A Kurt Bestor Christmas by Mills Publishing Inc.

Good evening, everyone.

Once again, as we have done for 37 years now, we’ve gathered together to enjoy wonderful Christmas carols and songs. While the arrangements played and sung by all of us on stage are mine, the music itself has been bequeathed to us over generations by talented composers and lyricists. In a special way, I feel a kinship to these creators as I share the same desire to tap into the sacred and sublime of the season as they did.

Whether it be “Lo, How a Rose ‘ere Blooming” penned in 1609 by Praetorius or “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” composed by Walter Kent in 1943, these memorable melodies, around which I have wrapped my own harmonies and orchestration, bring to mind Christmases past - full of the sights, smells, and sounds of the magical Yuletide season. No matter how young and “hip” our Gen Z crowd might be or old and crusty as we “boomers” are told we are, we can all come together and get lost in the timeless music of the season.

So, while we’ll only be here in this beautiful theater for a short time tonight, it is my hope that the melodies you hear played by my band, orchestra, and special guests stay with you for the entire Christmas season and beyond, bringing you and yours peace and joy.

Kurt

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ABOUT KURT

KurtBestor is a two-time Emmy-award-winning and Grammy-nominated composer who, for more than 40 years, has composed and arranged music in a myriad of styles and genres. His accomplishments include numerous feature-length film scores, almost 20 popular albums, and memorable themes for national television themes, as well as a mix of live shows and commissioned works for choirs and orchestras.

As a gifted performer, Bestor has performed his popular Christmas shows for 36 years to sold-out audiences throughout the western United States. People from Seattle to Dallas have enjoyed his easy-going manner and rapport with the audience, as well as his distinctive arrangements of Yuletide favorites. When not performing his own music, Kurt spends much of his time arranging and producing music for a myriad of singers and instrumentalists including Kelly O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Jenny Oaks Baker, Megan Hilty, Andrea Bocelli, Caroline Campbell, and Brian Stokes Mitchell among many others.

Bestor has also performed internationally, conducting and performing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Utah Symphony, the Cape Cod Philharmonic, and the Estonian National Orchestra, among others. He recently completed a commissioned composition (by AFCO’s Craig Jessop), which is a 5-movement work for choir, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and 2 pianos, titled “John F. Kennedy: Rise, Fall, and Immortality.” It was premiered at the ACDA Convention in Dallas to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination. He is currently composing an original piece for narrator and orchestra titled “Hamon E and the Missing Key” which he hopes to premier in 2024.

His first Christmas album is also his latest as he has remastered and rereleased “An Airbus Christmas,” by far his most popular album and one which further cements the celebrated composer as a beloved contributor to the popular holiday music anthology. Bestor makes his home in Salt Lake City with his wife Petrina and daughter Ella, where they spend much time hiking, skiing, and camping in the picturesque mountains surrounding his home.

KURT’S THANK YOU

Iknowmy name is in the concert title “A Kurt Bestor Christmas” but it really is inaccurate. The only way a show like this lasts for three and a half decades is because I am smart enough to surround myself with the best people. From amazing musicians like Mike Dowdle and Eric Valentine to Salt Lake’s finest free-lance musician like Daron Bradford on woodwinds and Monte Belknap on violin, Then my crack audio team of Bob Abeyta and Eric “The Viking” make sure the whole things sounds “pro” while Matt and the guys from Cornerstone dazzle you with their lighting and stage design. There are a group of people who one might call my “Peeps” who work hard from mid-summer until the final concert note to make sure I am where I am supposed to be, everyone gets paid on time and we sweep up after ourselves here at the Eccles - that’s you Kevin, Eric, et.al.! I also have the BEST sponsors who help get the word out about the show. Sandy at Minky Couture and Patrick at Black Desert - much thanks to you and your companies. Lastly - before it “takes a village” to put on my yearly show, it takes a family. To my mom, sisters, daughters, extended clan and my incredibly understanding wife, Petrina - you all keep me grounded and loved.

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Fall

CAROLINE CAMPBELL

“ She is a fair-haired angel with a bow, who, when on stage, has such grit and musicality as to leave you breathless. On the four chords of her violin, Caroline Campbell knows how to be an acrobat without a safety net, she knows how to seduce, to move people and make them dance. It is always a great joy to share the stage with such a brilliant and charismatic artist.”

- ANDREA BOCELLI

Violinist Caroline Campbell made her solo debut with orchestra at age 8, and since has appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, Boston Pops, Malaysian Philharmonic, and many other symphony orchestras. She has soloed in prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and Madison Square Garden, and in exotic locations including Kuala Lumpur, the Sydney Opera House and Versailles. In high demand both in the classical and popular scene, she has been nicknamed “violinist to the stars” and hand-picked to play duets with world-renowned artists including Sting, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Hauser, Steven Tyler, Adam Levine, Chris Botti, Rod Stewart, and Michael Buble.

