2014 Deer Valley Music Festival to Open with Patriotic Lineup, Featuring Texas Tenors and Kenny Rogers, Today

The Deer Valley Music Festival, summer home of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, opens their eleventh season with a holiday bang this year and two special Fourth of July concerts at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater.

On July 4, 2014 at 7:30 PM, Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen and the Utah Symphony welcome the Texas Tenors -- Marcus Collins, John Hagen and JC Fisher. The Texas Tenors amplified their fame in 2009 on the hit TV show "America's Got Talent." Their unique blend of country, gospel, classical, and Broadway will provide new life to your favorite patriotic songs.

Adding to the excitement of opening weekend is Country Music Hall of Fame inductee and multi-platinum recording artist Kenny Rogers, who joins the Utah Symphony and Maestro Steichen on Saturday, July 5, at 7:30 PM at Snow Park Amphitheater. For more than five decades, Kenny Rogers has been enthralling audiences with his music and songs from country to soul to pop. He will be performing his most popular hits, including "The Gambler", "Lady", and "Coward of the County."

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 visiting www.deervalleymusicfestival.org/das. Gala information is available by calling 801-869-9010.

VIP Events and Packages: VIP packages for both Friday and Saturday performances will continue at this year's festival and include VIP parking, pre-concert gourmet dinner at the resort, premium reserved seating, and access to the intermission reception. VIP package pricing includes a charitable contribution built into the various package options. Salon Events will also continue, featuring intimate performances in luxurious private residences by festival artists. Cost will be $125 per person. For more information regarding VIP packages and our Salon Events schedule, call (801) 869-9010 or email vipevents@usuo.org.

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.

GUEST ARTISTS

Jerry Steichen, Principal Pops Conductor

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. Steichen is the only conductor to have conducted each of the ten seasons of the Deer Valley Music Festival.

The Texas Tenors

With their hit PBS special now airing across the US and a Billboard Top 10 album "You Should Dream," it's easy to see why The Texas Tenors are quickly becoming America's favorite new tenors. Since their whirlwind debut four years ago on NBC's America's Got Talent, The Texas Tenors have performed over 600 concerts around the world including a 24-city tour in the United Kingdom, Shanghai, China and collaborations with some of the most prestigious symphonies, performing arts centers and arenas.

From Alabama to Puccini, John Hagen, Marcus Collins and JC Fisher bring their unique blend of Country, Classical and Broadway to the stage with breathtaking vocals, humor and a touch of cowboy charm. The Texas Tenors can be found in cities across the country for extended runs including 65 concerts each year at The Starlite Theatre in Branson, MO where they were named 2011, 2012 and 2013 Critic's Choice Group of the Year, Best Legacy Group, Branson's Favorite Christmas Show of 2013 and rated Trip Advisor's #1 attraction. 2013 saw many milestones including a hit PBS special, an appearance on the Today Show and Billboard charting releases "You Should Dream" and a Christmas album, "O Night Divine."

The group also debuted a new patriotic show "Let Freedom Sing", a celebration of America and her heroes defending freedom at home and abroad. It joins critically acclaimed mainstay "The Texas Tenors Live in Concert" and "Deep in the Heart of Christmas". JC, Marcus and John are always ready to give back and promote awareness for organizations near and dear to their hearts including The Child Fun International, Homes for our Troops and The Mission Project. The Texas Tenors proudly remain self produced and managed with a commitment to quality, family entertainment for all ages. Whether it is on stage, television, recording or multi-media projects, these 'three friends with a dream" never forget their roots.

John Hagen, Vocalist

John has been described as "astonishing", "a superb tenor of deep musicality", making his Lincoln Center debut in New York City in Teatro Grattacielo's mounting of Mascagni's Gulglielmo Ratcliff. Mr. Hagen created 3 tenor roles in the world premiere of The Lost Dauphane for Pamiro Opera airing on PBS. John has performed a vast array of operatic roles ranging from Alfredo in La Traviata to the title role of Otello for Cleveland Opera on tour. John has received many awards and accolades throughout his career including finalist in the New Jersey Opera Association of Verismo Opera competition held at Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Regional Finalist, and winner of numerous other competitions. Mr. Hagen is highly regarded for his performances of the Verdi Requiem and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 performing these works with more than a dozen symphony orchestras across the United States. John has taught voice and vocal pedagogy at Wartburg College and at his alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa.

