Press release

EASTERN SIERRA SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES 40th SUMMER CONCERT SERIES  

Artistic Director Edwin Outwater adds opera this summer August 10th -12th

Mammoth Lakes, CA. – Aimee Kreston, Executive Director of Eastern Sierra Symphony along with Artistic Director Edwin Outwater announce the symphony’s Summer Concert series arriving August 10th through 12th.

Eastern Sierra Symphony’s three-day festival features two full symphonic orchestra concerts as well as other activities every August, a tradition that began back in 1978.  This year several performers associated with  the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, including artistic Director Craig Terry and soprano Diana Newman and alumnus tenor Jonathan Johnson, in addition to baritone Hugh Russell join us for an exciting program of the classic and the contemporary.

The Summer Concert series begins with a fundraiser on Thursday evening August 10 at 6:00 pm at Edison Theatre.  Craig Terry curates and accompanies the singers in an innovative mix of Opera, cabaret and more. The evening starts with heavy hors d’oeuvres and wine.  Those with a VIP package ticket will also enjoy champagne and dessert with the artists after the program.

Friday’s program takes place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 7:30 pm under the direction of Outwater and Conducting Fellow Anna Wittstruck. The concert, presented free to the community, features symphony members from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Pasadena as well as local musicians, with Horton Kohl winner Amy Sze performing Barber’s Violin Concerto and tenor Johnson performing arias from Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni. Other pieces include Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 (“Haffner”) and Composer-in-residence Gabriela Lena Frank’s Concertino Cusqueño.

The summer concert series concludes Saturday evening at 7:30 pm at St. Joseph’s with a stunning evening of music conducted by Outwater. The evening includes Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst, Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 featuring soprano Diana Newman, Schumann’s Symphony 35, and Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer featuring baritone Hugh Russell. VIP tickets include priority seating at both the Friday and Saturday performances.

Tickets for all events, as well as a special VIP package of activities, can be purchased at EasternSierraSymphony.org and following the link on the home page.

The VIP Package, offered for the first time this year, includes an Afternoon Hike and Lunch led by Artistic Director Edwin Outwater with featured artists and principal musicians. Enjoy a peaceful afternoon in the natural beauty of the Eastern Sierras with some of the most talented musicians in the U.S. as well as VIP seating at the free Friday Concert. On Saturday, August 12th join Outwater, concert master and featured artists for pontoon boating on Lake Mary – and a shoreline performance by the outstanding student festival musicians, in addition to VIP seating at the Saturday evening concert.

Artistic Director Edwin Outwater is the Director of Summer Concerts at the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) and regularly guest conducts the Chicago and New World Symphonies.  As those who attended last year’s concert learned, he is a visionary programmer and has the ability to bring context into the concert hall, connecting with audiences and including repertoire beyond the mainstream.  

Eastern Sierra Symphony, consisting of professional musicians and pre-professional students of the highest caliber, is a 501c3 non-profit that is funded through ticket sales as well as the generosity of donors, grants, and some public funding from Measure U.  Donations are welcome and may be sent to P.O. Box 7710 in Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546.

FACT SHEET:

WHO: Eastern Sierra Symphony

WHAT: Summer Concert Series

WHEN: Thursday, August 10 at 6:00 PM Edison Theatre

Friday, August 11 at 7:30 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Saturday, August 12th at 7:30 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

WHERE: See above

WHY: Experience the symphony that reaches the heights