artists with whom they have recorded, collaborated, and/or performed is as diverse as their interests: Hozier, Allison Russell, Wendy & Lisa, Chaka Khan, Eminem, Margo Price, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Mickey Guyton, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jake Wesley Rogers, John Legend, H.E.R. & Daniel Caesar, Toni Braxton, Cam, Brandi Carlile, and more. They are currently writing and recording a solo pop/chamber music project called MZTZA.

As a composer, Larissa has used chamber music to express their rich inner world, relationship to their neurodivergence, and identity as a Filipinx-American. Their compositions have been performed by Julian Schwarz (cello), Patrick Dailey (countertenor), ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Lockeland Strings, La Vie Quartet, The Nashville Concerto Orchestra, and members of the Nashville Symphony. They have been commissioned twice as a composer for the Nashville Ballet, and their second work for dance was featured in the ballet “Anthology” in February 2023. Recently, they provided original score and main title music for the Max docu-series “Justice USA”, which documented the stories of several people’s experience with the Nashville justice system.

– Official website: http://www.larissamaestro.com/

– IG: @LarissaMaestro

– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larissamaestro

Concert with Jake Blount

Jake Blount (Artist and multi-instrumentalist, Storyteller)

A powerfully gifted musician and a scholar of Black American music, Jake Blount speaks ardently about the African roots of the banjo and the subtle, yet profound ways African Americans have shaped and defined the amorphous categories of roots music and Americana. His 2020 album Spider Tales (named one of the year’s best albums by NPR and The New Yorker, earned a perfect 5-star review from The Guardian) highlighted the Black and Indigenous histories of popular American folk tunes, as well as revived songs unjustly forgotten in the whitewashing of the canon. Jake Blount’s new album, The New Faith, is a towering achievement of dystopian Afrofuturism and his first album for Smithsonian Folkways (released September 23, 2022). The New Faith is spiritual music, filled with hope for salvation and righteous anger in equal measure. The album manifests our worst fears on the shores of an island in Maine, where Blount enacts an imagined religious ceremony performed by Black refugees after the collapse of global civilization due to catastrophic climate change. Jake Blount’s music is rooted in care and confrontation. On stage, each song he and his band play is chosen for a reason – because it highlights important elements about the stories we tell ourselves of our shared history and our endlessly complicated present moment. The more we learn about where we’ve been, the better equipped we are to face the future.

Website: https://jakeblount.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjacobnotblunt/

Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.m.blount/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/63yfJDmaBbifNzvWUUdpv1

Video (NPR Tiny Desk Concert):

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/06/1146659751/jake-blount-tiny-desk-concert

Concert with Chris Pierce

Chris Pierce (Artist, Activist and Storyteller)

“One of America’s most talented, gifted, and affecting artists.”AMERICAN SONGWRITER

“I haven’t been so deeply, deeply moved by just a person and their guitar like this in a long time.”NPR MUSIC

In 2023, Chris Pierce was handpicked to be the special guest opener for the NEIL YOUNG Coastal Tour. Recently, he gained additional worldwide prominence with “We Can Always Come Back to This”. His hit co/write aired on 3 episodes of the NBC primetime series ‘THIS IS US,’ then went on to #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart.  Pierce has also done worldwide headlining tours and has supported: Neil Young, B.B. King, Seal, Al Green, Steve Earle, Allison Russell, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Keb’Mo, Blind Boys of Alabama, Aaron Neville & others.

Other recent highlights include: 2 U.S. tours with ‘Our House’ (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Family & Friends), 2 solo concerts at The Kennedy Center, a ‘Playing for Change’ duet with Sara Bareilles, a sold-out Troubadour concert with Allison Russell, and performance/interviews on NPR’s WORLD CAFÉ, MOUNTAIN STAGE, AMERICAN FOLK SHOW, SoCAL SOUND, and more. Stellar performances at Newport Folk, AmericanaFest, Folk Alliance, Bottlerock, Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest, Four Corners Folk, MerleFest & NC Folk Festival led to further acclaim.

His 2021 album, ‘AMERICAN SILENCE’ garnered critical acclaim from NPR, Rolling Stone, NoDepression, SiriusXM, The Bluegrass Situation, AmericanaUK, Acoustic Guitar and others. PopMatters named ‘AMERICAN SILENCE ’THE #1 Best Folk Album of 2021 and FolkAlley named “Residential School” from AMERICAN SILENCE one of the 100 Essential Folk Songs.

