PLAY ON!
MOAB MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 28TH SEASON WITH OPEN-AIR EVENTS Written by Rachel Fixsen Photos by Richard Bowditch
T
he Moab Music Festival is always a unique experience, with intimate chamber music performances enjoyed amid the splendor of Moab’s scenic red rock landscape. This year, with the coronavirus pandemic forcing plans and events everywhere to cancel or adapt, the festival will be even more special, and will be one of the first festivals in the country to proceed. “It’s really great to be able to offer something to people who feel that it will be a solace to listen to music outside,” says Artistic Director Leslie Tomkins, a violist. 2020 marks the 28th season of the Moab Music Festival, which was created by Tomkins and Music Director Michael Barrett, a pianist and conductor. The two New York-based musicians were inspired by visits to Moab, to combine the drama of classical music with the dramatic desert terrain. They’ve designed unique outdoor music experiences, and every year they invite in world-famous performers to supply the sonic elements. This year, nineteen accomplished musicians from around the country, including violinists, cellists, fiddle-players, violists, pianists, and vocalists, will bring their talents to rural Utah. The roster includes Grammy nominees like Jesse Mills and Cynthia Phelps and ensembles like the New World Trio and the JACK Quartet. Festival events include a three-day, two-night Musical Raft Trip down the Colorado River’s Westwater Canyon with daily outdoor concerts; three Grotto Concerts performed in a natural sandstone alcove along the Colorado River and reached by jet boat; and three Music Hikes leading to surprise outdoor performance locations. There will also be three outdoor evening events at Red Cliffs Lodge along the Colorado River, the last of these being a free Community Concert. Attendees are asked to wear masks, and group sizes will be capped to allow for social distancing. Musical genres will range from chamber pieces to Latin jazz, but there will be a particular emphasis on the music of composer Ludwig van Beethoven to celebrate his 250th birthday year.
MOAB AREA REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE August–September 2020
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