CureDuchenne, a global nonprofit based in Newport Beach committed to finding and funding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, has appointed Lidia Gardner, PhD, EMBA, as its new Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs.

Dr. Gardner brings more than 15 years of experience spanning clinical strategy, patient advocacy, evidence generation, medical education, and global scientific leadership in neuromuscular and neuroimmunology diseases.

Dr. Gardner most recently served as Senior Medical Director, Global Medical Affairs – Neurology & Immunology at EMD Serono, a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. In that role, she led global medical strategy for neuroimmunology programs and collaborated across clinical development, regulatory, real-world evidence, and commercial teams.

Prior to joining EMD Serono, she worked in Medical Affairs and clinical development at Novartis, overseeing spinal muscular atrophy and other clinical trials. Earlier in her career, Dr. Gardner served as an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she built and led a translational research program focused on neuroinflammatory and neuromuscular diseases.

As Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs, Dr. Gardner will provide strategic medical leadership across CureDuchenne’s research, education, and patient care initiatives. She will work closely alongside CureDuchenne’s Chief Medical Advisor, Brenda Wong, MD, an internationally recognized Duchenne expert, to help advance standards of care, strengthen educational resources, and accelerate therapeutic development for individuals and families affected by Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Dr.

Gardner will also serve as a key spokesperson for CureDuchenne within the medical and scientific communities and help drive strategic partnerships that support the organization’s mission and long-term impact.

“Lidia brings an exceptional combination of scientific expertise and deep commitment to patient-centered care,” said Debra Miller, founder and CEO of CureDuchenne. “Her experience building strong relationships across industry, advocacy, and clinical communities will be instrumental as we continue accelerating research, advancing standards of care, and ensuring families have access to trusted education and support. Lidia understands the urgency facing our community and shares our commitment to driving meaningful progress for everyone affected by Duchenne.”

“I am honored to join CureDuchenne and contribute to an organization that has played such a transformative role in advancing research and care for the Duchenne community,” said Dr. Gardner. “I look forward to partnering with families, clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders to help accelerate therapies, strengthen education and support programs, and continue building momentum toward a future where every individual with Duchenne has access to better care and more treatment options.”

CureDuchenne was created with one goal: to find and fund a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, one of the most common and severe forms of muscular dystrophy. Today, CureDuchenne is recognized as a global leader in research, patient care, and innovation for improving and extending the lives of those with Duchenne. CureDuchenne’s innovative venture philanthropy model has advanced transformative treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, investing more than $27 million in early-stage research that helped move 19 programs into human clinical trials.

For more information, visit www.cureduchenne.org.

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Every month Salt & Straw, the popular ice cream purveyors with a store in Newport Beach, release a limited time edition of crazy concoctions that are often surprising in their ability to combine unique flavors into satisfying frozen treats.

Their current monthly flavor series is something a little different.
According to Salt & Straw, they are teaming up with some of the country’s most celebrated chefs to churn their signature flavors into five decadent scoops.

Dubbed “The Chef Series,” the new flavors are available through June 25. They feature ice creams from Tyler Malek (co-founder and head ice cream maker of Salt & Straw), in collaboration with noted chefs that highlight flavors and techniques that made them famous.

Flavors in The Chef Series include:

• Cheesecake with Salted Yuzu Curd: made in collaboration with Seattle based, James Beard Award winning chef Brady Ishiwata Williams (Tomo, Canlis), this flavor features salted vanilla ice cream studded with fluffy hunks of vanilla bean Japanese soufflé cheesecake, tangy yuzu curd and shards of yuzu white chocolate stracciatella.
• Hong Kong Milk Tea with Toasted White Chocolate: made in collaboration with Los Angeles based chef Mei Lin (owner of Daybird and 88 Club and competitor and judge of Tournament of Champions), this flavor features rich, aromatic vanilla and black tea ice cream swirled with custardy condensed milk and finished with toasted white chocolate feuilletine cookie crumbles.
• Chocolate Caramel Smoked Budino: made in collaboration with Miami based chefs Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi behind the Michelin starred Boie De and Walrus Rodeo , this flavor features velvety chocolate olive oil custard flecked with smoky-sweet caramel candied hazelnuts and is swirled with an indulgent sea salt caramel drizzle.
• Starling Sweet Potato Buckwheat Crumble: From Dan Barber, iconic chef of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Upstate New York and co-founder of Row 7, this flavor features starling sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato miso swirl, and sprouted buckwheat Florentine crumble.
• Caramelized Plantain with Spicy Pecan Toffee (v): From James Beard Award Winning Chef Gregory Gourdet (Kann in Portland, Maison Pasarelle in New York), this flavor features creamy brown sugar spiced plantain ice cream layered with pockets of caramelized plantains, habanero pecan brittle and pieces of tender almond-plantain cake.

The Newport Beach location is at 2001 Westcliff Dr. next to Olea Restaurant. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Visit www.SaltandStraw.com for more information.

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The Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary with events and activities open to the public at the Balboa Yacht Club on Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hosted by the Club and supported by the City of Newport Beach, Visit Newport Beach, and additional community sponsors, the event highlights the craftsmanship, design, and maritime heritage of classic wooden boats.

The Wooden Boat Festival offers a rare opportunity for the public to experience a private waterfront venue while viewing a curated collection of 40 wooden-hull vessels. The Concours d’Elegance-style display will feature a range of classic powerboats, sailboats, and custom wooden craft, many of which have been carefully restored or preserved by their owners.

In addition to simply viewing and enjoying the beauty of these boats, visitors will be able to walk the docks, speak with boat owners and builders, and, if one really wants to dig in, learn more about traditional construction methods, materials, and ongoing restoration efforts that help keep these vessels beautiful and on the water.

The featured vessel for the 2026 festival is the Tall Ship Spirit of Dana Point, operated by the Ocean Institute of Dana Point. This replica of a 1770s privateer schooner measuring approximately 118 feet overall represents the design and function of historic coastal trading and patrol vessels used during the Revolutionary War.

The ship was originally constructed in Newport Beach when the Tall Ship was known as the Pilgrim of Newport. Its appearance at the festival welcomes the ship back to her original home in Newport Harbor for all to enjoy and reminisce and reflects the region’s long-standing relationship with maritime education and shipbuilding. She will be open to the public during the festival for boarding and docent-led tours.

In addition to the dockside exhibits, the festival will offer 20-minute harbor cruises in gondolas, live music, maritime education displays, community and vendor booths, and opportunities to learn about local boating and coastal programs. A variety of food and beverage options will be available for purchase.

Family participation is a central part of the event. Children’s programming will include hands-on activities such as toy boat building and interactive learning stations designed to introduce younger visitors to basic boating and marine concepts. The event is designed to appeal to both boating enthusiasts and community members looking for a waterfront family outing.

Admission is $10 per person. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. Gondola rides will be ticketed the day of the event at $20 per person. Parking will be available off-site with a complimentary shuttle service to the Club. Additional event details, including schedules, transportation information, and participating exhibitors, can be found at www.newportbeachwoodenboatfestival.com.

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How has Newport Center evolved into the Mixed-Use Center it is today? Has it fulfilled the vision of the planners?

Come hear Michael Stockstill, the author of “Transforming the Irvine Ranch” and the recently released “Irvine Ranch Fulfilling the Vision 1977-2025” discuss the planning, development and future of Newport Center, from the Boy Scout Jamboree in 1953 to the recently approved Edwards Cinema site redevelopment.

This Speak Up Newport meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at the Civic Center Community Room, 100 Civic Center Dr. Reception hosted by The Bungalow Restaurant is at 5:15 p.m. Program is 6 to 7 p.m. On-site production provided by Visit Newport Beach. No charge to attend the meeting.