His newest album ‘LET ALL WHO WILL’ was released on September 1, 2023, with critical acclaim from NPR, NoDepression, American Songwriter, Hi Times and more.  In addition to his solo career, Chris Pierce performs/records with both Americana/Folk/Soul sensation WAR & PIERCE with Sunny War, & the Americana/Roots band LEON CREEK.

Website: chrispierce.com

IG: @IAmChrisPierce

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamchrispierce/

Piano, Violin, Cello / Jon Kimura Parker, Strauss Shi, Monique Mead, Aloysia Friedmann, Amelia Zitoun

Sunrise Concert
Hike to the Organic Gardens and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast followed by a short concert with Aloysia Friedmann and Jon Kimura Parker to get your morning started on a high note.

Musical Love Triangle
A romantic program featuring classical music’s most famous love triangle, Johannes Brahms, Clara Schumann, and Robert Schumann. You’ll hear a Clara Schumann Romance, Johannes Brahms Scherzo from the F.A.E. Sonata, and Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet performed by Jon Kimura Parker, Strauss Shi, Monique Mead, Aloysia Friedmann, and Amelia Zitoun.

“Steinway Spectacular”
The festival concludes with “Jackie” Parker in a program that spans the spectrum of pianistic expression from the lyricism of Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata, to colorful splashes of Ravel’s “Jeux d’Eau” and ending with the brilliant virtuosity of William Hirtz’s “Fantasy on the Wizard of Oz.”

A Tapestry of Music and Verse
All 12 Chamber week festival artists join forces for a jazz-inspired program of music and verse.

 

Known for his passionate artistry and engaging stage presence, with multiple solo appearances at the Berlin Philharmonie, London’s South Bank, the Sydney Opera House, and the Beijing Concert Hall, Jon Kimura Parker continues to perform to great acclaim. Conductors he has recently worked with include Marin Alsop, Teddy Abrams, Claus Peter Flor, James Gaffigan, Hans Graf, Giancarlo Guerrero, Jeffrey Kahane, Andrew Litton, Tito Muñoz, Gianandrea Noseda, Larry Rachleff, Lahav Shani, Bramwell Tovey, Xu Zhong, David Zinman, and Pinchas Zukerman. A true Canadian ambassador of music, Mr. Parker has given command performances for Queen Elizabeth II, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Prime Ministers of Canada and Japan. He is an Officer of The Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian honor. In the past two years he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of British Columbia.

He performs as duo partner regularly with James Ehnes, Aloysia Friedmann, Lynn Harrell, Jamie Parker, Orli Shaham, and Cho-Liang Lin, with whom he has given world premieres of sonatas by Paul Schoenfield, John Harbison and Steven Stucky. He performs regularly with the Miró Quartet, and is a founding member of the Montrose Trio with violinist Martin Beaver and cellist Clive Greensmith. The Washington Post’s review of the Montrose Trio’s first tour in 2015 proclaimed them “poised to become one of the top piano trios in the world.”

As a member of the outreach project Piano Plus, Mr. Parker toured remote areas including the Canadian Arctic, performing classical music and rock’n’roll on everything from upright pianos to electronic keyboards. In commemoration of his special performances in war-torn Sarajevo in 1995, he was a featured speaker alongside humanitarians Elie Wiesel and Paul Rusesabagina at the 50th Anniversary of the relief organization AmeriCares.

www.jonkimuraparker.com

 

Founder and Artistic Director of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival (www.oicmf.org) in the Pacific Northwest, Aloysia Friedmann is firmly established as a major influence in the American chamber music scene. In recognition of this fact, Chamber Music America invited Ms. Friedmann to their national Board in 2016. In December 2018, she was named a Musical America Top Professional of the Year.

Ms. Friedmann’s broad ranging career has included national and international tours, performances with New York’s most prestigious musical ensembles including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and a special onstage role on Broadway alongside Dustin Hoffman in The Merchant of Venice. While in New York, Ms. Friedmann worked with artists including Astor Piazzolla, Mirella Freni, Jessye Norman, Frederica von Stade, John Adams, Charles Mackerras, André Previn and Mikhail Baryshnikov, as well as Elton John and Metallica. The New York Times praised her “fiery spirit” after her Carnegie Recital Hall debut.

