Sun Valley Summer Symphony Changes its Name to Sun Valley Music Festival

The Sun Valley Summer Symphony has officially changed its name to the Sun Valley Music Festival. In the words of Music Director Alasdair Neale: “This is a return to our roots. We began as the Elkhorn Music Festival 35 years ago, and with this change, we reaffirm that we really are a music festival, more than a regional or seasonal symphony.”

“With the addition of our inaugural Winter Festival this February, we now have the ability to assemble musicians from our festival orchestra at different times in the year, no longer exclusively in the summer. We will also continue to present programs of all sizes and formats as part of these festivals. As an example, this summer we will feature Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Gautier Capuçon in a duo recital without orchestra. Calling ourselves a ‘music festival’ more accurately represents what we are and will continue to be.”

—Derek Dean, Executive Director  

The Music Festival is making additional changes along with its name. The first week of concerts in the summer at the Sun Valley Pavilion, formerly known as the “In Focus” week, will be integrated fully into the Summer Concert Series. Each concert features a “Pre-Concert Chat” which takes place on the lawn and can also be accessed on a mobile phone via live audio streaming. The big video screen will be live from the first concert as well, enabling lawn audiences to see as well as hear the concerts. In addition, all of the Music Festival’s education programs will become part of its Music Institute. The Institute will continue to offer both year-round programs, in partnership with the Blaine County School District, as well as intensive summer programs that run concurrently with the Summer Concert Series.

“The new name will help the Festival build its reputation. This community should be proud of the orchestra it has built over the last 35 years, and the Sun Valley Music Festival deserves to be counted among the great classical music festivals in the world, including Tanglewood, Ravinia, Salzburg, and Lucerne.”

—Sue Monson, Board President 

The Music Festival’s new website, live today, is www.svmusicfestival.org. Tickets for the 2019 Gala featuring Branford Marsalis, on Aug. 11, will go on sale to the public next Wednesday, April 10, at 9 a.m. (MT).