Utah Symphony’s 2023 Deer Valley® Music Festival to Feature the Orchestra with The Beach Boys, LeAnn Rimes, Ben Folds, Music of John Williams, the World Premiere of a New Work Inspired by Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Much More

Chamber Orchestra Highlights Include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, Schubert’s Symphony No. 5, Associate Concertmaster Kathryn Eberle Performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 1, and Principal Clarinet Zac Hammond Performing Strauss’ Oboe Concerto

PARK CITY, UTAH (March, 23 2023) – This summer, music lovers from near and far will experience stunning views and extraordinary artistry as the Utah Symphony presents its 19^th annual Deer Valley® Music Festival at the Wasatch Range in Park City. The six-week summer concert series, which runs from June 30 through August 4, features a diverse musical lineup including a highly-anticipated world premiere—showcasing the versatility of Utah Symphony musicians as they perform music ranging from classical to classic rock and everything in between.

“It’s time to make memories! The Deer Valley® Music Festival brings friends and family together for unforgettable summer evenings, experiencing the Utah Symphony in a new light—or, for the very first time,” says Utah Symphony | Utah Opera President & CEO Steve Brosvik. “It’s always a pleasure to return to the natural beauty of Park City and invite everyone in our community to join us for unparalleled concert experiences, both in the relaxed atmosphere of Deer Valley Resort and in the intimate and idyllic setting of St. Mary’s Church.”

Just in time for Independence Day celebrations, the Utah Symphony opens the festival with a salute to the U.S.A. at the annual Patriotic Pops, which features the world premiere of Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue. As a 100-year celebration of Gershwin’s jazzy Rhapsody in Blue (which debuted in 1924), Boyer composed a new work for piano and orchestra inspired by the iconic masterpiece. The project was envisioned and created by pianist Jeffrey Biegel, who will perform both works—unveiling Boyer’s Rhapsody first in Utah before taking the piece throughout the United States for the three-year Rhapsody National Initiative.

Highlights of the summer include timeless surf-rockers The Beach Boys; country-pop sensation LeAnn Rimes who rose to fame with the hit single “How Do I Live” and became one of the best-selling artists of the 1990s; self-identified percussive pianist and alt-rocker Ben Folds; the family favorite Disney Princess: The Concert; and celebrations of music legends including a tribute to Queen and an evening of the cinematic music of John Williams. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening performances are at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Amphitheater, where concertgoers relax on the lawn and take in the majestic mountains while listening to the full orchestra perform. Chamber orchestra performances featuring popular classical repertoire take place on Wednesday evenings at the picturesque St. Mary’s Church in Park City.

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera continues its mission of community engagement with a series of “pop-up” performances featuring smaller Utah Symphony | Utah Opera ensembles. These free, short performances take place throughout Summit County at existing events, and in collaboration with other local groups and venues, as a way of extending thanks to the community for hosting the Utah Symphony at its summer home.

Outdoor Concerts at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Amphitheater

The 2023 festival continues the tradition of pairing the Utah Symphony with a lineup of well-known, popular artists in the beautiful outdoor setting at Park City’s Deer Valley® Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater.

• The annual Independence Day celebration, Patriotic Pops, features a world premiere! Gershwin’s jazzy Rhapsody in Blue has been iconic since its debut in 1924, and nearly 100 years later, Peter Boyer has composed a new work in celebration of the centennial. Pianist Jeffrey Biegel, who dreamed up the project, performs both—unveiling Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue in Utah before taking it on tour across the United States. Also featuring Gershwin’s Suite from Porgy and Bess, music from John Williams, a Sousa march, and more, this is a grand salute to the U.S.A.
• Praised as “the global ambassador of Spanish guitar,” Pablo Sáinz Villegas brings drama and playfulness to his performances, emoting the heart of his instrument through “virtuosic playing” and “irresistible exuberance.” Step back in time and experience the passion of old-century Spain with Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango—a cheeky, flirtatious tango with strong jazz influences—and let romance take center stage with expressive (and danceable!) music, including Abreu’s beloved melodies from Tico-Tico, Boccherini’s rhythmic Fandango, and more.
• Get ready to “wish upon a star” as the Utah Symphony brings the magic of Disney to life with Disney Princess: The Concert. Featuring four princess vocalists, a charming prince, and a fairy godmother—with projections of Disney film clips throughout—you can revisit tales as old as time, with favorite songs including “Part of Your World,” “Be Our Guest,” “A Whole New World,” and “Almost There.”
• Coming off his nationally enjoyed roles in Hamilton as Aaron Burr, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration as Gaston (a portrayal that set social media ablaze!), and the Netflix sensation tick, tick…BOOM!, Joshua Henry makes his festival debut. The Grammy winner and three-time Tony nominee brings his rare talent to a program of Broadway hits and soul classics—including “Summertime” from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone, “Kiss” by Prince, selections from Hamilton, and so much more.
• Marking more than a half-century of making music, The Beach Boys continue to ride the crest of a wave unequaled in America’s musical history. Dozens of the band’s chart toppers have become eternal anthems of summer: “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and “Kokomo”—and these icons return to the Deer Valley®Music Festival for two unforgettable summer nights!
• Festival-favorite Capathia Jenkins returns—bringing her powerful voice and stunning stage presence to some of the greatest hits in soul and R&B, with music by leading ladies including Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Adele, and more.
• International, multi-platinum selling, acclaimed singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes brings her latest tour, the story… so far,to Utah—taking the stage with good old American country music, including the hit single “How Do I Live.”
• Embrace nostalgia as The Music of John Williams brings some of the most iconic movie soundtracks from the past 50 years to life, including themes from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, ET, and Harry Potter.
• Celebrating 30-plus years and eight albums, funk band Lettuce highlights the Grammy-nominated superstars who have breathed new life into the classic funk genre and pushed musical barriers, combining groove-infused jazz, soaring horn lines, and modern hip-hop beats.
• Conductor Brent Havens takes the podium alongside the Utah Symphony to present The Music of Queen, delivering unforgettable songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “Somebody to Love,” and many others. Scored to extend the listening experience of Queen’s music—and amplified with a full rock band and vocals—this show captures the band’s distinct sound and high energy with some of the best (and sometimes forgotten) tunes recorded over the years.
• The incomparable Ben Folds—singer, songwriter, and pianist—returns for an electric crossover concert. Widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation, the classically-trained pop/rock star brings his unique energy and ability to weave between deep confessions and cheeky barbs, as he performs his hits through the years at the festival finale.