Aloysia Friedman has performed as guest artist in the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival, Florida’s Amelia Island Festival, Colorado’s Strings in the Mountains Music Festival, Napa Valley’s Music in the Vineyards, the Cactus Pear Music Festival, the Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Her chamber music colleagues have included Abbey Simon, Gervase de Peyer, Peter Schickele, Chee-Yun, Gary Hoffman, Jeffrey Kahane, William Preucil, Lucy Shelton, the Miró Quartet, Cho-Liang Lin and Lynn Harrell.

Chamber Music America recognized Aloysia Friedmann’s artistic leadership with its 2008 CMAcclaim. She also serves on the Advisory Council for Chamber Music Houston. Ms. Friedmann is featured as both performer and producer on several festival recordings, and has produced recordings for violinist Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio and pianist Jon Kimura Parker.

Aloysia Friedmann plays on a Grancino violin and the ex-Rebecca Clarke Grancino viola. Ms. Friedmann graduated from The Juilliard School and also studied at the University of Washington with Emanuel Zetlin. Aloysia is the proud daughter of violinist Martin Friedmann and oboist Laila Storch. She is married to concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker and they have a daughter, Sophie.

www.aloysiafriedmann.com

 

Amelia ZitounThe Gold Medal prize winner of the 2023 Stulberg International String Competition, Amelia Zitoun (19) is currently studying cello at the Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles. Recent performances include Haydn D Major Cello Concerto with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ankush Kumar Bahl and an appearance with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra in their 2024-25 season.

Most recently, Amelia won the 2023 Walgreens National Concerto Competition, performing the Barber Cello Concerto with the MYAC Orchestra. She also won First Prize at the 2023 Bolz Final Forte Competition where she appeared with the Madison Symphony, performing both the Barber Cello Concerto as well as Dvorak’s Rondo at their 2023 Gala. In 2022, Amelia was the winner of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow Competition and performed the Barber Cello Concerto with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Yaniv Dinur.

An active chamber musician, Ameila performs is a member of Trio Callisto.As member of the Pelios String Quartet, she won the Silver Medal at the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and the Gold Medal and Haydn Prize at the 2023 St. Paul String Quartet Competition. The past two summers, Amelia attended the Perlman Music Program and is returning again in the summer of 2024. In the past, she has attended the Heifetz International Music Institute.

www.ameliazitoun.com

Close Harmony with King’s Singers

Close Harmony
The legendary King’s Singers perform a comical and moving program that offers a chronological tour through some of the most famous and joyful music from their 56-year history. The program includes Rossini’s “Overture to Barber of Seville,” Beach Boys’ “Kokomo,” Arlen’s “I’ve got the World on a String,” Billy Joel’s “And so it Goes,” and The Beatles’ “Honey Pie.”

The New World
The King’s Singers present a program that explores the musical links between Iberia and the ‘New World’ of South America, looking at the glorious European Renaissance music introduced by these conquistadors and merchants. It also remembers the musical traditions already in existence in South America, and celebrates how these two different musical heritages fused to form the seeds of a whole new world of South American music. Songs include Ramirez “La peregrinación,” Abreu “Tico-Tico no fubá,” Villa-Lobos “Woodpecker,” Lopez “Remember me,” and Mendoza “Cielito Lindo.” 

Mindful Music Stroll
Begin at the Gazebo to set the tone for your own mindful stroll during the golden hour. You’ll encounter lighthearted solos and duets by all of our festival musicians in scenic places along your path. The experience concludes with a performance by the King’s Singers at the Bazar del Sol.

A Tapestry of Music and Verse
All 12 Chamber week festival artists join forces for a jazz-inspired program of music and verse.

 

The King’s Singers have set the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over fifty years. They are renowned for their unrivaled technique, musicianship and versatility, which stem from both the group’s rich heritage and its drive to bring an extraordinary range of new and unique works, collaborations and recordings to life. The King’s Singers’ extensive discography has led to numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s inaugural Hall of Fame.

Over the course of 2023, the group has released three diverse, collaborative albums that showcase the breadth of their repertoire. One marks 400 years since the deaths of two great Renaissance composers, Thomas Weelkes and William Byrd. Another celebrates their body of commissioned music, including the six Nonsense Madrigals written for the group by György Ligeti (who would have turned 100 in 2023). And the third honors 100 years of Disney, with almost thirty brand-new arrangements of songs from its iconic films.

