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SummerFest 2012

Around the World, Across the Universe

Nevada City, CA May 8, 2012—Music in the Mountains (MIM) celebrates its 31st SummerFest season June 12- July 3 with over two weeks and ten concerts spanning the musical globe; from the great European masters to fresh-off-the-page contemporary works to classic rock. World-class musicians travel from around the country to join together and form the MIM Festival Orchestra under the baton of Gregory Vajda, the exciting young Artistic Director of MIM.

Three major classical concerts anchor the festival and feature the great works of Verdi, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak. The powerful Verdi Requiem, opening the festival on June 21, will feature four internationally acclaimed guest soloists singing with the MIM Chorale. Beethoven’s Third Symphony headlines the June 23 concert, and then on July 1, piano virtuoso Xiayin Wang tackles the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1. This gifted young pianist has been hailed as “nuanced, dazzling, and spirited” by critics and audiences alike.

MIM embraces new composition in 2012 with three concerts. The Young Composers Project (YCP) features two concerts of new student works composed by 23 young people ranging in age from 12-21 on June 12 and June 16. Supported by grants from both the Clarence E. Heller Foundation and the California Arts Council, YCP is a cornerstone of MIM’s broad education initiatives.

SummerFest continues its passionate commitment to young musicians and new music with its “Wet Ink” concert on June 28th. Newly minted Colburn School of Music graduate Caitlin Kelley will perform the world premier of Mark Vance’s first violin concerto. The concert teams MIM with the Nevada County Composers Collaborative, and will feature works by local composers Jerry Grant, Howard Hersh, and Randy McKean. As always throughout the festival, young instrumentalists will also be invited to play “side-by-side” with the MIM Festival Orchestra.

Amadinda is one of the most original and versatile percussion groups on the planet. On July 1 they will lead us on an exploration of the roots of all music- rhythm! Their instruments are as interesting and eclectic as their music–from polynesian log drums to Chinese gongs, tin cans, bicycle wheels and frying pans.

This SummerFest, MIM’s outdoor pops series takes it to a whole new level with three fabulous concerts on the lawn. On June 23rd, The Machine performs the music of Pink Floyd in an all out extravaganza including a laser light show and featuring the MIM Festival Orchestra. The hit of last year’s season returns bigger and better than ever. Cirque de la Symphonie takes the stage on June 30th when the orchestra teams up with an amazing troupe of acrobats, aerialists and clowns. It’s a magical evening of spectacular feats performed to the music of Dvorak, Bizet, Tchaikovsky and other greats. As per tradition, the season concludes with MIM’s July 3rd Happy Birthday USA concert. This year’s rousing crowd pleaser features an all-American lineup sure to hit it out of the park.

Tickets for SummerFest can be purchased online at www.musicinthemountains.org, in person at the MIM office at 530 Searls Ave. in Nevada City, at Briarpatch Community Market, or by calling the MIM box office at 530-265-6124.