Marcus Collins, Vocalist

Marcus was born in a small town and began performing at the age of 4. He first learned how to sing by emulating his favorite artists like Garth Brooks, George Michael, and Freddie Mercury before training classically in college. Marcus has performed throughout the world on cruise ships and numerous stage productions including a performance in Times Square with the Broadway cast of Hairspray, Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz as Matthew, Permission: A Rock Musical and over the years multiple productions of The Sound of Music, first as Kurt, then Rolf and later Uncle Max. Beyond music he has worked extensively as an actor with appearances in over 100 episodes of network television and 25 films including P.S. I Love You, Semi-Pro, Delirious, 30 Rock, recurring roles on One Life To Live and As The World Turns, Guest VJ on MTV's TRL and one of his favorite roles appearing as Edward Carnby in the video game Alone in the Dark for Eden Games in 2008.

JC Fisher, Vocalist

JC Fischer has entertained audiences around the world for the past 15 years. In high school, he had a passion for sports and also enjoyed singing in church. He discovered a deeper love of singing at Wichita State University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music. JC performed various roles including Rodolfo in La Bohéme, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Henrick in A Little Night Music and even Miss America's duet partner at the 1997 Miss Kansas Pageant. After college, JC traveled

to Lucca, Italy, where he sang in the Puccini Festival under the direction of acclaimed Italian maestro Lorenzo Malfatti. His most memorable performance though turned out to be from college, where he found the young woman who would become his wife. Jennifer Vannatta, Miss Kansas 1998, married JC in 2004. They have three children: Jackson, Jenson and Jennings.

Kenny Rogers, Vocalist

March 7, 2011 marked another new chapter in the remarkable career of music legend and American icon, Kenny Rogers. That is the day his first inspirational gospel album, The Love Of God, became available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations nationwide. Featuring 12 uplifting songs sung only the way Rogers can sing them, the record includes all-new recordings of classic hymns and gospel and contemporary songs that have touched him musically and spiritually through the years, dating back to his childhood growing up in Houston where he regularly attended church with his family. At the heart of the record is hope and peace.

"What an incredible album this has turned out to be," Rogers says of The Love Of God. "It seems I have a personal relationship with every song on it. 'In The Sweet By And By' was my mom's favorite song. When I was a kid, as I was leaving to go to school, I remember hearing her sing along with that song on the radio as she did her morning ironing. Music is by far the best 'memory creator' I know, and that memory is very special to me."

Known for instantly identifiable sweetly raspy vocals and an extraordinary ability to vividly inhabit each song he performs, Rogers has sold more than 120 million records worldwide and recorded more than 65 albums during his storied 52 years in show business. His long list of timeless classics includes an impressive 24 #1 hits - "The Gambler," "Lady," "Lucille," "She Believes in Me," "Islands in the Stream," and "We've Got Tonight" among them. Two of Rogers' albums, The Gambler and Kenny, are featured in the About.com poll of "The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever", and his Greatest Hits album has sold over 24 million copies worldwide to date. He is the RIAA's 8th best selling male artist of all time with 1 Diamond album, 19 Platinum albums and 31 Gold albums.

Rogers has received hundreds of awards for his music and charity work, including three Grammys, 11 People's Choice Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music awards and five Country Music Association awards. Remaining a popular entertainer around the world, Rogers, voted the "Favorite Singer of All-Time" in a 1986 joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People, still loves touring and recording new music.

For over five decades, the gifted singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor, photographer and entertainer has delivered memorable songs, drawing fans from many different backgrounds. "I really, really love what I'm doing," Rogers says. "People survive longer if they love what they're doing. Because you just don't quit."

