Powerful vocalists will pay tribute to Aretha Franklin at the Deer Valley® Music Festival on July 12

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (July 1, 2019) – Broadway star Capathia Jenkins and three-time Grammy nominee Ryan Shaw will dedicate their stunning vocals to the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, in a show-stopping performance with the Utah Symphony, led by guest conductor Lucas Waldin. The performance will take place on Friday, July 12 at 7:30 PM at the Deer Valley® Snow Park Amphitheater.

Capathia Jenkins is no stranger to the stage, having starred in Broadway productions for several decades. She previously performed with the Utah Symphony at the Deer Valley® Music Festival in 2018 during the 70s versus 80s concert. She made her debut in “The Civil War” and went along to star in “The Look of Love.” She has also starred in various off-Broadway productions, including “Godspell,” “Caroline,” and Martin Short’s “Fame Becomes Me.” She is an avid concert artist, performing with orchestras around the world, including the National Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Ryan Shaw is a Georgia native who began singing in his church at age three, and from there has become a master of R&B and soul music. He sang Motown covers in New York as a member of the group Fabulous Soul Shakers in 2004 and starred as the opening act for the Van Halen tour of 2007-2008. He has been nominated three times for the Grammy award for “Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance” and he currently tours for various shows across the country.

Lucas Waldin, known for his charismatic conducting style, has collaborated with artists such as Carly Rae Jepson, Ben Folds, and The Canadian Brass. He has been a guest conductor for symphonies all across North America, including the Dallas Symphony, the Modesto Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic.

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera’s 16^th season of the Deer Valley® Music Festival comprises 18 performances over seven weeks with performances in a variety of venues featuring a wide array of music styles, including bluegrass, musical theater, folk, country, and more. The 16^th anniversary of the festival will focus on celebrating the local community, donors, and supporters through a variety of pop-up ensemble performances at existing summer events and venues throughout the community.

RELATED EVENTS

Throughout the 2019 festival, small Utah Symphony and Utah Opera ensembles will perform close to a dozen “pop up concerts” – many of them free – in collaboration with other community groups. Members of the Utah Symphony Youth Guild will perform at the Deer Valley® Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater on Wednesday, July 10 at 5:30 PM. Additionally, Utah Trombone Authority, featuring members of the Utah Symphony trombone section and Will Kimball will perform in front of the main stage at the Park Silly Sunday Market in Park City on Sunday, July 14 at 10 AM.