Deer Valley Music Festival to Kick Off with 1812 Overture, 6/29

The Deer Valley Music Festival, summer home of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, is celebrating ten years of music in the mountains with a festival lineup that highlights the diversity of the orchestra and its audience. The 2013 Festival features seventeen performances from June 29 to August 10 at venues in Park City, Utah, including ten performances at Deer Valley Resort's Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheatre which was recently highlighted by CNN as one of eight "amazing" outdoor concert venues. The first three Festival events will take place on June 29, July 5 and July 6.

The annual performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" featuring live cannons blasted by The Cannoneers of the Wasatch will begin the Tenth Anniversary Festival on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater. It will feature Utah Symphony Associate Conductor Vladimir Kulenovic leading the orchestra in an array of patriotic music. The Utah Symphony has performed Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" every summer in Park City for over 25 years.

The Festival continues with a 10th Anniversary Gala on Friday, July 5, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley. The gala will include a cocktail reception with music provided by Tad Calcara and New Deal Swing followed by a dinner and performances by Utah Symphony Musicians, vocalist Lisa Vroman, pianist Jerry Steichen and string trio Time for Three. An After Hours party will take place at 9:30 p.m. with a private concert featuring Blues Traveler.

On Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater the Festival will present Take Me Home - The Music of John Denver starring Jim Curry with the Utah Symphony. Known for being one of the most popular folk and country acoustic artists of the 1970's, John Denver's music has influenced audiences of all ages with its unique messages and sounds. The Utah Symphony's Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen will conduct the performance.

Related Events:

VIP Dinners will take place at 5:30 p.m. prior to the June 29 and July 6 performances. For information on participating in the Deer Valley Music Festival VIP program call 801-869-9010 or visit http://www.deervalleymusicfestival.org/.

As part of the 10th Anniversary Gala, a Live Auction will be held to support Utah Symphony | Utah Opera and the Deer Valley Music Festival. Auction items include numerous exclusive trips, a sculpture by Peter Fillerup, jewelry (generously donated by O.C. Tanner) and the opportunity to conduct the Utah Symphony this summer. Anyone not attending the gala who would still like to participate in the auction can see auction items and fill out an Auction Proxy Bid form at http://www.deervalleymusicfestival.org/support/item/111.

A Musical Instrument Petting Zoo will be held on the plaza at Deer Valley Snow Park Lodge prior to the July 6 performance from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their children prior to the performance of The Music of John Denver to play instruments provided by Summerhays Music. Members of the Utah Symphony Youth Guild will assist youngsters.

Tickets for events can be purchased by calling 801-355-2787, in person at any ArtTix outlet or online at www.deervalleymusicfestival.org. Tickets are also available in Park City at Deer Valley Signature and Etc. stores. Group Rates are available for groups of ten or more by calling 801-869-9046. A discounted Design-A-Series subscription package (four or more concerts) is available by calling 801-533-6683 or visitingwww.deervalleymusicfestival.org/das.

1812 Overture!

Saturday, June 29:

$25 general admission lawn tickets, $10 for youth 18 and younger, $45-$65 reserved seating tickets

10th Anniversary Gala & After Hours featuring Blues Traveler

Friday, July 5:

The Gala Program & Dinner is sold out. Tickets to the private After Hours concert featuring Blues Traveler are still available for $150 per person.

Take Me Home - The Music of John Denver starring Jim Curry with the Utah Symphony

Saturday, July 6:

$32 general admission lawn tickets, $15 for youth 18 and younger, reserved seating tickets are sold out

Ticket prices are subject to change based on demand and will increase by $5 when purchased on the day of performance.

Maximum chair height at Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater is nine inches from the ground. Gates will open to all ticket holders approximately two hours before the performance begins. Patrons must be present to save a spot in line. Unattended items will be removed. Valid picture ID is required to pick up tickets at will call. No ticket reprinting is available for general admission seating. Outside food and drinks are allowed at the venue, and there are a variety of concession services at the venue offered by Deer Valley Resort.

Artists:

Utah Symphony Associate Conductor Vladimir Kulenovic maintains a guest conducting schedule that includes collaborations with acclaimed soloists Leon Fleisher, Mischa Masky, Akiko Suwanai, Augustin Hadelich, and orchestras worldwide. As a conductor, Kulenovic has been awarded the Sir Georg Solti Award, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Scholarship, Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship, Charles Schiff Conducting Prize, and Alfred B. Whitney Prize. As a pianist, Mr. Kulenovic won the 2nd Prize at the Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Paris.

The Cannoneers of the Wasatch have traveled the Wasatch Front for 38 years blasting self-made cannons while orchestras perform. The cannoneers have more than 18 historical replica cannons, ranging in size from 25 to 1,000 pounds. They have also performed in Taylorsville, Layton and Sun Valley, Idaho. The group formed in 1971 when the University of Utah's Snowbird Summer Arts Institute wanted to perform Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" with cannon fire but lacked cannons. As the years went by, cannoneers creatively fixed the timing problem by inventing new devices. The cannons are now controlled by a sophisticated electronic keyboard powered by four batteries.

New Deal Swing was established in 2003 by Utah Symphony principal clarinetist Tad Calcara. The group focuses on the "hot" swing bands from the 1930s and 1940s: Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Jimmie Lunceford. The band can easily switch tracks for some of the more romantic swing classics by Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Glenn Miller.

