Music in the Mountains heats up with “Summerfest”

MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL performing arts experience in the foothills—concert-hall quality music in a bucolic setting.

Started in 1982, a small group of music lovers gathered in Grass Valley to produce a few summer concerts. Now Music in the Mountains brings the classics to life year- round, with festivals in the Spring, Summer and Winter.

This year is the start of a new era—Artistic and Musical Director Gregory Vajda inherits the baton from Paul Perry, the festival’s legendary conductor since it inception. Vajda was born in Budapest, and he studied clarinet and conducting at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. He has conducted the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Oregon Symphony before being appointed Artistic Director of Music in the Mountains. (To learn more, visit vajdag.com).

Music in the Mountain’s “Summerfest” includes 15 performances in June and July. The festival includes an eclectic mix of music: internationally renowned soprano Veronika Kincses; an outdoor concert with Doc Severinsen; and Mozert and Mahler. MIM’s popular “Kinder Konzert,” a free family event, is in July. Its classic “Happy Birthday USA” gathering is July 3.

In his own words, Gregory describes some of the highlights of the Summerfest: “Our festival opening concert on Saturday, June 5 called ‘Old American Songs’ features our own MIM Festival coral with Ryan Murray conducting and composer-pianist Jeffrey Biegel. On the program, you’ll find Copeland’s ‘Old American Songs’ and Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’

“One of our outdoor pops concerts on Friday, June 25, features the amazing banjo player, Bela Fleck, winner of nine Grammy Awards. Bass player-composer Edgar Meyer and the amazing tabla player Zakir Hussain join him. We’ll also get to enjoy all three in a jam session. (A tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument).

“June 30 is our first major classical orchestra concert at Amaral Festival Center. On the program are two of the greatest symphonies ever written: Mozart’s ‘Haffner Symphony’ and Symphony #4 by Gustav Mahler. The vocal soloist is acclaimed Hungarian soprano Veronika Kinces — who happens to be my mom.”

A Winterfest in December of this year will feature coral concerts, holiday pops, folk songs and a serenade featuring Andrew Armstrong. A Springfest featuring music from Vienna occurred in March.

MIM venues include the renovated Amaral Family Festival Center at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, and during the summer, picnic-style seating amid the pine trees on the picturesque lawns at the fairgrounds.

For Summerfest tickets and information go to musicinthemountains.org.
or call 800-218-2188