The release of her live performance of her classical/rock arrangement of “Skyfall” onstage with David Foster on YouTube has positioned Caroline at the forefront of the classical crossover genre and increased

CAROLINE CAMPBELL

her demand in a variety of venues, shows and collaborations outside of traditional classical music. She recently debuted Yamaha’s newest electric violin, the YEV, and was featured in a Yamaha music video campaign. Recent performances range from a classical concert with the Belgrade Symphony in Belgrade, Serbia, a solo rock song for a worldwide McDonalds corporate gala for 18,000 people, a private outdoor cultural event in Bali, an intimate recital in Northern California to raise money for music education, a gala celebrating a new opera house in Vietnam, a concert at a maximum security women’s prison, the national anthem at an NBA game, and many others.

Caroline studied violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with BS and MA degrees from Stanford University, where she studied computer science, logic, linguistics, and psychology.

Caroline plays on a 1771 Joseph Gagliano violin and lives in Santa Monica, CA

LILLIAN BREEZE MANNING

Lillian Breeze Manning, is a 13-yearold soprano drawn to the genres of classical crossover and pop opera. Her popular music videos have garnered over five million views, and her youtube channel has over 90,000 subscribers worldwide who have been drawn to and touched by her pure and sweet voice. Lillian is also in high demand as a performer, and having collaborated with superstars such as David Foster, Katharine McPhee and Marie Osmond as well as Daniel Emmet, Jenny Oaks Baker, Kurt Bestor, Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller and Alex Sharpe. Follow her on YouTube @Lillian Breeze, IG @lillian.breeze, Fb: Lillian Breeze Manning

Wishing you all the warmth of the holiday season and happiness in the New Year!

From your friends at

THANK YOU LEGACY DONORS

whose generosity supports the extraordinary experiences at the Eccles Theater.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation

Delta Air Lines

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation and City Creek Reserve, Inc.

Ken Garff Automotive Group

Katharine B. and the late Robert H. Garff

Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation

O.C. Tanner

Dell Loy and Julie Hansen

Call-Maggelet Foundation

Wells Fargo McCarthey Family Foundation

Layton Construction

AUDIENCE INFORMATION

ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES

FM Assistive Listening Devices are available free of charge at each performance on a first-come, first-served basis. Hearing aid compatible T-Loops are also available. Ask at Coat Check for details.

WHEELCHAIR SEATING

Ample wheelchair seating is available. Please inform Ticket Office representative when making your reservation that you require a wheelchair space or to request curbside assistance.

LATECOMERS

In consideration of patrons already seated, reserved seating will be accessible until curtain, after which alternate seating might be used. During some productions, late seating may not occur until an intermission. When traveling to performances, please allow ample time for traffic delays, road construction and parking.

CHILDREN

As a courtesy to other audience members, please ensure that children at performances are not disruptive during the show. Babes-in-arms are not permitted in the theatre during performances unless specifically indicated.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK

QUIET PLEASE

As a courtesy to performers on stage and to other audience members, please turn off cell phones, pagers, or any other noisemaking device. Also, please refrain from permitting concession items such as candy wrappers and water bottles to become noisy during the performance.

CLEANLINESS

Thank you for placing all refuse in waste receptacles as you exit the theater.

COPYRIGHT ADHERENCE

Unless otherwise stated and in compliance with copyright laws, it is strictly prohibited to take any photographs or any audio or video recordings of the performance.

NEED EXTRA LEG ROOM?

Let us know when making reservations, we can help.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

In the event of an emergency, please remain seated and wait for instructions. Emergency exits are located on both sides of the house. Please identify the exit closest to your location. (Eccles-only) Patrons in wheelchairs should wheel to the closest elevator to the north or south where red signs read ‘Area of Rescue Assistance.’ First-responders will help you exit the building.

Dan Miller, President; Cynthia Bell Snow, Office Administrator; Jackie Medina, Art Director; Ken Magleby, Graphic Design; Patrick Witmer, Graphic Design/Web Developer; Paula Bell, Dan Miller, Advertising Representatives; Hudson Printing, Printer.

Kurt Bestor Christmas playbill is published by Mills Publishing, Inc., 772 East 3300 South, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 Phone: 801.46.8833 Email: advertising@millspub.com Website: millspub.com Mills Publishing produces playbills for many performing arts groups. Advertisers do not necessarily agree or disagree with content or views expressed on stage. Please contact us for playbill advertising opportunities. Copyright 2024. PLEASE RECYCLE