AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: February 11, 2026
DAY FOR IPALPITI ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL IPALPITI FESTIVAL CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT ON SATURDAY JULY 25, 2026, AT
THE WALLIS ANENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Attachments: None
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend the City Council approve the allocation of one of the City’s free-use days at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, for a 2026 iPalpiti Festival classical music concert as part of its forthcoming 29th summer concert season.
INTRODUCTION
This item is a request for the City Council to consider approval of a free-use day of The Wallis Anenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) Bram Goldsmith Theater, for an iPalpiti Festival classical music concert on July 25, 2026. This forthcoming 2026 series will be the 29th summer season of the iPalpiti Festival.
BACKGROUND
The City holds an agreement with iPalpiti, and Music in the Mansion Artistic Director Laura Schmieder, to provide ongoing artistic advisory services for the Beverly Hills National Auditions, and the Music in the Mansion classical chamber music series at Greystone Mansion. The long-running Music in the Mansion concert series has presented classical music concerts in Beverly Hills since 1994, and the winners of the Beverly Hills National Auditions perform in the following season of Music in the Mansion. As part of the agreement for artistic advisory services with iPalpiti, and responsible principal contractor Laura Schmieder, the City provides the use of the Greystone Living Room for one iPalpiti Festival Concert during the summer, following the successful completion of the Beverly Hills National Auditions. Per the agreement, the City also provides either a rehearsal Item Number: D-5
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Matthew Brown, Recreation Services Manager
Subject: REQUEST FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A FREE USE Meeting Date: February 11, 2026
space for musicians, or additional performance space, at a City facility during the week of the iPalpiti Festival.
The iPalpiti Festival Concert is a public, ticketed event, hosted by iPalpiti, with the collaboration of the City of Beverly Hills’ Community Services Department. In 2025, iPalpiti requested use of the Municipal Gallery in City Hall for their additional performance space.
For 2026, iPalpiti is requesting one of the City’s free-use days of The Wallis’ Bram Goldsmith Theater for an iPalpiti Festival classical music concert on July 25, 2026. iPalpiti would be responsible for covering all hard costs charged by The Wallis. The requested reservation date of July 25, 2026, has been placed on hold for iPalpiti, pending Council approval.
Preliminary cost estimates that iPalpiti will be required to pay to The Wallis are still pending the final invoice amount to be calculated, but the initial estimated cost is $14,372, which covers all of the technical and back-stage labor required to host the event. This preliminary and estimated production cost may increase as iPalpiti confirms more of the program and event details. At this time some of the more specific event planning information, including ticket pricing, parking, and more logistical details are still being developed between iPalpiti and The Wallis. iPalpiti has agreed to provide some tickets for Beverly Hills residents at a discounted rate and will be working with The Wallis to confirm ticket prices. iPalpiti will coordinate with The Wallis to determine the date tickets will become available to the public, and will promote the concert through multiple channels, including social media, print media, email marketing, among others.
Through the City’s lease agreement with The Wallis, the City may sponsor or host up to ten (10) daytime events and up to ten (10) evening events in the Theatre, the Studio, or any other interior portion of the property, or the exterior Promenade or other grounds of the property, during each calendar year. To date, one free-use day has been approved for this calendar year, for City Council Installation (April 14, 2026). While the City’s agreement with The Wallis permits free use of the space, there are additional costs for labor and production associated with the event, such as ticketing, private security, and cleaning, that the organizers (iPalpiti) would bear.
FISCAL IMPACT
Outside of the free-use day at the Wallis provided by the City, any additional costs associated with the 2026 iPalpiti Festival classical music concert will be paid for by iPalpiti directly to The Wallis.
Stephanie Harris,
Community Services Director
Approved By