Bear Valley Music Festival Opens Friday, July 22nd
The 54th Bear Valley Music Festival kicks off on Friday, July 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 7th. With concerts tucked inside a large tent that holds 500, this iconic annual event is a wonderful way to escape the heat and enjoy some music and fresh mountain air in the outdoor wonderland of Bear Valley, CA.
Opening night on July 22nd features Tennessee River, a band that pays tribute to one of the most influential and vocally dynamic country bands of our time – Alabama. While Saturday night’s original Jefferson Starship show is sold out, Sunday afternoon is a perfect time to head to the mountains to beat the midday heat and hear the T Sisters, a crowd-favorite indie/folk Americana band. For an evening of soulful blues, don’t miss Chris Cain on Thursday night, August 4th.
The 58-musician symphony orchestra kicks off the classical portion of the Festival on Thursday, July 28th. This will be the first season for the festival’s new Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate, a worldrenowned conductor succeeding the festival’s long-time Music Director Michael Morgan, who tragically passed away last August. Mickelthwate is bringing a wide variety of music to the festival including blockbuster classical favorites like the Tchaikovsky violin concerto and Beethoven’s 7th, Broadway favorites from Sondheim to Gershwin, and California themed music from Mason Bates and John Williams.
Kids and classics fans alike will enjoy the Family Fusion concert, where youth 17 and under are free, and there are still opportunities for volunteer ushers at all shows.
Board of Directors president Julia Mee said, “Our main goal as a non-profit music festival is to build community and create concert events the entire highway 4 community will enjoy. From Jefferson Starship to Beethoven, we’ve got something for everyone. This is an historic year as we welcome only the fourth Music Director in 54 years and it’s going to be an experience not to be missed.”
Food is available to order for pre-concert dining under a shaded picnic area, and shuttle rides are available for purchase with stops from Murphys to Bear Valley for each Friday and Saturday night concert. For the full concert line-up, tickets, and other details visit bearvalleymusicfestival.org or phone the music festival office at 209-588-7344.
History
The inaugural concert at the Bear Valley Music Festival saw a 38-person orchestra brimming out of Bear Valley Lodge’s Cathedral Lounge. Residents opened their homes to musicians, served family-style meals in the Lodge Dining Room, and the lounge was packed to the balconies that flank the central room. During those humble beginnings, John Gosling shared his time between Bear Valley and the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Gosling and a dedicated group of founders, musicians, and volunteers continued to make music in a variety of venues – the Lodge, under the open skies, and finally in a large circus tent. The repertoire expanded to include: Broadway show tunes, opera, chamber music, educational programs, and guest artists from around the world.
As the Festival grew, the classical music was supplemented with opera, Broadway show tunes, and opening weekend acts of contemporary and country music.