Rob Gibson, who left Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2000 after 10 years as executive producer and director, took the job as director of the Savannah Onstage International Arts Festival two years later. Renaming it the Savannah Music Festival, he scheduled for the first season an impressive and eclectic lineup of musicians, intending to turn it into an important venue for jazz, classical, and world music.

Mr. Gibson was back in New York City yesterday – along with SMF assistant director Daniel Hope, who is also the violinist for the Beaux Arts Trio – to announce the 2005 lineup and let the cultural world know just how serious they are about being a music festival.

“Savannah is one of the oldest and most unique cities in the United States of America,” said Mr. Gibson. “We are trying to … export the music of the region to the rest of the world and put it on stage so it gets displayed.”

The lineup for 2005 brings together jazz, gospel, and blues, with solo piano, chamber music, and ballet, and international sounds such as gamelan mandolin, and zydeko, and much more. On March 29 the Beaux Arts Trio will celebrate its 50th anniversary season with performances of Dvorak’s “Dumky Trio,” Mendelssohn’s “Trio in D minor,” and the world premiere of works by Uri Caine – one of several artists from whom works have been commissioned for the festival. There will be a recital by soprano Arianna Zukerman and a solo piano recital by New York native Richard Goode, and much more.

One of the most notable performances of the festival is sure to be the United States premiere of Ravi Shankar’s “East Meets West,” to be performed for the first time since the 1960s, with Mr. Hope on violin and Guarav Mazumdar on sitar, as well as Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayann Ali Bangash. Adding a twist to the piece will be slide guitar prodigy Derek Trucks. Mr. Hope has also produced “Sensations,” three unique classical music programs solely for the Savannah Music Festival.

The presence of world music also means that the festival is “bringing the best of the world to Savannah,” said Mr. Gibson. “We’re trying to be, as a festival, an amalgamation of different musics that are historical and modern.”

Mr. Gibson said he hopes to turn SMF into a destination for cultural tourism. In 2004 the Festival brought more than $3.8 million to the region over 15 days. After only two years it has become the home of one time only performances and world premieres, nearly doubling ticket sales last year to $440,000 from $228,000 in 2003 .

Mr. Gibson himself is returning to the festival with the series he has produced called, “Still Confessin’ the Blues.” There are also scheduled performances by blues guitarist Buddy Guy and bluegrass innovator Ricky Skaggs, as well as a birthday celebration for jazz musician and Savannah native, James Moody, with guests Jimmy Heath, Frank West, and Percy Heath on Saturday March 19.

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NOTES

Bard College has announced the creation of the Bard College Conservatory of Music. Students will train and study for the bachelor of music degree with world-class musicians and teachers and perform in state-of-the-art facilities. For its first year, 2005-06, the Conservatory will accept a total of approximately 30 students of the following instruments: piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn. … After a 50% increase in ticket sales over the past four years, the Upper West side cultural landmark, Symphony Space, is launching a new advertising campaign. The campaign features artists and Symphony Space supporters such as Alec Baldwin, Stephen Colbert, and Dan Zanes, performing or reading in a setting such as their home or on the beach, with the tagline “Symphony Space. The most intimate place to see artists do what they love.” … The second annual openhousenewyork, a public celebration of architecture and design in New York City, will take place on October 9th and 10th at 100 sites throughout the five boroughs and is free of charge. Visitwww.ohny.org for more information. … Portuguese writer and 2001 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Antonio Lobo Antunes has been chosen to receive the 2005 Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society. The prize will be awarded to Lobo Antunes by the Mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolianski, during the 22nd International Book Fair, which will take place February 13-18 at the Jerusalem International Convention Center.