2024 Festival Highlights
Some of our favorite moments from our 2024 summer festival
In 2024, Music in the Mountains celebrated our 38th Anniversary Season with four weeks of world-class classical music, held in Durango, Colorado, and the surrounding regions!
From the very first notes struck on our mobile stage on July 11th, to the final round of applause that echoed through the Community Concert Hall on August 4th, our 2024 Festival delivered a magical blend of world-class performances, breathtaking mountain scenery, and unforgettable community spirit.
From soaring symphonic melodies to intimate chamber music, our 2024 festival was a celebration of the arts. Welcoming back our phenomenal Festival Orchestra, as well as standout soloists and visiting artists, Music in the Mountains brought together renowned musicians and passionate music lovers for four weeks of musical excellence, set against the stunning backdrop of Southwest Colorado.
Read on to relive some of the highlights and magical moments from our 2024 summer classical music festival!
Our Free Community Concerts on Our Mobile Stage Share the Joy of Classical Music Across the Region!
Since launching in 2021, our Free Community Concert Series on our custom-built mobile stage has become a cornerstone of our summer festivals, and this year was no exception!
On July 11th, we proudly kicked off our Festival by bringing three different world-class classical music ensembles to various locations across the region, all free of charge. We were thrilled to welcome the Wildwood Reed Trio on July 11th; the Denver Brass Quintet on July 12th, and the KAIA String Quartet on July 13th.
From July 11th to the 13th, we hosted nearly a dozen free concerts on our mobile stage, drawing in thousands of attendees and sharing music by these exceptional performers. We were thrilled to bring these performances to a wide range of communities, including Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Pagosa Springs, and Mancos. Our mobile stage concerts are designed to offer an intimate and accessible way for everyone to experience the magic of Music in the Mountains, and we look forward to continuing this community outreach for many years to come!
Stars of the Classical Music World Dazzle in Durango
Our 2024 Music in the Mountains Festival featured stars of the classical music world, adding an extra layer of brilliance to this year’s festival. Renowned musicians and soloists from across the globe performed alongside our world-class Festival Orchestra onstage, sharing their virtuosity and passion with the Durango community.
On Sunday, July 21st, 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition winner Hina Khuong-Huu, violin, joined our Festival Orchestra for a special performance of Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21, at “Kinetic Brilliance,” an evening which also featured Gala Flagello’s Vitality and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 73.
Next, on Friday, July 26th, audiences were treated to an incredible evening of music when pianist Olga Kern, gold medal winner of the Van Cliburn Competition, joined our Festival Orchestra for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 at “Bravissima!”, an evening which also featured Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish”.
At “Bouquet of Sound,” on July 28th, guest conductor Maurice Cohn, the Assistant Conductor for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, led our Festival Orchestra in an evening of music which included performances of Missy Mazzoli’s These Worlds in Us, Franz Joseph Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat, for violin, cello, oboe, and bassoon, Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, and Manuel De Falla’s Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2.
“Classical Hit Parade,” on August 2nd, featured musical stars of the classical music world! From the peaceful to the energetic, this concert was jam-packed with “light” classics spanning nearly three centuries of music, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, Johann Strauss Ii’s Thunder and Lightning Polka, Op. 324, Jacques Offenbach’s Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien, Op. 45.
At our final performance of the 2024 Festival, “Pinnacle Performance,” audiences were treated to an unforgettable performance by Paul Watkins, acclaimed cellist of the Emerson String Quartet, when he joined our orchestra for Dmitry Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 107, in an evening which also included performances of Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla and Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A, Op. 92.
The presence of such incredible artists throughout our four week festival elevated the festival to new heights, offering an unforgettable experience for music lovers in Durango and beyond.
Support our future festivals & year-round education programs
From a Candlelight Concert to the Kennebec Café: Intimate Performances and Pairings Create One-of-a-Kind Experiences
Our 2024 Music in the Mountains Festival once again offered a series of intimate and unforgettable experiences, combining exceptional music with unique settings and special pairings throughout its four week run.
What has become a true highlight of our Festival, our Candlelight Concert on July 19th created an intimate and unique atmosphere, where a moving chamber concert featuring musicians of our Festival Orchestra was played onstage among the glow of thousands of flickering candles.
This year, we hosted a brand-new, sold-out event on July 23rd: “Perfectly Paired,” a benefit dinner and concert at Kennebec Café, featuring the dynamic Boyd Meets Girl duo, which created the perfect evening of gourmet dining and live music.
