Students can now apply to play at music fest

As part of its ongoing student outreach mission, the Ventura Music Festival will host the second annual Student Music Competition.

One high school student from Ventura, Los Angeles or Santa Barbara county will be selected to play a number on stage with Latin-jazz legend Paquito D'Rivera, a nine-time Grammy award winner, on Feb. 14 at Ventura High School.

To enter the competition, students will provide a CD or MP3 of their recording via U.S. mail or e-mail.

Entries must contain student's name, age, home address, phone number, email address, name of recording and composer of contest entry, school name, music teacher name, and teacher's phone number and e-mail address.

CDs should be mailed to: Ventura Music Festival, Attn: Jenny Toder, 472 E. Santa Clara Ave., Ventura, CA 93001. Email MP3s to Mary Braitman at mary@braitmanconsulting.com.

Entry deadline is Jan. 15.

All entrants will receive discount tickets to attend the concert.

For details, call (805) 6483146 or (805) 647-5278 or visit www.venturamusivfestival.org.