Sun Valley Summer Symphony Music Conservatory
Contact: 208.788.4616
www.svsummersymphony.org
The Sun Valley Summer Symphony (SVSS) celebrates the majesty of its alpine setting with the beauty of outstanding classical music performances. Free to people of all ages, the symphony enriches the lives of its audiences through artistic, educational and cultural programming made possible entirely through the generous philanthropy of our community. This non-profit organization was founded as the Elkhorn Music Festival by Dr. Carl Eberl and his wife Julianne in 1985. Since then the orchestra has grown from 20 musicians to a full ensemble. Dr. Eberl is now the Conductor Laureate of the SVSS, having been succeeded in 1995 by Alasdair Neale. The symphony presents a magnificent season for 2006. Highlights include “Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor”, Beethoven’s “Eroica Symphony” and excerpts from Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung”. Pops conductor Erich Kunzel will conduct the annual evening of pop favorites. The concerts also feature selections by Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Haydn, and Mozart among others. Featured guest artists are pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and soprano Christine Brewer. Performances under the Symphony Tent on the Sun Valley Esplanade begin with the Chamber Music Series starting July 24, 2006. All concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. For the twelfth year, the SVSS presents the much-anticipated Edgar M. Bronfman Chamber Music Series under the direction of cellist Steven Honigberg, member of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Potomac String Quartet. The Chamber Music Series seeks to expose audiences to classical and contemporary chamber music. Featuring performances by principal musicians of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, along with guest pianists Shai Wosner and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, the series is held every summer during the last week of July and precedes the concert season. Selections by Dvorák, Beethoven and Ravel will be performed in the 2006 season. Each year, the Sun Valley Summer Symphony also hosts the Sun Valley Summer Music Workshops during the first week of its season. This program, for elementary, middle school, and high school students, has grown from an enrollment of 35 students in its first year to 135 students in 2005. The workshops offer local, regional and visiting students an opportunity to participate in master classes and ensemble coaching sessions led by Sun Valley Summer Symphony musicians from across the United States and England. These inspiring instructors are highly skilled performers with a passion for sharing their gifts with young musicians. Workshops take place Monday through Friday, July 31-August 4, 2006, with morning and afternoon sessions as well as rehearsals. They include master classes, chamber music instruction, sectionals, ensemble rehearsals, and music appreciation classes. The workshops culminate in two concert performances on Friday, August 4, in the Sun Valley Symphony Tent on the Sun Valley Esplanade off Dollar Road.