Utah Symphony Announces 2018 Deer Valley Music Festival Summer Lineup And 15th Anniversary Celebrations

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera today announced its lineup for the 2018 Deer Valley Music Festival in addition to its plans to celebrate its 15th year of calling Park City, Utah its summer home. Highlights of the six-week, 17-concert music festival, which begins on June 30, 2018 and runs through August 11, 2018, include Utah Symphony performances with Emmy and Tony Award-winning Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, folk-rock singer-songwriter Amos Lee, 14-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs, and Grammy Award-winner Rick Springfield; music of John Williams with scores from some of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster movies; Broadway vocalists and show tunes honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim musicals; tributes to Swedish pop sensation ABBA, Pink Floyd and the music of the 1970s and '80s; Disney in Concert "A Silly Symphony Celebration" with scenes from some of Disney's earliest colorful cartoons playing on giant screens; and the perennial favorite, "1812 Overture" with live cannon fire on the hillside provided by Cannoneers of the Wasatch.

As part of the 15th anniversary celebration of the festival's inception, the organization will focus on community involvement and engagement. This includes smaller Utah Symphony ensembles performing around Park City and Summit County at existing events, galleries and in collaboration with other local festivals as a way of extending thanks to the community for hosting the orchestra in its summer home. A summer "barn bash" gala at Blue Sky Ranch featuring live music by American country group, Asleep at the Wheel," will raise funds for the organization's state-wide Educational Outreach programs that bring the symphony and opera into every school in the state on a three to five year rotation.

Local arts non-profits and community service groups will also be showcased at select concerts at Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater in a "community zone" designed to bring concert goers directly in contact with the multitude of ways the organizations serve, impact and support the local community.

"For the 15th Festival, we knew we had to come up with something special. This year's line-up combines the Utah Symphony with a great mix of artists and musical genres, all presented in the magical setting of the Snow Park Amphitheater at Deer Valley Resort," said Utah Symphony | Utah Opera President and CEO Paul Meecham. "Our 15th anniversary is about celebrating the local community, donors and supporters that have welcomed and embraced us since the beginning. We are proud to call Park City and Summit County the Utah Symphony's summer home."

The festival began under the direction of Utah Symphony Music Director Keith Lockhart and Utah Symphony | Utah Opera President and CEO Anne Ewers back in 2004. Since then, explosive growth has seen audience numbers increase by 80 percent - the 2017 season reported a ticket sales increase of 25 percent from the previous year.

These festival patrons continue to boost the Summit County tourist economy through activities surrounding their concert attendance. A 2017 post-festival survey found 87 percent of respondents indicated that they had eaten at a local restaurant in conjunction with a Deer Valley Music Festival concert, 64 percent went shopping, 48 percent visited Park City's historic Main Street, and 17 percent visited the Utah Olympic Park.

The resulting economic indicators illustrate the positive impact of the festival on boosting the region's local economy as it continues to attract concertgoers from outside the area in search of the outdoor orchestral experience. Of more than 47,000 tickets distributed during the 2017 season, 78 percent went to non-Summit County residents, the majority of whom resided in Salt Lake, Utah, and Davis counties. Out-of-state visitors, primarily from California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, comprised 18 percent of the ticket buyers to the festival.

Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater Performances

The 15th annual Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City will begin on June 30, 2018 with a Patriotic Celebration starring "X-Factor" alum and Broadway vocalist Rachel Potter, and conducted by Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell, who is known for his boundless enthusiasm and remarkable artistry. The festival will continue for six weeks with 13 pops, rock, jazz and classical concerts on the main stage at Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater and four chamber concerts at the intimate venue of St. Mary's Church.

The second weekend of performances at the Deer Valley Music Festival will start on Friday, July 6, 2018 with Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration. Indulge in a tuneful and colorful celebration of 75 groundbreaking cartoons produced at the Walt Disney Studios between 1929 and 1939, with the Utah Symphony playing the original scores live to picture. Families are also invited to explore the "Instrument Petting Zoo" prior to the concert with Utah Symphony Youth Guild musicians leading kids through interactive, hands-on exploration of instruments provided by Summerhayes Music. The following evening, Saturday, July 7, 2018, vocalists Debbie Gravitte, Christiane Noll, and Hugh Panaro return to the Snow Park Amphitheatre stage to perform Broadway hits from legendary composers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim, including music from "Phantom of the Opera," "Cats," "Sweeny Todd," "Company," "West Side Story", and more. Guest conductor and festival favorite Jerry Steichen will lead the Utah Symphony for both programs.

