Bear Valley, CA…The opening weekend of our 2023 season is behind us, and it was a rousing success. We had sold out crowds for both The English Band and Steel n’ Chicago, and only a handful of seats left for Deja Vu. The crowd danced, sang along, and enjoyed beautiful music together under the big white tent.

The fun has just begun! Here’s what’s next. The Laurence Hobgood Trio will perform American Songbook jazz favorites and originals on Wednesday, July 26th. With Jazz Cellars pouring wine that night and Lake Alpine Lodge serving pre-dinner meals at the tent area, it’s the perfect escape from the heat and craziness of day-to-day life.

Come join us for a relaxing, cool evening of jazz. You can get tickets at the tent or online.

Classics!
The orchestra has arrived in Bear Valley and rehearsals are underway. If you attended any of the classical concerts last year you know what a treat it is to have Alexander Mickelthwate at the podium. He converses with the audience, helping us understand the pieces, telling little-known stories about the composers, and explaining his inspiration for choosing the repertoire. Whether you know a lot about classical music or nothing at all, Alexander helps you feel connected to the music and the experience is transformative. It’s a come-as-you-are, everyone-is-welcome, make- yourself-comfortable atmosphere inside our tent, and we hope you’ll join in.

The opening classical night is Friday, July 28th, and is themed around Western music, including Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite and Aaron Copland’s Rodeo. On Saturday we are thrilled to have sitarist Arjun Verma joining us to perform Ravi Shankar’s Symphony. There are a small handful of sitarists allowed by the Shankar estate to perform this piece, so this is a rare opportunity to hear it live. The weekend rounds out with a matinee on Sunday at 2 pm, with a program of lighter classical tunes that are perfect for people of all ages to enjoy. That concert is free for youth 17 and under, so grab the kids or grandkids and come enjoy some fun music.

Food!
Lake Alpine Lodge wraps up their pre-concert meal service with Thursday’s concert, but their restaurant at Lake Alpine will stay open late with post-concert drinks and casual food throughout the entire festival. Their food has received rave reviews and we thank them for their partnership. \

Bear Valley Resorts takes over pre-concert meals starting with Friday night’s concert. Their menu will change each night with some delicious options. You can see the full menu on our website at https://www.bearvalleymusicfestival.org/bear-valley-food/. No pre-orders are necessary, so just show up and they’ll be eager to feed you. Credit cards and cash are accepted.

Thank you!
We simply couldn’t put on this festival without the support of volunteers and donors. We appreciate each and every one of you. If you’d like to contribute, every dollar helps. Thank you!

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