A message from our conductor :
Dear CHICO Supporters,
I hope this message finds you well.
Since the summer of 2022, the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra and I have been developing our debut album. After completing all 15 tracks, we began seeking a label to represent the project. Following several months of outreach, we were honored to receive an invitation in July 2025 from Navona Records, the classical imprint of PARMA Recordings.
I am excited to share that Echoes of the Land will be released globally on April 10. Featuring the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra and renowned guitarist Evan Taucher, the album brings together works by Ashley Hoyer and Bevan Manson that reflect the beauty, history, and spirit of landscapes ranging from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Channel Islands, and even to Odesa. Each piece is deeply rooted in a sense of place, celebrating the connections between land, culture, and people. This project has truly been a labor of love, and I’m so happy to share it—please visit the website to learn more, listen to a preview track, and watch a 17-minute documentary about the making of the album.
The Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra will host an album release event on Saturday, April 18, at 5:00 PM at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura. I would be delighted if you could join us to raise a glass and mark this milestone together.
Looking forward to seeing you at the celebration!
Warmly,
KuanFen Liu
Artistic Director and Conductor
Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra
You can pre-save the album now so it will appear in your music library when it is released on April 10
Album Release Celebration:
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
Museum of Ventura County
100 East Main Street
Ventura, California
No ticket purchase is required; however, seating is limited. Please come celebrate with us as we mark this exciting milestone for CHICO! A reception with a cash bar and light refreshments will follow a short program.
CHICO is thrilled to announce the release of Echoes of the Land
Echoes of the Land features three distinct works, each with its own narrative and emotional resonance. The Channel Islands Orchestral Suite (Ashley Hoyer) traces a musical journey across the archipelago, illuminating the islands’ landscapes, histories, and the lives of plants, animals, and first peoples who have called them home. From the vastness of Santa Cruz Island and its echoes of Chumash ceremony, to the playful illusions of Anacapa Island, the bird-song soundscapes of Santa Barbara Island, the rugged cliffs of San Clemente, the reflective spirit of San Miguel, the sweeping grandeur of Santa Catalina, and the interwoven melodies of Santa Rosa Island, each movement captures the unique character, beauty, and resilience of these extraordinary islands.
The work Santa Monica Mountains (Bevan Manson) serves as an orchestral love letter to the lands stretching from Malibu beaches through the hidden valleys and backcountry of Topanga and Calabasas. Inspired by the spiritual awareness and ecological wisdom of the Chumash people, the music evokes ocean vistas, fragrant sage, dense chaparral, and the presence of wildlife — bobcats, mountain lions, and deer — alongside humans’ own connection to these lands. Movements range from mysterious fog over rolling hills to playful beach scenes, reflective passages on undiscovered country, and the awe-inspiring majesty of the mountains’ slopes and canyons, reminding listeners of the wonder and depth of the natural world that surrounds us.
Finally, The Trees of Odesa (Bevan Manson) extends this exploration across continents, reflecting on how human care and creativity can transform and sustain a landscape. Inspired by centuries-old trees brought from around the world to the Ukrainian city of Odesa, this piece captures both the beauty and fragility of life through music, with haunting clarinet and oboe lines conveying the vulnerability of these urban canopies in times of conflict.
Together, these works form a powerful, immersive musical experience that celebrates not only the environments themselves, but the human stories, histories, and cultural connections that make these places meaningful. Echoes of the Land is a triumph for CHICO, marking a new chapter in our commitment to presenting music that speaks to our shared experience, connects us to the world around us, and inspires wonder, reflection, and celebration.
This album is more than a recording; it is a vibrant testament to collaboration, creativity, and the enduring bond between people and the lands they cherish. CHICO is proud to share this milestone with audiences everywhere, inviting listeners to experience these landscapes, histories, and stories in a completely new and unforgettable way.