To mark their 50th anniversary in 2018, they founded The King’s Singers Global Foundation in the USA to provide a platform to support the creation of new music across multiple disciplines, to coach a new generation of performers, and to provide musical opportunities to people of all backgrounds.

www.kingssingers.com

Violin, Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Erhu (Chinese Two-String Fiddle) and Dizi (Chinese Bamboo Flute) / ArcoStrum

Opening Night
The festival kicks off with a nature-inspired world tour, featuring both Vivaldi’s and Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons” as well as Chinese music inspired by orchids, young love, and horse racing. Instruments include violin, classical guitar, electric guitar, Erhu (Chinese two-string fiddle) and Dizi (Chinese bamboo flute).

Morning Tango
Hike to the Organic Gardens and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast followed by a fun tango-infused program to start your day with a smile.

A Tapestry of Music and Verse
All 12 Chamber week festival artists join forces for a jazz-inspired program of music and verse.

 

Awarded as the recent Winner and Audience Prize recipient of the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in New York, ArcoStrum became the first-ever violin-guitar duo to win in its competition’s 72-year history. ArcoStrum consists of three-times international First Prize-winning violinist Strauss Shi (violin, erhu, dizi), and the Grand Prize winner of Guitar Foundation of America – International Concert Artist Competition (GFA-ICAC), TY Zhang (classical guitar, electric guitar).

Highlights of their 2023-2024 Season include Friends of Music Stamford, Carnegie Hall Citywide, Rancho La Puerta, Concerts by the Pond, Bohemians New York Musicians’ Club, Strings Music Festival, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, and Music for Autism. ArcoStrum’s 2022-2023 Season include major debuts at the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts, Festival Cultural Zacatecas (Mexico), National Sawdust, Austin Chamber Music Festival, and Caramoor.

ArcoStrum captures the hearts of audiences through their charisma, virtuosity, and dazzling on-stage chemistry. The multi-instrumental duo champions unique concert programming through their original transcriptions of beloved classical repertoire, traditional Chinese instrumental music infused with modern instrumentations, as well as virtuosic non-classical instrumental progressive rock.

Initially encountered at The Juilliard School, the two soon discovered unspoken chemistry not only in life but in music making. ArcoStrum is pushing boundaries and redefining the 21st century violin-guitar art form, presenting a new chamber music that is mixed-genre, multi-culture, and cross-era.

www.arcostrum.com

Sound Healing and Musical Talks

Candlelight Sound Healing with Violin & Cello
Melt away your travel stress as violinist Monique Mead and cellist Amelia Zitoun guide you to stillness with enchanting melodies and the healing tones singing bowls, setting the stage for a magical week at The Ranch.

Sound Healing with Violin and Guitar
Monique Mead creates a meditative sound journey with singing bowls and violin in collaboration with guitarist TY Zhang. Stretch out and dissolve into blissful sound vibration and melody.

Musical Talks
Gaze into the inner workings of the music with talks by Monique Mead, ArcoStrum, Aloysia Friedmann, and Jon Kimura Parker.

  • “Decoding the Concert Program” with Monique Mead and ArcoStrum
  • “Classical Music Jeopardy” with Monique Mead, Aloysia Friedmann and Amelia Zitoun
  • “Practice Tips from the Pros” with Monique Mead and Jon Kimura Parker

A Tapestry of Music and Verse
All 12 Chamber week festival artists join forces for a jazz-inspired program of music and verse.

 

A passionate ambassador of classical music, violinist Monique Mead enjoys a rich career as a performer, educator, and innovator. Inspired and mentored by Leonard Bernstein, Mead has devoted her performing career to building new audiences and deepening the musical experience for seasoned concertgoers. Her programs with major orchestras and festivals in the United States and Europe have drawn international acclaim for their popular appeal and innovative approach.

Interweaving live music with education and audience engagement at the highest level, her programs have reached millions through television appearances, a six-year radio series with the Munich Radio Orchestra, and nearly 20 years of collaborations with the Cologne Philharmonic, Munich Symphony, Düsseldorf Symphony, Berlin Radio Orchestra, RIAS Chamber Choir, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Mainly Mozart Festival, among others.

Currently, Monique is innovating at the intersection of music and wellness to address the ongoing mental health crisis. During the pandemic, she partnered with a mental health practice, Awareness & Wellness Center to open a sound healing studio in Pittsburgh where she weaves the sounds of singing bowls, violin and other instruments to induce deep relaxation and mental peace.  In 2023 she founded the Scottie Sound Bath at Carnegie Mellon University and collaborated with researchers from the University of Pittsburgh to measure the impact on mood and stress in students, faculty, and staff with results showing a 70% decrease in stress. Other music and wellness modalities included performances that integrate full-sensory experiences, collaborative music making, movement, guided breathwork, and mindful listening in a relaxed setting.

