The Music Academy of the West raised a record $1.2 million at its 2026 Music Note Gala.

The showcase, held August 14 at the Bella Vista Estate in Summerland, California, honored Cheryl Goldberg, a member of the Music Academy’s Board of Directors and Founding Contributor to The Muse, the Academy’s forthcoming Music Education Center in downtown Santa Barbara.

The evening starred six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, accompanied by Broadway music director Andy Einhorn on piano, Academy alum bassist Ian Walker, and drummer Greg Sadler. McDonald performed selections from the Great American Songbook and also sang alongside members of the Academy’s Sing! youth choir in “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

“The extraordinary generosity shown at this year’s Music Note Gala is a powerful affirmation of the Music Academy’s mission and its growth. The funds raised will directly support full scholarships for our Fellowship Institute, expand opportunities for young musicians through our High School Intensive, and sustain Sing! as a free program for youth throughout Santa Barbara,” said Shauna Quill, President and CEO of the Music Academy, per an official press release.

Goldberg, whose $20 million gift in 2025 is helping make The Muse possible, was recognized for a commitment to the Academy that extends well beyond a single program. The Muse, scheduled to open in 2028, will serve as a year-round home for music education, performance, and community gathering in the heart of Santa Barbara.

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