The Community Room is on the right (directly across from City Council Chambers) when you enter the complex on Civic Center Drive. Parking is available in the Parking Structure and in the parking lot adjacent to the structure.

The meeting will be simulcast on Zoom. Visit www.speakupnewport.com for meeting details and to register for the Zoom webinar.

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It’s not easy to sustain a music festival, especially one devoted to classical music from the Baroque period (music composed between 1600 and 1750). It’s not as grand as Beethoven nor as intense as Mahler, but Baroque music has its devotees, which is why the Baroque Music Festival in Corona del Mar has not only survived for more than four decades, but has thrived by offering annual themes around which they can build a week-long season.

Last year’s sold-out Vivaldi Fest was a testament to the continued popularity not only of Vivaldi but Baroque music.

This year, for the Baroque Music Festival’s 46^th season, artistic director-violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock was inspired by the patron saint of music, Saint Cecilia, to create the theme of “Bright Cecilia: The Power of Harmony.”

According to information from the Baroque Music Festival, Blumenstock has curated programs that feature soloists and the Festival Orchestra and Chorus to bring the community professional, historically-informed interpretations of Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, Bach sonatas, music by an ancestor of a current Festival patron, Parisian ballets, Italian concertos and more, in five concerts over eight days June 21-28.

In this series of accessible concerts, specialists present 17th- and 18th-century masterpieces close to how their composers would have intended them to be heard, at intimate venues in Corona del Mar and Newport Beach.

Internationally recognized Baroque violinist Blumenstock directs the series, her 16th as artistic director. She performs globally as a soloist and concertmaster on a 17th-century Guarneri baroque violin (Cremona, 1660) generously on loan to her from the Philharmonia Baroque Period Instrument Trust.

Festival Overview

The 2026 Festival opens and closes with Sunday afternoon concerts at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, by the Festival Orchestra, joined for the Finale by vocal soloists and the Festival Chorus.

Featured artists give three evening concerts between the Sunday events. Monday’s recital, A Cöthen Chamber: Bach Sonatas, highlights the acoustics of St. Michael & All Angels, Corona del Mar, in a rare performance by Blumenstock and soloist Matthew Dirst of three of Bach’s masterly sonatas for violin and obbligato harpsichord.

Music for both organ and harpsichord by a Bach predecessor, Johann Caspar Kerll, is featured—and amazingly, a direct descendant of Kerll is among the Baroque Music Festival’s patrons.

Wednesday brings a little night music to the oasis of Sherman Library & Gardens, a Festival venue since 1981. Concerti D’Italia in the Gardens features recorder (soloist Judith Linsenberg) and string concertos by Vivaldi and other Italians.

On Friday the series returns to St. Mark, Newport Beach, for A Spanish Salón: Chamber Music Night—guitar and string quintets by Boccherini, including his famous “Fandango” quintet, plus solo guitar music. Guitarist Marc Teicholz returns following his sold-out recital in 2019.

The 46th series concludes with Festival Finale: St. Cecilia’s Day! featuring international soloists Hannah De Priest (soprano) and Nicholas Phan (tenor) with the Festival’s eight-voiced specialist Baroque chorus and its orchestra.

In addition to the ticketed concerts, the Festival invites audiences to enjoy Baroque music al fresco by South Coast Brass, beginning 45 minutes before each concert. At all performances, audience members and musicians are encouraged to mingle for conversation and refreshment at complimentary “wine and waters” receptions.

And if you’ve never experienced classical music performed live inside a church with pristine acoustics—well, it’s a life-changing experience.

Subscriptions are $350 for all five concerts. Price includes reservable premium seating at each concert and a private catered post-concert dinner following the Festival Finale on Sunday, June 28.

Single tickets range from $50 to $60 for individual concerts, plus a $5 processing fee per order, for open seating behind the premium section.

Students “Go for Baroque” Rush Tickets for Under-30s (age 12 and above) are $10 on the day of performance only, cash preferred, with a valid student card and photo ID. Please email students@bmf-cdm.org for further information, and to inquire about group bookings and open dress rehearsals for students.