A passionate chamber musician, Monique has served as Artistic Director of the Rancho La Puerta Chamber Music Festival since 2018 and prior to that spent eight years as Co-Director of the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In 2017 she founded a chamber music camp at Olympic National Park for young musicians, and since 2022 has directed Azure Family Concerts, a chamber series for families with autism.  She is a member of the Trio con Brio, with her daughter/harpist Isabel Cardenes and son/pianist Tino Cardenes, with whom she presents a series of porch concerts every summer to bring Pittsburgh neighborhoods together.

Monique is on faculty at Carnegie Mellon University as Associate Professor and Director of Music Entrepreneurship, a program she founded in 2012. With a focus on experiential learning and community engagement, she launches new music initiatives and guides students to develop the professional skills needed to succeed in forging their unique paths in the music world.

www.moniquemead.com

Breath of Fresh Air: Music for Wind Trio

Elena Durán (flute), Miguel Salazar (oboe), Eleanor Weingarten (clarinet)

 

Elena Durán grew up in Oakland, California and has enjoyed an international career, appearing as soloist with more than 50 orchestras all over the world, playing on a number of occasions for the Queen of England, HM King Charles as well as the President of Mexico. She has recorded a hit single with Paul McCartney and has made two albums with jazz great Stephane Grappelli. At various stages of her career, she has taught at University and Conservatory level including at Stanford University, the London College of Music, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Hartt School of Music. She has given masterclasses and courses all over the world and was the director of the Stratford International Flute Festival for twenty years and the Mexican Flute Festival at UNAM for five years in the nineties. She was named Mexico City’s Ambassador of Culture and Tourism, and with her personal outreach program FLAUTA SIN FRONTERAS, she has taken music to those who can’t attend concerts, especially those in prison and those who live along the US/Mexico Border. Elena is a passionate supporter of the Ranch’s Fundación La Puerta, bringing her programs to the local community.

 

Miguel Salazar is principal oboe of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Boca del Río in Veracruz since 2022. He was adjunct principal oboe of Mexico’s National Symphony (OSN) from 1990-2009 and principal oboe of the Filarmónica de Querétaro from 2009-2022. Salazar is a member of the  wind octet, Sinfonietta Ventus and was a member of Eduardo Mata’s Solistas de Mexico. As soloist, chamber musician and orchestral oboist, Salazar has performed in Europe, Latin America and the United States. He has recorded for Sony, Dorian and Urtext Digital Classics. His most recent recording includes Rosetti’s oboe concerto in C as well as Argentinian composer’s 2012 Double Concerto for oboe, clarinet and orchestra.

 

Eleanor Weingartner has been principal clarinet of Mexico’s National Symphony Orchestra (OSN) since 1990. As soloist she has performed and recorded both classical works as well as new works for clarinet and also for oboe, clarinet and orchestra. As chamber musician, she has collaborated with the Arianna String Quartet, soprano, Jessica Rivera and pianist, Mark Carver as well as pianist Alfredo Aguilar in three recordings for Urtext Digital Classics. She is also a founding member of the wind octet, Sinfonietta Ventus.

Family Food Feuds!

Family Week at the Ranch is the perfect time for a little healthy competition! Join nutritionist-in-residence Tamara Freuman for a fun opportunity to learn about nutrition and local food traditions; play with your food; and use your knowledge to compete with your Ranch family for cheap prizes and priceless bragging rights. (Everyone wins when you leave the Ranch with some healthy new nuggets to bring back home!)

Family: Sensory “Circuit Training” Competition: Local Foods of Mexico!
Love Mexican food, drinks and treats? Think you’re a Super smeller? Terrific taster? Fabulous feeler? If so, bring your all to a circuit training workout unlike any other! This competition will put your senses to the test as you sniff, taste and touch a variety of local foods while blindfolded, and compete against other teams to identify as many of them as possible.  Your familiarity with the local flavors and scents of Mexico will come in handy, as will your love of adventurous eating! (Note: the event will be nut-free.  Please inform instructor of any food allergies prior to starting so that your tasting circuit can be adjusted.)