Rogers is one of very few artists who have enjoyed successful careers in such a variety of genres - jazz, folk, rock, country and pop. Houston-born Rogers formed his first band while in high school in 1956 - a rockabilly group called The Scholars (they performed on American Bandstand) - and has never quit making music. He played stand-up bass in the jazz group the Bobby Doyle Trio, and later became a member of the popular folk group, The New Christy Minstrels. The spotlight started focusing on Rogers when his group, The First Edition, scored their first hit, "I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In), which was followed by the pop and country chart success of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town."

Rogers' solo career shot into the stratosphere with the #1 hit, "Lucille," which was named the CMA's Single of the Year and was certified Gold. "Daytime Friends," "Sweet Music Man," and "Love Or Something Like It" continued his run of success. Then came "The Gambler," a story song so vivid it not only delighted country and pop fans, it also became a TV movie, starring Rogers himself in the title role. The movie spawned four follow-ups, making it the longest running miniseries franchise on television. The five Gambler mini-series have attracted over 100 million viewers nationwide and launched a second career for Rogers as an actor on television and movies.

Rogers consistently finds songs with universal appeal. Through the course of his career, he has attracted fans with an incredible range of music from country to soul to pop. "I've never considered myself a great singer, but I am a great storyteller," Rogers told Billboard magazine, also noting that he feels his strength as an artist is in finding great songs. In the 1980s, Rogers' romantic country hits "Through The Years," "She Believes In Me," "You Decorated My Life," and "Lady" - the biggest song of his career - quickly became classics. "There are a lot of songs that may have initial success but don't linger the period of time those songs have," Rogers says. "They do take a different value in your heart when they have that kind of staying power that represents your success and represents a feeling and a thought. A song like that becomes a part of your soul."

In 1999, after forming his own record company, Dreamcatcher Entertainment, Rogers returned to the charts in a big way with the hit, "The Greatest," and when the follow-up, "Buy Me a Rose," hit #1 in 2000, Rogers, at age 61, became the oldest artist in chart history to have a #1 solo record in any format, proving his talent was just as vibrant and meaningful as it was when he first started out. That same year, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded Kenny the prestigious Diamond Award celebrating sales of more than 10 million albums for his Greatest Hits album (sales to date have exceeded 24 million).

With his unique storytelling ability and soulful voice, Kenny has continued his amazing run into the 21st century with a critically acclaimed album (Water and Bridges) and hit single, "I Can't Unlove You," a gold certified record (21 Number Ones), and now, the sweetly timeless The Love of God. Kenny's relevance in the world of music and pop culture has never been stronger.

PROGRAMS:

The Deer Valley Music Festival presents

The Texas Tenors: Let Freedom Sing

Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Friday, July 4, 2014, 7:30 PM

Jerry Steichen, Conductor

The Texas Tenors

Marcus Collins, Vocalist

JC Fisher, Vocalist

John Hagen, Vocalist

Sample song list:

Star Spangled Banner; Mountain Music; O sole mio; Country Boy/ Country Roads; My Country Tis of Thee/America the Beautiful; Because; God Bless The USA; Unchained Melody; Lovin Feeling; Climb Every Mountain; Rocky Top; Galveston; Deep in the Heart; 4th of July; Bring Him Home; Here's to the Heroes; Somewhere; You Should Dream; My Way.

Additional selections to be announced from the stage.

The Deer Valley Music Festival presents

Kenny Rogers with the Utah Symphony

Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Saturday, July 5, 2014, 7:30 PM

Jerry Steichen, Conductor

Kenny Rogers, Singer/Songwriter

Sample song list:

The Gambler, Lady, Coward of the Country, She Believes in Me

Additional selections to be announced from the stage.

About Deer Valley Music Festival: The Deer Valley Music Festival (DVMF) is Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's (USUO) summer home in the mountain resort town of Park City, Utah. The 2014 festival marks the 11th season of providing chamber music, classical, and pops offerings in several venues: the Deer Valley Resort Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, St. Mary's Church, and salon events in private homes in the Park City area. The goal of the Deer Valley Music Festival is to be renowned for consistently delivering a high quality and musically diverse experience in casual settings of unparalleled natural beauty. For more information, visit www.deervalleymusicfestival.org.