And for Newport-Mesa USD families – thanks to generous support from the City of Newport Beach (Cultural Arts Grant) – the adult accompanying any NMUSD student(s) age 12 or over is also eligible for the $10 rush ticket rate.

For complete details on each Baroque Music Festival concert and to purchase tickets, visit www.bmf-cdm.org.

Festival History

The Baroque Music Festival was founded in 1981 by Dr. Burton Karson (1934-2025), then Professor of Music at CSU Fullerton. The annual season of five June concerts is a high-quality musical experience and an accessible way to discover, enjoy, and learn more about a wide variety of beautiful Baroque-era European music (written from around 1600 to around 1750) in its socio-historical context, right in the heart of the local community.

Over the past four decades, the Festival has evolved as a respected and popular cultural institution in Orange County. Performing on period instruments in intimate settings, acclaimed professional musicians gather each June in Corona del Mar and Newport Beach, frequently playing to sold-out crowds. Since 2025 the Festival has added the Burton Karson Music Education Program, funded in part by the Burton Karson Music Education Fund.

Concertgoers have described Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar’s performances as “rapturous” and “riveting,” while reviews from the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register and others have praised the Festival throughout its long and illustrious history. The Festival Board of Directors remains committed to bringing inspirational Baroque music to Newport Beach every summer.

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For the past 33 years, high-achieving Newport-Mesa graduating high school students have been the recipients of scholarship grants presented by the Balboa Bay Club. An auxiliary known as the “1221 Club” (named for the Coast Highway address of the Club) in addition to significant fundraising from the Club’s Annual Men’s Smoker and Auction, has raised and donated more than $2 million to date, considered the largest private scholarship available in the community.

This graduating season, 24 young men and women accepted grants totaling more than $200,000 at a dinner reception and awards presentation held May 13 in the grand ballroom of Balboa Bay Resort. Some 400 guests, mostly family, friends, teachers and counselors of the scholars, stood with rousing ovation as each student accepted an award and shared a bit of their journey.

John Wortmann, Chairman of the Board of Governors for Balboa Bay Club, served as master of ceremonies. With a pride-filled introduction, he offered insight into the accomplishment and the diversity of the students.

“In this group we have swim team, soccer team, marching band, volleyball, basketball, track, tennis, crew, water polo, sailing and football student athletes,” said Wortmann. “They are captains, all League 1st team, MVPs. Many have endured family turmoil, endured tragedy, and have been raised by single parents. We have first generation Americans from all over the globe, 4.76 GPAs, ACT 35s, 1470 SATs, straight As, 10+ AP classes, Capstone Scholars, and students that never had anything but an A, ever, in school. All that plus some students with up to 700 hours of community service.”

Among the destinations accepting the Newport-Mesa graduates: University of Southern California, Purdue, Texas A & M, University of California, Los Angeles and Irvine, Chapman University, Johns Hopkins, Texas Christian University, Princeton University and Notre Dame, among others.

Donors and judges participating in the event’s comprehensive interview process for applicants nominated by high school counselors included Cindy Racco (General Director Balboa Bay Resort), Balboa Bay Club General Manager Tyler Hathaway,  Catherine Thyen, Char Armstrong, Heather Dickerson, Madelyn Martin and Bill Blaine.

Spotted in the crowd were Newport Beach City Council Member Michelle Barto, Dr. Daniel Yanni, Mike Granja, Kathy and Noel Hamilton, Mary Roosevelt, Becca and John Wortmann IV, Mark and Michelle Larson, Cory and Kim Cosenza, Sharon Blaine, Anne Wortmann and Art and Jane Rivera.

A special tribute was paid to the Pickup-Martin family, ownership of Balboa Bay Club for their generous underwriting support of the scholarship program. Family matriarch Carole Pickup joined in the celebration with a special thank you to all the students.