The festival continues on Friday, July 13, 2018 when ABBA The Concert with the Utah Symphony returns to the Deer Valley Music Festival main stage with a tribute to one of the greatest pop phenomena of the 20th century. Formed in 1996 and having toured more than 20 countries around world since, ABBA: The Concert is "the closest to ABBA you'll ever get." On Saturday, July 14, 2018, fourteen-time Grammy Award-winning artist Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder perform with the Utah Symphony on the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater stage for a thrilling evening of Bluegrass under the stars.

On Friday, July 20, 2018, Australian vocalist Rick Springfield will perform with the Utah Symphony for an evening of exciting '80s rock, including his Grammy Award-winning hit "Jessie's Girl" and other classics like "Affair of the Heart" and "Love Somebody." The next night on Saturday, July 21, 2018, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and vocalist Kristin Chenoweth will return to the stage with her stunning voice and engaging presence, performing songs from some of her most well-known roles in shows like "Wicked," as well as other Broadway standards.

Folk rock singer-songwriter Amos Lee makes his Utah Symphony debut on Friday, July 27, 2018, performing soul-infused, blusey tunes from his acclaimed album "Spirit," along with fan favorites from his breakthrough album "Mission Bell" and more against Deer Valley's mountain setting. Then, on Saturday, July 28, 2018, the Music of John Williams fills Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater's hillside with film scores from "Harry Potter," "Star Wars," "Superman," and "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark" among others. Both performances will be conducted by Edwin Outwater, who also leads the following weekends' performances.

Enjoy a musical faceoff with popular songs from The '70s vs. The '80s on Friday, August 3, 2018 featuring vocalist Capathia Jenkins, who bring new excitement and energy the orchestra with hits by artists including George Michael, Whitney Houston, and Patty Labelle.

The final weekend of the Deer Valley Music Festival features the Cannoneers of the Wasatch unloading live cannon fire as they join the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera Chorus prepared by Chorus Master Michaella Calzaretts for the traditional performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture led by Assistant Conductor Conner Covington on Friday, August 10, 2018. Also on the program is violinist Benjamin Beilman performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. On Saturday, August 11, 2018, the 15th annual Deer Valley Music Festival will close with the Utah Symphony performing Windborne's Music of Pink Floyd, the British rock band that rose to fame in the 1960s. Singer Randy Jackson captures the essence of Pink Floyd's ethereal harmonies and the iconic sounds of one of the biggest rock bands of all time with a full orchestral performance of the album, "The Dark Side of the Moon," and popular hits including "Comfortably Numb," "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)," and "Hey You" on the second half.

Chamber Orchestra Series at St. Mary's Church

The Utah Symphony will present four mid-week Wednesday evening concerts featuring principal musicians at the intimate St. Mary's Church, as part of the Deer Valley Music Festival's chamber orchestra series. On July 11, 2018, Associate Concertmaster Kathryn Eberle performs Mozart's "Turkish" violin concerto as Assistant Conductor Conner Covington leads a chamber ensemble in a program that also features music by Mendelssohn, Wagner and Dvo?ák.

On July 18, 2018, Jane Glover returns to the festival's chamber venue to conduct selections including Haydn's Symphony No. 95 and Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony. Principal flute Mercedes Smith and harpist Matthew Tutsky will perform Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp.

The chamber series continues on July 25, 2018 with Utah Symphony's Assistant Conductor Conner Covington conducting a program featuring guest soprano Sarah Shafer singing Bach's Cantata No. 51 "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" and Canteloube's "Chants d'Auvergne." Ligeti's Romanian Concerto and Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 are also on the program.

The chamber series concludes on August 1, 2018, as Utah Symphony Concertmaster Madeline Adkins heads up the Fremont String Quartet rounded out by Utah Symphony principal players Claude Halter (principal second violin), Brant Bayless (principal viola) and Rainer Eudeikis (principal cello). The quartet will perform Beethoven's String Quartet in G Major, Arvo Pärt's "Fratres," Brahms String Quartet in C Minor, and a work by Stravinsky.

Concert Ticket Information

Subscription, group, and VIP tickets for the Deer Valley Music Festival are on sale now. The Park City Locals Sale for Summit and Wasatch County residents will take place on Saturday, March 31, 2018 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Park City Visitor Information Center (1794 Olympic Parkway, Park City, Utah) at Kimball Junction. Concert tickets for the general public will go on sale on April 17, 2018 at 10 a.m. Lodging packages, including tickets to performances, will be available through lodging partners starting in May. Programming and guest artists subject to change. Performance tickets and lodging information are available by calling (801) 533-6683 or online at deervalleymusicfestival.org.

VIP Events and Packages

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Deer Valley Music Festival, the organization is hosting a "Barn Bash" at Blue Sky Ranch on August 9, 2018 at 6 PM to raise funds for the Educational Outreach programs that reach 145,000 students in Utah each year (including more than 1,700 students from nine schools in Park City and Summit County). This unforgettable evening will have it all-cowboys, specialty cocktails, a buffet dinner, a special performance by American country band, Asleep at the Wheel, a s'mores bar, and more. A true hootenanny. You don't want to miss out!