Teens/Adults: What is a Healthy Diet, Actually (according to science)?
Parents, health teachers, athletic coaches and social media influencers are always telling us what to eat… and what not to eat.  The problem? They don’t always seem to agree.  If you’re interested in knowing what the science says about what constitutes a healthy diet, how much sugar really is *too much* sugar, special fueling considerations for athletes, and whether breakfast is truly so important… this session should clear up some of the most common questions and controversies.  Bring your own questions, too!

ChildrenThe 5th Annual Great Guacamole Throwdown

Tweens: The 5th Annual Great Guacamole Throwdown
Think you have what it takes to make authentic Mexican guacamole?  Learn what makes a great bowl of guac and compete against your fellow Ranchers to create your signature version of this beloved dish.  You and your teammate(s) will choose from a variety of fresh ingredient options and use a traditional molcajete and tejolote(Mexican mortar and pestle) to craft your delicious creation!  Our panel of three expert judges will taste all of the creations and award prizes for the best-of across several categories.

Teens: 3rd Annual RLP Cake Boss Studio: Quinceañera Fruit “Cakes”
The quinceañera is a time-honored Mexican tradition that celebrates a girl’s 15th birthday, similar to an American “Sweet 16.”  No celebration is complete without a showstopper of a multi-tiered decorative cake. In this healthy competition, you and your teammates will compete to create the most beautiful, elaborate “cake”—made entirely of fresh local fruits carved into creative, decorative, Instagram-worthy imposter cakes.  All the gorgeous creations will be devoured by fellow guests for dessert later that night, so keep those cakes rated PG, kids!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamara Duker Freuman, MS, RDN, CDN is a New York-based registered dietitian, author and America’s Trusted Digestive Nutrition Expert. A nationally-known authority on nutrition therapy for digestive diseases, Tamara is a member of New York Gastroenterology Associates, a private Manhattan-based practice. She earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and completed her training at Mount Sinai Medical Center. In addition to her clinical work, Tamara is a high-profile nutrition writer whose advice on healthy living and dietary management of digestive disease is read by hundreds of thousands of people each month via leading online media platforms. She has been featured in leading TV, print and radio/podcast media, including TV’s Good Morning America, Live with Kelly & Ryan, Inside Edition, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, Prevention, Women’s Health, The Huffington Post, CNN.com, SELF.com, and Business Insider. She is the author of the acclaimed book, The Bloated Belly Whisperer(St. Martin’s Press, 2018).

Mental Strength Training with Alex Freuman

Give your brain a workout this Family Week with challenging chess play for people at all levels and other mental strength training!  Chess coach and puzzle enthusiast Alex Freuman brings his annual array of mental challenges back to the Ranch… don’t miss this chance to stretch your mind after a satisfying day of physical exertion!

Family: Social Chess & Optional Weeklong Tournament
Join your Alex and your fellow chess enthusiasts nightly from Sunday through Wednesday at 7pm for social chess games. Learn and play chess variants like “Hand and Brain” or “Bughouse,” and/or participate in chess lessons for those who wish!  New chess puzzles will also be offered nightly.

For Ranch guests and Ranch staff looking to get some experience with real tournament play, this year you’ll also have the option to sign up for a multi-day chess tournament! You’ll learn how to use a chess timer for your games, as well as follow basic tournament play rules, just like in an official rated tournament.

To compete in the tournament, you must sign up for the tournament by Sunday night, and as a courtesy to your fellow players, please plan to commit to playing all 4 tournament games throughout the week.

Teens: Escape Room!
If problem solving, puzzle decoding and relying on your wits to get out of sticky situations are skills in your wheelhouse, then come compete against your peers in our first ever Family Week Escape Room competition!  In this team challenge, your group will put your heads together to race against the clock and escape the room before time runs out!


Alex Freuman
, MS, BA, is a high school STEM teacher who holds a BA in mathematics from Oberlin College and an MS in mathematics education from Hunter College in New York City.   At Oberlin, Alex was a founding member of the Juggling Club, where he honed many circus skills, including fire juggling, fire eating and balancing tricks. Also, a long-time chess and puzzle enthusiast, Alex coaches the chess team at Nyack Highschool (Nyack, NY), is faculty advisor for the Nyack Highschool Puzzle Club, is the founder and President of the Rockland County Chess Club, and is a certified US Chess Tournament Director.  His current United States Chess Federation (UCSF) rating is 1900, and he hopes to break 2000 before his children beat him to it. Alex is passionate about creating community and fostering multi-generational connections through the joy of chess.