The 2026 Student scholars are graduates from the Newport-Mesa public high schools:

• Lila Ancone – Newport Harbor
• Owen Clark – Corona del Mar
• Melissa Cruz – Estancia
• Zachary Drag De Mayo – Newport Harbor
• Julia Getter – Corona del Mar
• Davis Gruebel – Estancia
• Isabella Im – Costa Mesa
• Gabe Johner – Estancia
• Veronica Kehoe – Estancia
• Sophia Lin – Newport Harbor
• Abigail McIntyre – Estancia
• Bennett Molica – Estancia
• Juliette Moreno – Newport Harbor
• Thuc Nguyen – Costa Mesa
• Van Nguyen – Corona del Mar
• Riley Ogo – Costa Mesa
• Chase Ott – Corona del Mar
• Tyler Pence – Newport Harbor
• Leilani Quero – Costa Mesa
• Darwin Palma Ruelas – Costa Mesa
• Savannah Rodriquez – Corona del Mar
• Owen Saukkola – Newport Harbor
• Andrew Waiss – Costa Mesa
• Sharon Wang – Corona del Mar

The post Newport-Mesa Graduating Seniors Awarded Grants for Extemporary Achievement at Annual Balboa Bay Club 1221 Scholarship Awards Dinner appeared first on Newport Beach News.

Newport Beach-based developer Burnham-Ward Properties will be closing shortly on its acquisition of Tustin’s Enderle Center. Located at East Seventeenth Street and Enderle Center Drive, the new site proposal features approximately 60,000 square feet of reimagined commercial retail space and the addition of 100 townhome residences.

The redevelopment, named Campo on 17th, will preserve retail as the primary use for the project. The retail component will be complemented by a new town green, lush landscaping, mature specimen trees, water features, soft seating areas with fire pits, and more.

The redevelopment will include a combination of new building construction and extensively remodeled existing buildings, upgraded underground utilities, reconfigured parking, improved vehicle and pedestrian circulation and sitewide enhancements.

Zov’s, a beloved community staple since its 1987 opening (there is also a Zov’s in Newport Coast) has expanded over the years from a 1,200 square foot space to nearly 14,000 square feet, becoming the heart of Enderle Center. Zov’s will remain an anchor tenant within the new project, debuting in a completely expanded and remodeled space.

According to Zov’s owners, the restaurant will remain open during the Enderle Center reimagining.

“Our mission is to deliver unique concepts that the local community connects with deeply, and Zov’s is an essential piece of this next chapter,” said Steve Thorp, Partner at Burnham-Ward Properties. “Every new aspect of the site is contemplated to bring the best possible experience to residents, visitors and business owners alike.  The result is one we see elevating the community experience for generations to come.”

“As we look ahead at becoming a third-generation family-owned business, we are eager to bring our reimagined home to life. Burnham-Ward Properties has both a clear vision and a track record that our family feels will truly do the Tustin community justice,” said Armen Karamardian, CEO of Zov’s.  “As one of the oldest and original tenants at Enderle Center, we have seen first-hand what it has meant to the community over the years, and in recent years, it has admittedly lost its luster of the past. This is common in older projects that have accumulated substantial deferred maintenance and are in need of a refresh. Having professional, well-heeled ownership and management will provide consistent hours of operation so the community can be assured that the tenants will be open when they come to visit the center. I am anxious to see an experienced group like Burnham-Ward Properties work their magic and create an amazing asset for the city of Tustin.”

The city general plan was amended to allow for a large mixed-use project consisting of 413 high-density residential housing units and up to 205,000 square feet of retail. This plan would have yielded a much denser and more vertical configuration from what is currently being proposed.

Following numerous local resident meetings, Burnham-Ward Properties encouraged the city to reconsider its general plan and proposed reducing density significantly to a maximum of 100 for-sale residential units, both to foster pride in ownership and to benefit the community long-term. Burnham-Ward Properties’ plan also features separate retail parking and secure access for new residents.