On July 30th, we hosted a sweet blend of artistry and local flavor with “Sundaes on Tuesday,” a chamber concert at River Bend Ranch which was paired with delicious ice cream sundaes from Cream Bean Berry.
Plus, the festival brought an eclectic fusion of sounds to Le Platt’s Pond on August 1st with a world music concert featuring the Jacob Jolliff Band, highlighting their lively bluegrass-infused world music in a serene mountain setting.
Each of these unique and intimate events not only showcased incredible musical talent but also brought the community together in wonderful, one-of-a-kind ways that can only be found at Music in the Mountains!
Satchmo Scattin’ & Swingin’, "Star Wars" vs "Star Trek," and TAKE3: Pops Orchestra Concerts Delight Audiences!
In addition to our fantastic classical concerts and chamber concerts, our 2024 Music in the Mountains festival also brought thrilling pops orchestra experiences that captivated audiences with their dynamic performances and vibrant energy!
At “Satchmo Scattin’ & Swingin’,” on July 20th, conductor, vocalist, and trumpet player Byron Stripling shared his charismatic stage presence and jazzy flair with audiences in a performance that included renditions of Danny Boy, Maple Leaf Rag, When the Saints Go Marching In, and more. Plus, audiences were treated to a surprise performance by incredible tap dancer Leo Manzari!
On July 27th, innovative trio TAKE3, joined forces with our Festival Orchestra, blending classical music with contemporary flair and delivering a performance full of energy and creativity.
Finally, rounding out our pops orchestra experiences, music lovers were treated to an epic showdown of “Star Wars vs. Star Trek,” at our annual Pops Night Benefit Dinner and Concert at the Sky Ute Event Center. Featuring iconic themes from both beloved franchises, this out-of-this-world evening featured cocktails and appetizers, a multi-course chef-inspired dinner, and an iconic performance by our Festival Orchestra, led under acclaimed conductor Richard Kaufman! It was truly an evening to remember!
A Festival Favorite: Our Dinner & Family Concert Returns
Each year, a cornerstone of our summer classical music festival is our much-loved Dinner & Family Concert, which returned on July 24th!
Designed specifically for children and their families, this family-friendly event is held each year at the Community Concert Hall as a way to introduce the next generation of music lovers (and music makers) to classical music.
This year’s pre-concert picnic, as always, featured hot dogs, root beer floats, and games for all ages as families from across the region joined us in the courtyard of the Community Concert Hall. Families then enjoyed a special kid-friendly performance by our Festival Orchestra featuring Robert Kapilow’s Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham and Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to William Tell.
A beloved highlight of each of our summer festivals, we remain committed to keeping ticket prices to this event affordable in order to keep it accessible for all families in our community!
Bravo, Guillermo! Saying Thank You to Artistic Director and Longtime Conductor, Guillermo Figueroa
After eighteen incredible years, “Pinnacle Performance,” our final concert of the 2024 season on August 4th, marked the end of Guillermo Figueroa’s tenure with Music in the Mountains.
For nearly two decades, Guillermo was the heart and soul of Music in the Mountains, guiding this cherished festival to new heights of artistic excellence. On the final evening of our 2024 festival, we celebrated his remarkable 18-year career and reflected on a journey marked by passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the transformative power of music.
The evening’s performance was a spectacular closing night to our Festival, with visiting soloist Paul Watkins, cello, joining our Festival Orchestra onstage. After the concert, we hosted our special donor event, our “Closing Night Reception,” where we further celebrated the tenure of Guillermo and toasted to the end of another fantastic year of Music in the Mountains!
It’s the music. It’s the musicians. It’s the experience.
After a truly phenomenal 2024 season, we look ahead to 2025, and the new era of Music in the Mountains!
In September 2024, we were thrilled to announce the appointment of nternationally renowned violinist, and longtime friend of the festival, Vadim Gluzman as our new Artistic Director! As Artistic Director, Vadim will be responsible for curating the festival’s program, attracting top-tier musicians, and ensuring that Music in the Mountains continues to be a beacon of cultural and social excellence.
We cannot wait to share all that is in store for our 2025 Festival season, our first under Vadim’s leadership!
Plan on joining us from July 10-August 3, 2025!
Stay up-to-date on upcoming Festival news!
