Festival Mozaic sees highest ticket sales in a decade

Festival Mozaic celebrated its 45th anniversary this summer with its highest attendance and ticket sales in a decade, according to Executive Director Bettina Swigger.

San Luis Obispo County’s premiere classical music festival, which ran July 16 through 26 at venues including Mission San Luis Obispo, Mission San Miguel and Cuesta College’s Cultural and Performing Arts Center, saw a 22 percent boost in individual ticket sales from the previous year, Swigger said.

A total of 926 people bought tickets to Festival Mozaic concerts, notable encounter talks and other events this summer, compared to 754 individual ticket buyers in 2014.

Organizers sold 4,203 tickets worth $205,400 in 2015, Swigger said, compared to 3,781 tickets worth $187,801 the previous year.

In addition, Festival Mozaic, formerly known as the Mozart Festival, went from selling 66 percent of available seats in 2014 to 81 percent of available seats in 2015, Swigger said.

The nonprofit organization also saw a big boost in fundraising efforts.

According to Swigger, Festival Mozaic had hoped to raise $247,950 for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, and ended up bringing in about $258,000 in contributions — thanks in part to grants from the city of San Luis Obispo, the Augustine Family Foundation, the California Arts Council, the Hind Foundation and Union Bank.

As part of those fundraising efforts, the festival raised nearly $14,000 for its Maestro’s Fund, which supports creative projects by Music Director Scott Yoo.

Swigger attributed Festival Mozaic’s success to a number of factors including quality programming, a new ticketing and marketing system, discounts and special deals for local musicians and students, and improved outreach to potential event-goers in Fresno, Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo chamber music series runs Nov. 5 through 7 and Feb. 26 through 28 at venues throughout the Central Coast. For more information, call 781-3009 or visit www.festivalmozaic.com.

This story was originally published August 10, 2015 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Festival Mozaic sees highest ticket sales in a decade."