VENTURA, Calif., March 6, 2026 — The Ventura Music Festival is delighted to announce the appointment of Sonia Tower as Interim Executive Director.

In her most recent role, Tower was appointed by President Biden to serve as Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at the National Endowment for the Arts, a position she held until January 2025. She was also assigned to a special detail as Senior Advisor to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, where she oversaw the Committee’s relaunch, collaborating with Co-Chair Lady Gaga and honorary Chair, First Lady Jill Biden.

Tower has a longstanding connection to the Festival, having served as Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Ventura, where she was instrumental in developing and launching the Ventura Music Festival—envisioned as the City’s premier cultural event. Tower managed the Festival’s initial years before transitioning it to an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a highly qualified individual ready to step in and guide the Festival through this transitional period,” stated Richard Reisman, a Board Member of the Ventura Music Festival.

“I am honored to serve as Interim Executive Director of the Festival,” said Sonia Tower. “The Ventura Music Festival is a vital cultural asset that has delivered exceptional musical performances to Ventura residents and visitors for three decades. There is no greater joy than collaborating with the committed and talented Board, staff, and volunteers to bring this year’s Festival to life.”

Tower will assist in leading the organization as it readies for its upcoming summer season, upholding the Festival’s tradition of bringing world-class music and arts education to Ventura County. Annually, the Festival hosts thousands of attendees in Ventura, offering educational programs and free community events that broaden access to the arts.

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SOURCE Ventura Music Festival