Intro to Coffee Science with Journey Smothers

This is a beginner/intermediate class exploring the origin of coffee: how it’s grown, processed and roasted, as well as the key steps that are crucial to the development of flavor. In this class we will also touch on water science, fermentation, extraction theory, and the chemical reactions that take place during the roasting process.

 

Journey Smothers is a San Diego native who has worked in the coffee industry for 8+ years. She is a competitor in a Barista Circuit which is a world-involved competition highlighting the customer service of specialty coffee, as well as the skill that is crucial to its extraction. Journey also works as Quality Control at a coffee roastery and is dedicated to highlighting coffee to the best of its potential.

Marbled Art with Brent Hedstrom

Paper marbling is a creative, therapeutic, magical art activity.  The process is fun, you will learn how to experiment with patterns and color.  As a bonus, students will generate a few sheets of decorative paper for use in future projects.  You will have the option of turning your marbled paper creations into note cards, bookmarks and more.  Marbling paper is fun, and you will be surprised how interesting your pieces turn out.

Join me in the Art Studio and create cool marbled paper art!

Marbled Paper Project
Discover your artistic flair in this lively art class crafted for both young and young-at-heart creators! Join us as we make playful, multi-colored marble paper that can be transformed into unique handmade thank you cards, or feel free to frame your masterpiece and display it proudly at home.

 

 

 

 

Torn Art Class
Join us in this exciting art class where you’ll learn to create stunning pieces using torn paper techniques! The possibilities are endless, from vibrant flowers to mountain scenes and tranquil seascapes. For our younger artists, we’ll offer customizable heart and soccer ball art sheets, which will be showcased throughout the week. Dive into your creativity and see where it takes you!

The art projects accommodate a wide range of skill levels, making them suitable for everyone from children to adults.

 

Brent Hedstrom resume ranges from theatrical stage makeup for Broadway shows such as Lion King, Romeo and Juliet and Medea to being a salon owner and colorist and an “Art Junkie”.  In his art studio the mediums currently used are acrylics and oil on wood panels with resin finishes, metal and paper weaving, and paper — specifically marbling all kinds of paper!   Brent currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his partner and their 10-year-old twins.

BollyPop Dance

BollyPop Choreography for Teens.

BollyPop Choreography Class for 7-12 yr olds.

BollyPop Couple’s Dance Class.

Dance Fitness Class for Families.

Dandiya Dance Workshop for All.

 

BollyPop Dance Fitness is a 50 min. high energy cardio workout with easy to follow moves and choreography. The class enables one to build overall strength and extends one’s dancing style and skills. The playlist comprises the top Bollywood hits and also Latin, Hip Hop and Egyptian music. Get ready to shake, swerve, move and groove across various continents in this multicultural, adventurous wonderland of dance fun!

 

Los Angeles-based choreographer and instructor Aakansha Maheshwari created BollyPop with the intention to spread happiness through dance. Growing up in India, Aakansha trained in various Indian dance forms – from ancient classical dance from the temples to gypsy folk dance of the snake charmer community. Aakansha has spent years training with the masters and brings different styles together in her program, BollyPop, which is currently offered in California, Utah and India! She has choreographed for The Academy Museum, Clippers games, LA Kings games, and her business was recently selected as one of the six Asian businesses in Los Angeles to be featured in a Google commercial. Aakansha works with a few non-profit organizations in India and spends time with children in the underprivileged communities, teaching dance and music. Her devotion towards her art is solely for the purpose of spreading happiness.

 

Runaway with the circus!

Runaway with the Circus! – Unleash your Inner Performer! 
This exciting class introduces you to the thrilling world of circus arts. A fun physical warm-up allows us to safely explore ground-based tumbling skills as well as partner acrobatics. Learn the basics of juggling with scarves and balls, the art of plate spinning, and feather balancing. Who knows, you just might discover your inner clown! No prior experience is necessary, just an eagerness to learn and have fun! Clothing should be easy to move in.