Maestro Jerry Steichen has established himself as one of America's most versatile conductors. He currently holds the positions of Principal Pops Conductor of the Utah Symphony and Music Director of the Ridgefield Symphony (Connecticut). He also completed sixteen seasons as Principal Pops Conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Steichen is the only conductor who has conducted each of the ten seasons of the Deer Valley Music Festival.

From Broadway to classics, on stage and in concert, Lisa Vroman has established herself as one of America's most versatile voices. Lisa starred for several years on Broadway as Christine Daaé in "The Phantom of the Opera." As Christine, she garnered Theatre Critics' awards for the role in a record breaking run in San Francisco and did a return engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Ms. Vroman starred as Rosabella in "The Most Happy Fella," making her New York City Opera debut with Paul Sorvino in the title role. Recently she played the role of Charlotte in "A Little Night Music" with Michigan Opera Theatre, starring Leslie Uggams and Ron Raines. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops, starred as Lili Vanessi in "Kiss Me Kate" with Glimmerglass Opera as well as with the MUNY Theater of St. Louis and played Marian Paroo in "The Music Man" with Shirley Jones (Mrs. Paroo) and Patrick Cassidy (Harold Hill) at The Bushnell Theatre in Hartford CT. Ms. Vroman sang the role of Birdie in "Regina" with Utah Opera, conducted by Keith Lockhart; made her New Jersey Opera debut as "Rosalinda" in Die Fledermaus, (directed by Ira Siff), replacing Metropolitan Opera soprano Ruth Ann Swenson, and premiered and recorded two comic operas by composers John Musto ("Bastianello") and William Bolcum ("Lucrezia" - lyrics by Mark Campbell) with the New York Festival of Song.

The world's first classically-trained garage band, Time for Three - Zachary (Zach) De Pue, violin; Nicolas (Nick) Kendall, violin; and Ranaan Meyer, double bass - defies traditional classification. Performing music from Bach and Brahms to their own arrangements of The Beatles, Katy Perry, Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, they have performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Jazz clubs, European festivals, NFL games and the Indy 500. Their hit YouTube bullying prevention video "Stronger," featured on CNN and the Huffington Post, has inspired students around the globe. Their packed 2012/13 season included the release of their second album, a return to Carnegie Hall, their first tour of Asia, and the world premiere of a new concerto by William Bolcom, in addition to their continuing residency with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Eighteen years after scoring the Grammy Award winning, harmonica laced Billboard Top Ten breakthrough hit that came to define pop music in the mid-90s, Blues Traveler is still finding unique ways to ensure that they don't give their legion of worldwide fans the "Run-Around." On their instantly infectious, musically expansive 11th studio album and 429 Records/SLG debut, "Suzie Cracks the Whip," they remain creatively focused while dramatically expanding their musical horizons upon celebrating over 25 years as a band. The band has kept up an average touring pace of 250 shows per year.

Jim Curry began his music career writing and performing, "The Time of Your Life" for his senior play. Following John Denver's untimely death in 1997, Jim landed an off-camera role singing as the voice of John Denver in the CBS television made for TV movie: "Take Me Home, the John Denver Story." Jim sings, in his own natural voice, a tribute to the music in a way that has to be seen and heard to understand the pure honesty of his amazing performance. His looks and his voice are simply a pleasant coincidence that captures the true essence of John Denver's music.

Programs:

The Deer Valley Music Festival presents

1812 Overture!
Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Saturday, June 29, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

VIP dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. at Snow Park Lodge.

Vladimir Kulenovic, Conductor
Cannoners of the Wasatch, Cannons

Smith/Key	"Star Spangled Banner"
Leonard Bernstein (arr. Maurice Peress)	Overture to "West Side Story"
Morton Gould	"American Salute"
Various	Armed Forces Salute
Franz Von Suppé	Overture to "Light Cavalry"
John Philip Sousa	"King Cotton March"
	"Manhattan Beach March"
	"The Thunderer"
INTERMISSION
George M. Cohan (arr. Phillip Gordon)	Star Spangled Spectacular
Jim Beckel	"Freedom Tower"
Leroy Anderson	"Serenata"
	"Belle of the Ball"
	"Chicken Reel"
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky	"1812 Overture"

The Deer Valley Music Festival presents

"A Midsummer Night of Music and Magic"

10th Anniversary Gala Celebration

Stein Eriksen Lodge

Friday, July 5, 2013, 5:30 p.m.

Cocktail reception featuring Tad Calcara and New Deal Swing at 5:30 p.m. Dinner, main performance and live auction at 7:00 p.m. After Hours featuring a private performance with Blues Traveler begins at 9:30 p.m.

Musicians from the Utah Symphony: Kathryn Eberle (Violin), Brant Bayless (Viola), Anne Lee (Cello), Jens Tenbroek (Bass), Jason Hardink (Piano)

Jerry Steichen, Piano

Lisa Vroman, Soprano

Time for Three: Zach De Pue (Violin), Nick Kendall (Violin), Rannan Meyer (Bass)

Selections to be announced from the stage.

The Deer Valley Music Festival presents

Take Me Home - The Music of John Denver starring Jim Curry with the Utah Symphony

Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Saturday, July 6, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

VIP dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. at Snow Park Lodge. Musical Instrument Petting Zoo for families on the Snow Park Lodge plaza from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Jerry Steichen, Conductor
Jim Curry, Guitar, Vocals

Performance will include: "Annie's Song," "Rocky Mountain High," Back Home Again," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," "Fly Away," Calypso," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads. " Additional selections to be announced from the stage.

To post a comment, you must register and login.