Festival at Sandpoint’s Youth Orchestra to perform spring concert Festival at Sandpoint announces Grand Finale concert

‘The Princess Bride in Concert’ will be led by Conductor Morihiko Nakahara

By Reader Staff

The Festival at Sandpoint announced its Grand Finale concert, which will take place Sunday, Aug. 6 and feature “The Princess Bride in Concert,” led by Conductor Morihiko Nakahara.

Directed by Rob Reiner, The Princess Bride is an iconic film that features an all-star cast telling the story of the beautiful maiden Buttercup and her one true love, a young farmhand named Westley. After he’s captured by a ruthless pirate and presumed dead, Buttercup’s unhappy marriage to the horrible Prince Humperdinck seems inevitable. But, before the wedding can take place, she’s kidnapped by three outlaws and it’s up to a mysterious Man in Black to come to her rescue.

Now for the first time, composer Mark Knopfler’s unforgettable score has been specially arranged for a symphony orchestra. Missing this cinematic concert experience would be inconceivable!

Unfortunately, after 39 years of partnership between the Spokane Symphony and Festival at Sandpoint, the orchestra is no longer able to support presenting the Festival’s Grand Finale performance in their off-season.

According to Spokane Symphony Executive Director Jeff vom Saal, “After researching every conceivable option, we are just unable to make it work.”

Although one door has closed for the Festival’s traditioned past, this will create growth opportunities for the Festival, as it was originally founded as a symphony and conductor institute.

“As we approach our 40th annual Summer Series, we are excited to honor the symphonic origins of the Festival at Sandpoint,” said Production and Education Manager Paul Gunter. “We are excited to highlight a diverse range of talent from the Inland Northwest with our Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra at this year’s Grand Finale.”

The 2023 Grand Finale will also mark the Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra’s inaugural performance with more than 60 musicians. The FAS Orchestra will feature talented instrumentalists from the Inland Northwest, many of whom have been featured as part of the Spokane Symphony.

“The Festival is proud to offer additional performance opportunities to these individuals as the traditional performing arts season winds down for the year,” FAS organizers stated in a news release.

Conducting this performance is

Morihiko Nakahara, who spent 16 years as resident conductor of the Spokane Symphony. He is also the music director of the South Carolina Philharmonic and the director of Orchestra Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is well known for his charismatic presence on and off the podium, his innovative and audience-friendly programming skills, and thoughtful interpretations of both standard and contemporary repertoire.

The Grand Finale will also include a performance from the Festival at Sandpoint’s 2023 Instrumental Scholarship Winner, as well as fireworks to conclude the night and the 2023 Summer Series.

Tickets are $44.95 for general admission and $12.95 for youth if purchased in advance. For tickets or for more information visit: festivalatsandpoint.com.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Dario Ré EP release party, Evans Brothers, May 12 The Whags, Eichardt’s Pub, May 13

To call Dario Ré a man of many talents would be an understatement. His artistic life, according to his online presence, encompasses practices in “painting, assemblage, installation, video, performance, sound and songwriting.” Both art and music will be on display Friday, May 12 as Ré celebrates the release of his EP Colorwise at Evans Brothers Coffee.

While the EP release will highlight Ré’s solo work, the artist is perhaps best known as the lead member of Spokane’s world-music-inspired indie band Heat Speak. He splits his time between both Sandpoint and Spokane. Spokane-based singer-songwriter Olivia Brownlee will open the evening’s entertainment. Brownlee began a project during the coronavirus pandemic to record and release an original song each month. That project endures, and the fruit of her effort is available for listening at soundcloud. com/olivia-brownlee.

— Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

7 p.m., donations accepted at the door. Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, 524 Church St., 208265-5553, evansbrotherscoffee. com. Listen at dariore.com.

Like many musical groups around the world, Seattle-based five-piece The Whags endured a period of inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the group has been back with a vengeance since 2022, setting off on two West Coast tours; following their 2019 EP Smile Maker with a debut full-length release Routine for Now with Adam Burd (of Fleet Foxes, The Dip and Car Seat Headrest); and — fortunately for Sandpoint — a show Saturday, May 13 at Eichardt’s Pub.

Hailed by Northwest Music Scene as “another great exam- ple of a band that destroys the so-called ‘Seattle Sound’ myth,” The Whags specializes in “an open-ended approach to Americana, funk and sunshine pop,” featuring layers of “vocal-driven pop harmonies, anthemic guitar riffs and jazz/funk rhythms that conjure swirly ballads amidst groove-heavy jams.”

— Zach Hagadone

7 p.m., FREE. Eichardt’s Pub, 212 Cedar St., 208-263-4005, eichardtspub.com.

Do any of us really have all the answers in life? I think I can safely answer that: No. But there are people who have devoted their entire lives to tackling some of the larger questions and that’s why I am recommending self-help books. Many podcasts now are stressing not only our actions and habits when it comes to leading a virtuous life, but also what we read and choose to invite into our minds. Here are just a few ideas: The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz, Untethered Soul by Michael Singer, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman and anything by Eckart Tolle.

Read Listen

Once you dive deep into human optimization — especially in the podcast world — you’ll run into a lot of recommendations and cross-references to other sources that inspire people. One favorite that recently came my way is David Foster Wallace‘s commencement speech “This is Water.” In roughly 20 minutes, he seems to capture what is important in life with wit and empathy. Since then, he has expanded it into an entire book, but the original is still on the internet and a great listen.

Watch

In Ghana, a surprisingly large number of people have some sort of handicap — nearly 10%. The stigma that they face is so strong that often handicapped kids are abandoned or left to die. Emmanuel‘s Gift is a movie about one person who challenges all of that and is able to bring change, understanding, sympathy and ultimately new legislation to Ghana. Titular protagonist Emmanuel bicycles across the country using one leg and, as his notoriety grows, he uncovers his life’s mission. The film is narrated by Oprah Winfrey.

From Northern Idaho News, May 7, 1943