Utah SymphonyUtah Opera Celebrates Utah Communities and Cultural Heritage With “Music Elevated State Tour”
Summer Tour Brings Concerts, Music Education, and the Pioneer Fiddle Project Across Utah, Coinciding with America’s 250th Birthday
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (April 3, 2026) – Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO), together with America250 Utah, proudly announces the 2026 Music Elevated State Tour, a seven-stop concert tour partnering with communities across Utah to celebrate our state through free outdoor concerts and music education activities. The tour coincides with the national celebration of America’s 250th birthday and highlights the people, places, stories, and rich cultural heritage that make Utah shine.
Building on the successes of previous statewide tours in 2023, 2021, 2017, and 2014, this summer’s Music Elevated State Tour continues USUO’s longstanding commitment to serving the entire state by connecting communities through extraordinary live music experiences. The 2026 tour will be longer and will include more stops than ever before, spanning 11 days with seven mainstage concerts.
Performances will take place in distinctive outdoor settings throughout Utah:
- June 30 – Wellsville, Heritage Center
- July 2 – Springville, Hobble Creek – Jolley’s Ranch
- July 3 – Salt Lake City, Utah State Capitol
- July 4 – Midway, Midway Town Square
- July 7 – Fillmore, Territorial Statehouse State Park
- July 8 – Cedar City, Main Street Park
- July 10 – Bryce Canyon Rim, Ruby’s Inn
“The 2026 Music Elevated State Tour is a powerful expression of our mission to connect communities through great live music,” says Steven Brosvik, President & CEO of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. “This expanded tour—our longest state tour yet—celebrates American spirit in music, honors Utah’s distinct heritage, and showcases the towns and landmarks that make our state special. Our musicians and guest artists are eager to share their passion and artistry with audiences of all ages. As the U.S. proudly marks an historic milestone, all Utahns can take pride in their Utah Symphony | Utah Opera—a nationally and internationally distinguished artistic gem.”
“Music possesses the power to transcend boundaries, unite strangers, and kindle a shared sense of patriotism,” says Mindy Benson, co-chair of America250 Utah. “The Music Elevated performances, stretching from the steps of our State Capitol to the vibrant community of Cedar City, invite all Utahns to gather, celebrate, and honor a defining American milestone: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.”
The program will have a patriotic flair, featuring a wide-ranging collection of favorite classical works, Broadway selections, and American folk music and hymns. Selections span iconic American composers and beloved repertoire, alongside works that reflect USUO’s own history—honoring the legacy of one of the Utah Symphony’s first music directors, Maurice Abravanel, as well as Utah Opera’s commitment to commissioning and presenting new American works.
Music Elevated State Tour program:
- Overture to Candide – Leonard Bernstein
Bernstein’s effervescent overture dazzles with humor and virtuosity, showcasing the bold spirit of American musical theater. - Liberty Fanfare – John Williams
Celebrate a patriotic classic by one of Ameria’s most beloved composers. - Hoe-Down from Rodeo – Aaron Copland
A spirited nod to the energy of the American West. - Bugler’s Holiday – Leroy Anderson
A playful fanfare that adds lively American charm. - “Glitter and Be Gay” from Candide – Leonard Bernstein
A showpiece highlighting Bernstein’s wit and mastery, performed by soprano Amy Owens. - Serenata – Leroy Anderson
A light orchestral piece with Latin-inspired rhythms and a beguine flair. - Western Suite – Elie Siegmeister
Maurice Abravanel and the Utah Symphony first recorded this sweeping American masterpiece in 1971. - Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 – Gustav Mahler
A Maurice Abravanel favorite, famously recorded by the Utah Symphony in 1975. - “Quando m’en vo” from La bohème – Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Amy Owens, this piece honors the very first production Utah Opera staged when it was founded in 1978. - “Simple Child” from The Grapes of Wrath – Ricky Ian Gordon
Premiering in 2007, Grapes of Wrath was co-commissioned by Utah Opera, a milestone for the company in its legacy of introducing daring new American works to audiences. - Praeludium and Allegro – Fritz Kreisler
Featuring Utah native violinist Aubree Oliverson showcasing her mastery and hometown pride to the stage. - Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso – Camille Saint-Saëns
A fiery violin work blending French elegance with Spanish flair.
Joining as soloists for select works throughout the program are soprano Amy Owens and violinist Aubree Oliverson—both of whom have built major national and international careers while remaining connected to their Utah roots. Owens is a former Utah Opera Resident Artist who had a starring role last season in the company’s production of Sweeney Todd; and Oliverson, who grew up in Orem, most recently returned to the Utah Symphony in 2024 as a Masterworks soloist. Conductor Conner Gray Covington, a former Utah Symphony Associate Conductor who has made recent debuts with the Boston Pops and the Chicago Symphony, will lead the orchestra. Covington led USUO’s 2021 state tour and has returned as a frequent guest conductor. The growing careers of these artists and their continued relationships with USUO reflect Utah’s strength in nurturing artistic talent.
Introducing a special initiative called the Pioneer Fiddle Project, the Music Elevated tour will also celebrate the many pioneer families who carried treasured instruments across the plains as they journeyed west. At select stops, audience members will be invited to bring historic or family instruments to be appraised by experienced instrument specialists. And, through an exciting partnership with StoryCorps, selected stories will be recorded to preserve the musical and family histories connected to these instruments for future generations.
“This tour brings communities together to honor the music and stories that have shaped our state” says Benjamin Kipp, USUO Vice President of Education & Community Engagement. “Knowing that music and the arts are so deeply engrained in Utah’s pioneer heritage, we’re inviting families to bring forward the instruments that carried hope, faith, and now serve as a powerful bridge between past and present.”
The Music Elevated tour makes its way from the northern to southern edges of the state—opening at the Wellsville Heritage Center, nestled beneath the Wellsville Mountains and rooted in rich pioneer history. The orchestra then travels to performs in Springville, where sweeping canyon vistas at Hobble Creek’s Jolley’s Ranch offer a quintessential summer backdrop. A performance at the iconic Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City places the symphony right in front of one of Utah’s most recognizable civic landmarks; Independence Day then brings the tour to Midway Town Square in a mountain town known for its Swiss immigrant heritage; and several days later, audiences will gather at the original territorial capitol in Fillmore—Utah’s first seat of governance. In southern Utah, performances take place at Cedar City’s Main Street Park, a vibrant hub for the arts; and at the breathtaking Bryce Canyon National Park Rim, where the sounds of the symphony will resonate across one of the most awe-inspiring National Parks in the U.S.—a reminder of the natural beaty that makes Utah such an extraordinary place to live.
USUO will not only honor the cultural heritage of our country and state, but will also spotlight the distinctive aspects, character, and beauty of each unique community represented on the tour. USUO is working together with local leaders and cultural organizations to curate community engagement activities and educational opportunities to take place earlier in the day before each evening concert; these will be announced closer to the performances. Previous tours have included events such as fiddle play-ins, conducting and performance classes for students, and more.
All Music Elevated performances and events are free and open to the public; attendees are encouraged to RSVP in order to guarantee admission, at USUO.org/MusicElevated.