February 25 “Upbeat with Alasdair” Takes You “Behind the Baton” to Reveal Life as a Conductor

Edwin Outwater, conductor and curator of the upcoming Winter Season joins Festival Music Director Alasdair Neale for an intimate talk on the art of directing a musical performance.

Music Director Alasdair Neale returns with co-speaker — and conductor and curator of the upcoming Winter Season (Feb. 27-29) — Edwin Outwater for the latest installment of the Sun Valley Music Festival’s popular “Upbeat with Alasdair” speaking series. Presented on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. at the Community Library, it will be a rare encounter with two accomplished conductors on one stage. Titled “Life as a Conductor: A Chat with Friends and Colleagues Alasdair Neale and Edwin Outwater,” the two maestros will discuss their experiences as conductors.

“It’s so rare to have the opportunity to sit down with a fellow conductor and talk about what we do and how we do it. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend time with than my friend and colleague Edwin Outwater, and I hope audience members bring us their questions.”

— Alasdair Neale, Music Director

Now entering his 26th year as Music Director of the Sun Valley Music Festival, Alasdair Neale is also Music Director of the Marin Symphony and New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Beyond his leadership in Sun Valley, Connecticut, and the San Francisco Bay Area, Neale has guest-conducted numerous orchestras from around the world to much acclaim. His enthusiastic leadership and approach to music-making unite musicians and audiences alike. His speaking counterpart, Edwin Outwater, has been called “one of the most innovative conductors on the scene today” by Michael Tilson Thomas. Outwater is Music Director Laureate of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and regularly appears with the San Francisco, New World, Chicago, National, and Virginia Symphonies. Along with guest appearances across the globe, he is known for creating concert experiences beyond the mainstream.

Of the upcoming talk, Outwater said:

“Alasdair is a dear friend and close colleague. We’ve spent many hours together discussing the art of conducting — at dinners in San Francisco, on hikes in Sun Valley, and now with you, the wonderful Sun Valley Music Festival supporters. I hope you can join us for this rare opportunity to hear two conductors discuss how it all works!”

The annual “Upbeat with Alasdair” speaking series takes place in winter and spring at The Community Library, located at 415 Spruce Ave., Ketchum. It provides an intimate platform for Maestro Neale to share his passion for music-making and his personal take on specific works and behind the scenes topics with the community. Recent talks have previewed major Festival summer productions, most recently revealing this summer’s “Beethoven @ 250” concerts, celebrating the 250th birthday of one of history’s most iconic composers as part of the upcoming Summer Season.

This February’s program will have a special 7 p.m. start time. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but space is limited, and the event is often full. Reservations are strongly encouraged and begin Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 9 a.m. The best way to reserve seats is on the Festival website at svmusicfestival.org. Reservations will also be accepted by emailing or calling the Festival office at [email protected] or 208-622-5607.

Individuals unable to attend in person will be able to watch via video livestream on the Festival website at svmusicfestival.org.

For the latest news and information on the Sun Valley Music Festival and “Upbeat with Alasdair” visit the Festival website at svmusicfestival.org or sign up for e-news at svmusicfestival.org/subscribe.