Chamber Orchestra Concerts at St. Mary’s Church

Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Church feature the Utah Symphony in an intimate venue with gentle breezes and views of the Wasatch Mountains during four classical concerts.

• Bookended with works that highlight the brilliance and range of Mozart, Associate Conductor Benjamin Manis leads a program thatbegins with a charming divertimento with interweaving melodies and playful rhythms. Strauss’ Oboe Concerto—performed by Principal Oboe Zac Hammond—reveals rich harmonies that allow the notoriously difficult solo oboe to shine, while the hauntingly beautiful string lines of Dvořák’s Nocturne evoke a sense of tranquility and introspection. Concluding the evening, Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 is a masterpiece that exemplifies the composer’s genius with expressive (and sometimes contradictory) melodies, connecting to and complementing each other with surprising ease.
• Conducted by Elias Grandy, the second St. Mary’s program spins an age-old story: illusion. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2—with its boundless vitality—was written as the composer’s deafness (and depression) was becoming more pronounced, and Ravel’s surprisingly light-hearted suite Le tombeau de Couperin pays homage to his friends who fell in World War II. Stravinsky’s Neo-Classical ballet Pulcinella centers around a clown whose trickery secures his girlfriend’s forgiveness.
• Conductor Katharina Wincor, 2020 Mahler Competition Third Prize Winner, makes her Utah Symphony debut. With precision and charisma, Wincor pairs Schubert’s Mozartian Symphony No. 5 with its inspired counterpart, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 1—performed by Associate Concertmaster Kathryn Eberle. These two pieces dance between light and shadow, breathing vibrance into Haydn’s textured Symphony No. 70 and completing a familiar melody that sings of stability in change.
• Utah Opera Resident Artist alum Grace Kahl returns to perform Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, a nostalgic and lush work capturing the simplicity and wonder of a childhood in the American South, and the Overture to The Marriage of Figaro—from one of Mozart’s most beloved comedic operas of all time. Continuing the theme of innocence and youth, Bizet’s Symphony No. 1 was written when he was only 17 years old, but published more than 60 years after his passing. Also featured on the program is Nathan Lincoln de Cusatis’ A Collection of Sand—a modern, mesmerizing work evoking the movement and shifting of sand dunes. Former Associate ConductorConner Gray Covington conducts. 

Subscription, group, and VIP tickets for the Utah Symphony’s Deer Valley® Music Festival are on sale now. Single-concert tickets go on sale to the general public on April 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM (MDT) at deervalleymusicfestival.org, 801-533-NOTE (801-533-6683), and through ArtTix outlets. Lodging packages including tickets to performances are available through lodging partners starting in May; lodging information is available by phone at (801) 533-6683 or online at deervalleymusicfestival.org.

VIP packages for the Utah Symphony’s Deer Valley® Music Festival can include premium reserved seating, VIP parking, pre-concert gourmet dinners, playbill recognition, and intermission receptions. VIPs have first access to salon concert events featuring intimate performances by festival artists in luxurious private residences. VIP packages are available at varying levels and all include a charitable contribution. For more information, please call (801) 869-9011, email [email protected], or visit deervalleymusicfestival.org/tickets/vip-packages/.

Volunteer Information

Volunteers for the Utah Symphony’s Deer Valley® Music Festival are needed in multiple positions. Benefits include a complimentary ticket voucher, T-shirt, and the opportunity to work closely with artists. Visit usuo.org/support-live-music/volunteer/ for more information.