Deer Valley Music Festival VIP packages can include premium reserved seating, VIP parking, pre-concert gourmet dinners at Deer Valley Resort, playbill recognition, intermission receptions, and more. VIPs have first access to Salon events featuring intimate performances in luxurious private residences by festival artists. VIP package pricing includes a charitable contribution built into the various levels. For more information, please call (801) 869-9011 or email vipevents@usuo.org .

Volunteer Information

Volunteers for the festival are needed in multiple positions: ushers, ticket takers, backstage, etc. Benefits include a complimentary ticket voucher. Contact Melissa Robinson at volunteers@usuo.org or (801) 869-9067 for more information.

2018 DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

MAIN STAGE - DEER VALLEY SNOW PARK OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER
2250 Deer Valley Dr. S, Park City, UT

Patriotic Celebration starring Rachel Potter
June 30, 2018 (Saturday) | 7:30 p.m.
John Morris Russell, conductor
Rachel Potter, vocalist
Utah Symphony

Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration
July 6, 2018 (Friday) | 7:30 p.m.
Jerry Steichen, conductor
Utah Symphony

Broadway Hits by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Stephen Sondheim
July 7, 2018 (Saturday) | 7:30 p.m.
Jerry Steichen, conductor
Debbie Gravitte, vocalist
Christiane Noll, vocalist
Hugh Panaro, vocalist
Utah Symphony

ABBA The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA with the Utah Symphony
July 13, 2018 (Friday) | 7:30 p.m.
Conner Gray Covington, conductor
Utah Symphony

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with the Utah SymphonyJuly 14, 2018 (Saturday) | 7:30 p.m.
Conner Gray Covington, conductorRicky Skaggs, guest artistKentucky Thunder, guest artistsUtah Symphony

Rick Springfield with the Utah SymphonyJuly 20, 2018 (Friday) | 7:30 p.m.
Wolf Kerscheck, conductor

Rick Springfield, guest artist
Utah Symphony

Kristin Chenoweth with the Utah Symphony
July 21, 2018 (Saturday) | 7:30 p.m.
Kristin Chenoweth, vocalist
Utah Symphony

Amos Lee with the Utah Symphony
July 27, 2018 (Friday) | 7:30 p.m.
Edwin Outwater, conductor
Amos Lee, guest artist
Utah Symphony

The Music of John Williams
July 28, 2018 (Saturday) | 7:30 p.m.
Edwin Outwater, conductor
Utah Symphony

The '70s vs The '80s August, 3 2018 (Friday) | 7:30 p.m.
Edwin Outwater, conductor

Capathia Jenkins, vocalist
Utah Symphony

TBDSaturday, August 4, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.Edwin Outwater, conductor
Utah Symphony

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Violin Concerto
August 10, 2018 (Friday) | 7:30 p.m.
Conner Gray Covington, conductor
Benjamin Beilman, violin
Cannoneers of the Wasatch
Michaella Calzaretts, chorus master
Utah Opera Chorus
Utah Symphony

The Utah Symphony performs Windborne's Music of Pink Floyd August 11, 2018 (Saturday) | 7:30 p.m.
Randy Jackson, vocalist

Utah Symphony

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SERIES - ST. MARY'S CHURCH 1505 White Pine Canyon Road, Park City UT

Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5
July 11, 2018 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m. Conner Gray Covington, conductor

Kathryn Eberle, violin

MENDELSSOHN Hebrides Overture ("Fingal's Cave")
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5 ("Turkish") - Kathryn Eberle, ViolinWAGNER Siegfried IdyllDVO?ÁK Czech Suite
Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony
July 18, 2018 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m. Jane Glover, conductor

Mercedes Smith, flute
Matthew Tutsky, harp
Utah Symphony

HAYDN Symphony No. 95MOZART Concerto for Flute & Harp - Mercedes Smith, flute & Matthew Tutsky, harpMOZART Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter"
Beethoven's Symphony No. 1July 25, 2018 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m.
Conner Gray Covington, conductor

Sarah Shafer, soprano
Utah Symphony

LIGETI Romanian Concerto
BACH Cantata No. 51 "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" - Sarah Shafer, sopranoCANTELOUBE Chants d'Auvergne, 3rd Series - Sarah Shafer, sopranoBEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1
Fremont String Quartet

August 1, 2018 (Wed) | 8 p.m.
Madeline Adkins, violin
Claude Halter, violin
Brant Bayless, viola
Rainer Eudeikis, cello

BEETHOVEN String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2STRAVINSKY 3 Pieces for String QuartetARVO PÄRT FratresBRAHMS String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1

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 2018 festival marks the 15th 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.