Living a Life of Endless Curiosity
Imagine this: an acrobatic circus artist, a fearless police officer, and a compassionate guardian of rescued animals are all the same person! That’s the life of Matt Roben, a testament to the power of relentless curiosity. Instead of just dreaming, Matt dives headfirst into every adventure that sparks his interest. This talk endeavors to help participants discover their personal mantras and apply those principles to all different aspects of their life. For example, perhaps you are fearlessly adventurous on the hiking trails – Matt will inspire you to be fearlessly adventurous in the kitchen, in the classroom, in the community. Discovering and defining your personal mantra can blossom into a fulfilling career and a life lived with purpos

 

Matt Roben spent 25 years traveling the world as a professional circus artist working on land and at sea, and has performed in venues ranging from the Joffrey Ballet and the Grand Ole’ Opry to a Chicago Bulls halftime show. He then spent four years working as a police officer for the Chicago Police Department and became a bagpiper with the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society in both Chicago and San Jose. Matt and his wife Emily run a 12-acre farm animal sanctuary, Rancho Roben Rescues, the forever home to more than 200 animals. Now known as the Kilted Auctioneer, Matt helps to raise millions of dollars annually for charities.

www.iammatt.com
www.thekiltedauctioneer.com www.ranchorobenrescues.org

Harvest Your Health!

Harvest your Health: A Workshop

Part I:  Facilitated family tour to the farm with coordinated cultivation sessions 
We will talk about the traits of medicinal plants and how many household “weeds” are actually “garden doctors” providing medicine for the garden (or degraded land) that can be natural treatments for us, too! We will also harvest cultivated garden herbs and bring the items to the kitchen “lab” for drying and processing. Fresh tea is served from our cultivation session before we return to the Ranch. Harvesting (and wild harvesting) ethics along with mindfulness / connection to nature process will also be facilitated as part of the workshop! Great for families!

Part II: Make your own Spa Kit and wild harvested Remedies!
Using a blend of herbs harvested earlier in the week that are now dried combined with local beeswax and olive oil and other regional products we will make our own chapstick, salve, body scrubs! It is not necessary to attend Part I to attend Part II.

 

River Morgan is a third-generation mindfulness instructor. A lifelong study of movement and the body has guided her over 25 years of teaching. River has been featured in many publications for her yoga classes and retreats, including Yoga Journal, Forbes magazine, Elephant Journal, Aspen Peak Magazine and as a model for the Gaiam and Jade Catalogs and products. She authored a wellness column for The Aspen Daily News and her classes are featured on Deepak Chopra’s Jiyo app as well as Golf Forever, Healthy Backs Forever, Aspen82, and The Healthy Life channels.

River has presented at conferences such as The American Renewable Energy Summit, the Aspen Idea Festival, The Aspen Security Forum, and The Aspen Environmental Forum. She also taught Yoga for Cyclists workshops and retreats at the Carmichael Training Center in Santa Barbara and the Snowmass Wellness Conference, and has been a guest presenter at Rancho La Puerta over 30 times, as well as at the Golden Door, and on the “The World” ship.

River is a certified yoga, meditation & Gyrotonic instructor, and holds the credentials to lead teacher trainings for yoga and meditation through Yoga Alliance. She holds a BFA in Dance & toured internationally with two professional dance companies. River has also served as assistant director of TheFarmCollabortive.org for the past 14 years.

River’s classes encourage you to be fully in the moment and dive into your body, mind & spirit as they truly are.

 

Eden Vardy is dedicated to doing his part in solving climate challenges so that future generations can thrive. With that goal, in 2008 he founded The Farm Collaborative (www.farmco.org), “a collaboration for regeneration” that focuses on regenerating the local food system, one community at a time.

Under Vardy’s leadership, the organization made 0% interest loans to over 50 burgeoning farmers and food entrepreneurs through a pioneering “gift- circle investment club” model, launched a multi- stakeholder support ecosystem to grow new farmers, took ownership of the award winning edibleAspen magazine (where Vardy served as publisher), and hosted a program focused on innovating in crop production and stewarding regenerative agriculture regionally. The Farm Collaborative is now building a first of its kind learning campus in Aspen that will showcase integrated agriculture while pioneering a farmer”renaissance” of young leaders dedicated to a better future.

In 2019 Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed and the senate confirmed Vardy to the state’s Parks and Wildlife Commission to represent agriculture. Vardy was appointed for a second term in July 2022, and confirmed with rare bi-partisan support unanimously by Colorado’s congress. In 2021, Vardy was selected as the Eisenhower Agricultural Fellow and met with policy makers, farmers, and community leaders in the EU and Brazil to exchange ideas for best practices to support the next generation of small holder farmers. In 2022, Vardy was selected as a “Food Leaders Fellow” as part of the inaugural cohort by the Aspen Institute. Vardy has presented at over 30 conferences and consulted community organizations across the globe, including in Israel, Uganda, France, Brazil, Mexico, and around the United States. Vardy is an avid percussionist and a proud father.