Sharing Our Stories
“Who hears music, feels his solitude
Peopled at once.”
― Robert Browning
Music has the power to connect. It can connect us to ourselves more deeply and it can bring us together. As a community of music lovers, we invite you to share your stories of how music has been meaningful to you in the past.
Experience a soundtrack to summer when you join the Utah Symphony under the stars, immersing yourself in the bright and nostalgic melodies of classical and pops favorites by American and Latin American composers. On Juneteenth—and kicking off Civic Season—join us in celebrating music by African American composers past and present, iconic works like Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever and Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and famous Latin American tunes including Moncayo’s delightful Huapango. This laid-back evening with the symphony is presented free of charge!
Thirty years after the defeat of the Empire, Luke Skywalker has vanished and a new threat has risen: The First Order, led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke and his dark side enforcer, Kylo Ren. General Leia Organa’s military force, the Resistance—and unlikely heroes brought together by fate—are the galaxy’s only hope at thwarting a new reign of evil.
From visionary director J.J. Abrams, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan.
This thrilling film presentation will feature the Utah Symphony performing John Williams’ complete score live while the entire film plays on the big screen.
© 2015 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox Film Corp, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © All rights reserved.
Thirty years after the defeat of the Empire, Luke Skywalker has vanished and a new threat has risen: The First Order, led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke and his dark side enforcer, Kylo Ren. General Leia Organa’s military force, the Resistance—and unlikely heroes brought together by fate—are the galaxy’s only hope at thwarting a new reign of evil.
From visionary director J.J. Abrams, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan.
This thrilling film presentation will feature the Utah Symphony performing John Williams’ complete score live while the entire film plays on the big screen.
© 2015 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox Film Corp, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © All rights reserved.
Experience a soundtrack to summer when you join the Utah Symphony under the stars, immersing yourself in the bright and nostalgic melodies of classical and pops favorites by American and Latin American composers. As part of Civic Season, join us in celebrating music by African American composers past and present, iconic works like Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever and Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and famous Latin American tunes including Moncayo’s delightful Huapango. This laid-back evening with the symphony is presented free of charge!
Our Independence Day tribute 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 it tours across the United States. Also featuring Gershwin’s Suite from Porgy and Bess, music from John Williams, a Sousa march, and more, this salute to the U.S.A will have you seeing stars!
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.
Bookended with works that highlight the brilliance and range of Mozart, this concert begins with a charming divertimento that sparks a sense of celebration, thanks to its interweaving melodies and playful rhythms. Strauss' Oboe Concerto—performed by the symphony’s Principal Oboe Zac Hammond—reveals rich harmonies that allow the notoriously difficult solo oboe to shine, while the hauntingly beautiful string lines of Dvorák'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.
Get ready to “wish upon a star” as the symphony brings the magic of Disney to life. 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.” Treat the family like royalty with this concert that kindles complete joy!
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.
This 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 that fell in World War II. Stravinsky’s Neo-Classical ballet Pulcinella centers around a clown whose trickery secures his girlfriend’s forgiveness. Unmask the clown, explore Beethoven’s sorrowful secret, and examine tragedy expressed through joyful music.
What is summer without songs from The Beach Boys?! Marking more than a half-century of making music, the iconic group continues 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.” With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history—and they return to the Deer Valley Music Festival for two unforgettable summer nights!
What is summer without songs from The Beach Boys?! Marking more than a half-century of making music, the iconic group continues 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.” With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history—and they return to the Deer Valley Music Festival for two unforgettable summer nights!
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.
Festival favorite Capathia Jenkins returns with her powerful voice and stunning stage presence! Hear some of the greatest hits in soul and R&B, featuring music by the leading ladies you know and love—including Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Adele, and more!
Two words: LeAnn Rimes. The international, multi-platinum selling, acclaimed singer-songwriter takes the stage with powerhouse vocals and good old American country music—including the hit single “How Do I Live.” Don’t miss this legend as she stops in Utah with her latest tour, the story... so far.
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.
The mastermind behind some of the most popular, recognizable, and critically-acclaimed film scores in cinematic history, John Williams has defined movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Saving Private Ryan, Superman, and E.T. Feel the nostalgia and re-experience your favorites when the symphony honors some of the most iconic movie soundtracks of the past 50 years on the festival stage!
Celebrating 30-plus years and eight studio albums, Lettuce brings an irrepressible groove with their relentlessly soulful sound. The Grammy-nominated superstars 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. Join us and teleport to where all life coexists as one in peace, love, and harmony!
Bridging the gulf between rock ’n’ roll and classical music, Brent Havens leads the symphony in Queen’s 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.
Ben is hitting the road this summer with his new album What Matters Most and makes his stop in Utah at the Deer Valley® Music Festival! The incomparable, singer, songwriter, pianist (and, Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra) returns for an electric crossover concert. A classically-trained pop/rock star who self-identifies as a “percussive pianist,” Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation. Bringing his unique energy and ability to weave between deep confessions and cheeky barbs, he performs his hits through the years at the festival finale.