Loyal patrons of Enderle Center will appreciate the rejuvenated emphasis Burnham-Ward Properties is placing on community tradition, not only preserving local holiday events, but also expanding gathering areas and hosting public programming with live music, farmers markets and more.

The Enderle family provided a unique gathering location for many decades, but the progression of retail and dining interests, coupled with the deteriorating physical condition of the property and its infrastructure, demands a different approach to the property’s configuration and tenancy.

“Our family has long been a part of the Tustin community and we have always wanted what is best for its residents. We are confident that the Burnham-Ward team will be incredible stewards of Enderle Center for decades to come, and they have a proven track record of building incredible community centers,” said Rob Enderle, co-owner of Enderle Center. “As a multigenerational asset for our family, we are happy to leave it in good hands going forward.”

Burnham-Ward Properties’ intention is to commence construction before the end of the year, aligning with a 12-month schedule and goal completion in late 2027.

Crab Cooker recently announced it will be permanently closing its Tustin location at the end of its lease term later this month as ownership has decided to refocus efforts on its iconic original Newport Beach location.

“While we have loved calling Enderle Center home, we are excited to return to our roots in Newport Beach and bring the very best possible dining experience to our patrons there for our 75th anniversary,” said Jim Wasko, owner of Crab Cooker.  “Burnham-Ward Properties’ revitalization of Enderle Center should be welcomed with warm arms by the community, as I have experienced first-hand the incredible improvements they have made to other properties throughout Orange County.”

Future leasing opportunities and further details on Campo on 17th will be forthcoming. For more project information, please visit www.burnham-ward.com/campo-on-17th.

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Last March, golfer Stewart Cink took first place at the 2026 Hoag Classic held at Newport Beach Country Club. As one of the most successful charitable tournaments on the PGA TOUR Champions, the Hoag Classic has generated more than $25 million in support of Hoag programs and services, as well as local military, first responder and educational organizations.

Such noted golfers as Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, John Daly, Retief Goosen, and Darren Clarke have played in the Hoag Classic.

Now, the Hoag Classic is getting a new name, and a new status.

On Tuesday, May 26, the PGA TOUR announced at a press conference at the Newport Beach Country Club that beginning in 2027, Hoag will become the title sponsor for the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, one of five major championships contested annually on PGA TOUR Champions.

The newly named Hoag SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Newport Beach will be played at Newport Beach Country Club, which has hosted the Tour’s Hoag Classic since 1996. The 2027 tournament will be held March 22-28, with a five-year agreement in place ensuring PGA TOUR Champions will remain at Newport Beach Country Club through 2031. The purse for the newly named Hoag SENIOR PLAYERS Championship will increase to $3.5 million.

“We are thrilled to usher in this new era of the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship with our longtime partners Hoag and Newport Beach Country Club,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “The Hoag Classic has long been a best-in-class event on the Champions Tour, and it’s great to know we will be adding to that legacy with a senior major championship starting in 2027.”

“Hogue has been an incredible partner since the inception of Champions Tour Golf in Newport Beach, and it’s always been one of the most premier stops on our tour,” added Brady. “And Newport Beach Country Club has a proven record and is a major worthy venue for our great players. And, of course, Newport Beach is one of the best cities that we visit annually. Not only do the players enjoy it, but I think it’s the most well-attended event year in and year out. What more can you ask for in a major championship? When you look at what it takes to host a major, we’ve got everything we need right here—great sponsors, a fantastic golf course, great community support, and tremendous crowds. It’s exactly what we need to elevate the stature of the senior players championship.”

“Hoag is proud to welcome the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship to Orange County through our longstanding partnership with PGA TOUR Champions and Newport Beach Country Club,” said Andrew Guarni, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Hoag. “As title sponsor, Hoag is honored to help elevate one of golf’s most prestigious championships while showcasing Orange County on a global stage. This milestone reflects our continued commitment to excellence, community and creating meaningful experiences that bring people together both on and off the course.”

