Festival Mozaic's Community Impact
Festival Mozaic has been a fixture in the performing arts fabric of San Luis Obispo County for over 50 years. We are proud of the work we do to bring outstanding performances, music educational opportunities, and community engagement to every corner of San Luis Obispo County.
Below are some of the ways in which this organization reaches a diverse cross-section of residents of and visitors to our county.
Community Midday Concert Series
The Community Midday Concerts, a series of free mini-concerts, is a major component of the Summer Festival each year. These concerts take place at noon on select days during the Summer Festival and feature small numbers of Festival Mozaic artists in laid-back performances in cities throughout San Luis Obispo County. They take place in small venues such as churches or school auditoriums, and some take place in larger venues including the Templeton Performing Arts Center or the Harold J. Miossi Cultural & Performing Arts Center. The Summer 2026 series includes eight performances in 7 different cities throughout the county - Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cambria, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Templeton, and two concerts in San Luis Obispo. While there is a suggested donation of $10 per person to attend these concerts, patrons are welcome to attend completely free of charge making this one of the most accessible ways to experience exceptional performances at Festival Mozaic.
The 2026 Community Midday Concert Series is sponsored by the Dignity Health Foundation.
Boatzart: Festival Brass Quintet
A fixture in the early days of the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, "Boatzart" is an outdoor performance featuring the Festival Brass Quintet. On a weekday evening during each Summer Festival, catch these incredible performers playing classical and popular favorites from the end of Baywood Park Pier. This concert can be attended by land or sea! Bring your kayak or sailboat into the bay or bring a lawn chair out to where 2nd Street meets El Toro Avenue and listen from the shore. This concert is always free to attend, or you can make the suggested donation of $10 per person. This concert grows in popularity every year, reaching 300+ community members at each concert.
Boatzart is presented with the generous support of the Baywood Navy.
Family Concert
Started in 2019, the Festival Mozaic Family Concert offers a perfect introductory concert experience for our youngest listeners. These concerts, offered every summer, feature the Festival Mozaic chamber and orchestra musicians performing alongside student and professional ballet dancers from the SLO Movement Arts Center. These performances are designed specifically for children and families, though we welcome attendees of any age, and include programs that combine music and stories such as Carnival of the Animals, Peter and the Wolf, and Babar the Elephant.
The Family Concert is generously underwritten by the Marcie & John Lindvall Educational and Community Initiative.
Young Artist Program
Inaugurated in 2025, the Festival Mozaic Young Artist Program brings a string quartet of pre-professional artists to San Luis Obispo each summer. Hand-picked by music director Scott Yoo, these students are drawn from the ranks of the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, where Mr. Yoo is on the faculty. They travel to San Luis Obispo to experience chamber music coaching and instruction by Yoo and guest mentor Bion Tsang (cello). Throughout the first week of the Summer Festival, the Young Artist string quartet travels around the county performing free Mini-Concerts at our neighborhood libraries. They complete their residency with a full-length concert performance of two pieces of chamber music - one for string quartet, and one for string sextet in which the students are joined by their mentors Yoo and Tsang.
After the completion of the Young Artist Program, the student string quartet joins the ranks of the Festival Mozaic artists, performing chamber music and orchestra concerts alongside their professional colleagues.
The Young Artist Mini-Concert series is presented with the support of the SLO County Libraries and SLO County Library Foundation.
Master Classes
Master classes are great opportunities for students to perform for a new teacher and receive a fresh perspective, as well as gain experience playing in front of a live audience. Throughout the fall, winter and spring, Festival Mozaic typically presents three-to-four master classes with visiting artists. At each class, a selection of young musicians perform selections for a guest teacher ("master") who then offer constructive feedback and suggestions in front of a live audience. A staple of any musical performance education, master classes are invaluable experiences.
Festival Master Classes are generously underwritten by the Marcie & John Lindvall Educational and Community Initiative.
Partnerships with Cuesta College and Cal Poly University
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Festival Mozaic artist presentations to Cuesta College and Cal Poly are generously underwritten by the Marcie & John Lindvall Educational and Community Initiative.
Partnership with Local School Districts
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Public school programs are generously underwritten by the Marcie & John Lindvall Educational and Community Initiative.