Newport Beach Country Club, which sits along Pacific Coast Highway in the heart of Newport Beach, was designed by famed architect William Bell in 1953. Dating back to 1996, the second year of the Hoag Classic, Newport Beach is the longest-tenured host course on PGA TOUR Champions.

“Today is an incredibly proud day for our club, our membership, and the entire Newport Beach community,” said Kevin Martin, CEO of Newport Beach Country Club and a partner in Eagle Four Partners, a private equity group specializing in strategic hospitality and golf investments. “For more than 30 years, Newport Beach Country Club has had the privilege of hosting the PGA Tour Champions Golf and welcoming some of the game’s greatest players to the golf course. To now be selected as the future home of the Hoag Senior Players Championship is both an honor and a responsibility we take seriously. We are especially proud of Newport Beach Country Club and our company, Eagle Four Partners. We will serve as both the host and presenting sponsor of the Hoag Players Championship, providing a unique opportunity to support Hope Hospital’s incredible mission while showcasing Newport Beach’s exceptional hospitality, world-class accommodations, and a vibrant local business community on a national stage.”

Martin then introduced Newport Beach Country Club General Manager Robin Shelton and World Golf Hall of Fame and Newport Beach Country Club member Fred Couples, who talked about his career as a pro golfer, his time playing on the senior tour, and his fondness for the Newport Beach Country Club.

“What do you think the vibe is going to be next year?” asked Shelton.

“Well, one of the things that’s unique is 72 holes, and I think that helps most good players, because you get one more round to maybe shoot 66 or 67 or whatever you have to do,” said Couples. “And there will be people everywhere. It’s such a small type of course in acreage that a lot of people can get from hole three to five, or from five to 11. I don’t use the word vibe a lot, but the vibe is stronger, it is a major. When we come back next year, in January, they’ll be talking about it at every golf tournament that we play. The first major will be the Hoag tournament in Newport Beach. It’s a big deal, it really is. And I’m overly excited, even at age 66, I’ll be ready to play in 2027.”

For more information about the Hoag SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, please visit www.HoagSENIORPLAYERS.com.

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Legendary saxophone player Dave Koz has racked up an impressive array of honors and achievements: 10 GRAMMY nominations, 12 No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, numerous world tours, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, performances for multiple U.S. presidents and a 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from the White House.

The last time I spoke with Koz was in September 2021, when the world was just starting to come out of Covid and Koz was set to perform at the Newport Beach Hyatt amphitheater.

Koz remembers it well.

“Even though that was five years ago, there was a certain pain, for lack of a better term, of what we all went through,” Koz told me during a recent phone interview. “It seems like it’s another lifetime ago, maybe because I tried to put it out of my head because it was so discombobulating for touring musicians. Everything just came to a very abrupt stop.”

Koz and his fellow musicians turned to online concerts, which served as a stopgap to continue a connection with fans, but as Koz noted, “there is nothing that can replace sitting at a concert and hearing live musicians playing music live. There’s nothing that can compare to that, so we are very excited to be fully back. It feels fantastic.”

And Koz will be back in Newport Beach June 21 with a handful of fellow musicians as part of the Hyatt Newport Beach Concert Series.

Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns 2026 features Leo P (baritone saxophone), Jeff Bradshaw (trombone), Marcel Anderson (vocals), Marcus Anderson (saxophone) and Evan Taylor (trumpet). Their tour kicked off in April at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and has included shows in China, Japan and Hawaii.

According to Koz, the idea of Summer Horns started in 2013 when the original lineup was Koz, Mindy Aber, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliott, and they paid tribute to the bands they grew up listening to.

“I’m 63 and I grew up listening to Tower of Power, Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, Cool and the Gang, Blood, Sweat and Tears. I was addicted to anything with a horn section. That’s what Summer Horns is about, paying homage to these bands that really shaped us as musicians.”

Koz has changed his Summer Horns lineup several times over the years. His current sextet got together last year and is comprised of primarily younger musicians that Koz had not worked with previously, but thought were great players.

“I remember when we did the recording session for ‘Vehicle’ last year, it was the first time that that group of musicians played together, and I was nervous,” recalled Koz. “I went to the studio that morning thinking ‘I sure hope this works.’ I remember from the first notes that we played, it was like, ‘Yes, this is gonna work,’ and it only got stronger and better and more cohesive. This is a funny group, because we have five different decades represented with this group—someone in their 20s, someone in their 30s, the twin brothers in their 40s, and our trombone player is in his 50s, and I’m in my 60s.”

No matter the age, Koz noted that it shows this particular music appeals to a wide audience.

“Younger people know this music and love this music and want to hear it,” stated Koz. “It’s all about making people feel good at a time when there’s so much stress and so much anxiety about our world. This is a couple of hours where you can just marinate in your memories. This is music that is guaranteed to make you feel good.”

And returning to Newport Beach makes Koz feel good because he has strong connections to Newport.

“I grew up in Los Angeles, and Newport has always been very special to me,” said Koz. “My family used to go on vacations to the Hyatt Newport. My parents loved Newport Beach and Balboa Island, and so we would go there for many summers when I was growing up as a kid. We would stay at the hotel, we would play tennis. My mom was an avid golfer, so she loved the golf down there, so many great golf courses. We would go at night to Balboa Island and get our Balboa bars and our frozen bananas. The place has always been very special to me.”

Koz also loves playing at the Hyatt amphitheater, which holds around 1,000 people yet feels very intimate.

“It feels like you’re playing in somebody’s backyard, as opposed to a big official venue,” he said. “There’s a relaxed feeling and atmosphere. The audience comes there ready to have a good time, and so do we. We’ve had nothing but great shows there over the years. I’m really excited that folks that come to the concert series will be able to see the Summer Horns 2026 show, which is really very fun and very powerful.”

Koz added that the five players that make up the Summer Horns are all individual artists that make their own records and go on tours as individual artists, but when everyone comes together you become an ensemble player.

“This is how I grew up playing in jazz bands and stage bands, growing up in horn sections,” said Koz. “It accesses a different aspect of our musicianship, and the feeling of playing in something in a section that makes this sound that is so much bigger than the sound that you can make on your own. There’s a satisfaction that comes from it that is hard to put into words, even though I’m talking about it verbosely. It’s just a very powerful feeling to be part of that section.”

Local audiences can feel, and hear, that power on June 21. For tickets, visit https://series.hyattconcerts.com.

The post Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns Tour Comes to Newport Beach June 21 appeared first on Newport Beach News.

On May 7, the “Stars of Tomorrow” from the Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts walked the Red Carpet at the Port Theater in Corona del Mar.

Guests were treated to specialty cocktails, a variety of champagne, wines, gourmet appetizers, and of course popcorn and candy. From the “Step and Repeat” paparazzi photographers, Marilyn Monroe lookalike, and glamourous gown adorned ladies, the evening could have rivaled the Oscars.

The student filmmakers were all in attendance as the audience was treated to four short films created by the Dodge College award recipients.

The Women of Chapman Student Endowment Fund has provided annual funding for emerging artists for over 12 years. Students were interviewed after each film by Dodge Film School Dean Stephen Galloway. The heartfelt applause following the films was an indication of the audience’s approval and support for these future talented filmmakers.

Special thanks to Adrienne Brandes (President of Women of Chapman) and the Stars of Tomorrow Committee (Adrienne Brandes, Kathy Hamilton, Sue Hook, Mikey Lares, Kristin Martin and Mary Murfey) along with Silver Spotlight, Bronze Friends Sponsors and the Port Theater.

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts is ranked the #4 film school in the country by both The Wrap and the Hollywood Reporter magazines.

Presenting Sponsors were Whittier Trust and Arlo and Marci Sorensen.

The post The Women of Chapman Present Future Filmmakers at Port Theater in Corona del Mar appeared first on Newport Beach News.