The Bear Valley Music Festival is a yearly summer event in Bear Valley, California, located about 180 miles east of San Francisco at just above 7200 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada. The festival currently begins on the second-to-last Friday in July and ends three Sundays later, drawing a total audience of roughly four thousand attendees. The festival strives to appeal to a wide demographic by presenting a diverse variety of artists and styles of music over the years, including classical, rock, country, blues, folk, and jazz. The concerts are held in a tent erected to serve as a concert hall, equipped with a stage large enough to hold a symphony orchestra.

Schedule:
Week 1
Friday July 22, 2022
7:00pm: Tennessee River - The Alabama Tribute
Kicking off this year’s full festival line up is the red-hot Alabama tribute band,Tennessee River, commanding audiences with powerful 7-part harmonies, dynamite stage presence, and danceable classics. A perfect celebration of summer!

Playing to both large and small audiences and venues alike, even prior to their incarnation as Tennessee River, the band has consistently proven their talent and professionalism over a very broad and eclectic range of musical styles.

Tennessee River was formed in January of 2002 with the idea of bringing back and paying tribute to one of the most influential and vocally dynamic country bands of our time – Alabama. Receiving over 150 industry awards including 8 country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, 2 Grammys, 2 People’s Choice Awards, “Artist of the Decade” recognition by the Academy of Country Music, “Country Group of the Century” honors from the RIAA, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and their very own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” there is no doubt that Alabama has become an icon in music history. Given that kind of illustrious track record, this is why Tennessee River was born-to spotlight an incredible band that really to this day has never been recognized by any tribute project to the degree they should be.

Saturday July 23, 2022
7:00pm: Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is one of the most successful arena rock groups of the 1970s and 80s, earning 3 platinum and 8 gold records, as well as numerous Top 40 singles. While Jefferson Starship continues to tour today, the band has experienced numerous lineup and personnel changes, and each of those members have contributed to the magic and alchemy that make Jefferson Starship iconic.

The legend of Jefferson Starship begins in 1970, when Paul Kantner released an album titled BLOWS AGAINST THE EMPIRE under the artist name “Paul Kantner and the Jefferson Starship”. The story, however, begins with the coalescence of the band Jefferson Starship itself, in 1974. That collection of talent included John Barbata, Craig Chaquico, Papa John Creach, David Freiberg, Paul Kantner, Peter Kaukonen, and Grace Slick. They first toured as Jefferson Starship in 1974, and released the album, DRAGON FLY which was certified gold in 1975.

In 1992, Kantner returned to touring life and revived the name “Jefferson Starship”. True to its legacy, the members have changed over time, but the heart and the magic of all those hits remain. Paul Kantner died in 2016.

Currently, the Jefferson Starship lineup features founding member David Freiberg, along with long time band members Donny Baldwin, Jude Gold, Cathy Richardson, and Chris Smith.

Sunday July 24, 2022
2:00pm: T Sisters
Distinguished by close harmonies, catchy melodies and potent lyricism, the T Sisters have created a refreshing brew of indie-folk/Americana music. Blood sisters Erika, Rachel and Chloe Tietjen flow seamlessly between styles and moods, from roots to pop and sassy to sincere, captivating listeners with their eclectic sound and soaring harmonies.

This past spring, the T’s journeyed to Nashville to create a compelling EP with renowned artist/producer Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers. While T Sisters’ prior releases delved into personal themes, this project represents a more mature and reflective chapter for the sisters, exploring deeper subjects of societal division, dubious authority, spiritual renewal and activism through music. Adding to the T Sisters’ self-accompaniment and inimitable sibling harmonies, We Are Bound features the distinctive playing of Jano Rix (The Wood Brothers), Chris Wood (The Wood Brothers; Medeski, Martin and Wood) and Oliver himself.

Week 2
Wednesday July 27, 2022
7:00pm: Take3
With a flair for the wild and unexpected, the genre-defying trio, TAKE3, brings the refinement of a rigorous classical music background and infuses it with rock-star charisma. Known for their infectious and down to earth onstage personalities, this threesome leaves their indelible mark on captivated crowds around the country performing their arrangements of top pop hits, Americana, and classical favorites.

No strangers to the stage as individuals, they have made an impact on the music scene as soloists, touring the world with Yanni, recording tracks for film and television, and as soloists in front of Symphony Orchestra. TAKE3 makes it their mission to impart their love, passion and joy in music making to all who hear them, using their artistic ability as conduit for storytelling.

Thursday July 28, 2022
7:00pm: Nature Nocturne - Classical Concert
This innovative evening connects the stunning outside scenery with the classical sounds inside the concert tent. Many composers were inspired by nature: Grieg, Vaughn Williams, Smetana and Josef Strauss created music with birds, mountains and rivers in mind. Tune your ear for Finnish composer Rautavaara’s actual bird sounds as soloists!

Grieg, Evening in the Mountains
Vaughn Williams, A Lark Ascending
Rautavaara, Cantus Arcticus
Smetana, Die Moldau
J. Strauss, Village Swallows
Mussorgsky, Night on Bald Mountain (Rimsky)

Jolán Friedhoff, soloist

Friday July 29, 2022
7:00pm: Blockbuster Classical - Classical Concert
Join us for an evening of classical favorites, opening with Tchaikovsky’s one-and-only Violin Concerto, performed by internationally-celebrated soloist, Tai Murray.

Rounding out the evening is Beethoven’s ever-popular Symphony No. 7, which new and seasoned classical fans alike may recognize from Hollywood films “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, “The King’s Speech”, and “X-Men: Apocalypse”.

Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7

Tai Murray, soloist

Saturday July 30, 2022
7:00pm: Memories of Michael - Classical Concert
Michael Morgan was our beloved Music Director for eight wonderful seasons, and his sudden passing in 2021 was mourned deeply, not only by our community, but all the surrounding musical communities he touched. Join us in a musical celebration featuring many of Michael’s dear friends returning to Bear Valley to celebrate his life and legacy, including rising piano star Oliver Moore on Gershwin’s classic “Rhapsody in Blue”, and superb vocalists, Hope Briggs and Zachary Gordin on the Broadway classics near and dear to Michael’s heart.

Copland, Ceremonial Fanfare
Gershwin, Of Thee I Sing
Gershwin, I Got Rhythm
Gershwin, Our Love is Here to Stay
Gershwin, Summertine: On Zinfonia
Bernstein, Tonight
Bernstein, Somewhere
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
Florence Price, Symphony No. 1

Hope Briggs, soloist
Zachary Gordin, soloist
Oliver Moore, soloist

Sunday July 31, 2022
2:00pm: Family Fusion - Classical Concert
Don’t miss this unique family fusion concert of classical-meets-contemporary music for all ages. Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate will guide the audience through an eclectic journey of playful classical favorites, including music education and audience participation numbers bound to leave you humming. Includes surprise local contemporary youth singer-songwriters playing alongside the orchestra, special youth activities and take-home memories. Youth 17 and under are free!

Dvorak, Slavonic Dance, op 46 No. 1
Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Vivaldi, Concerto for Two Violins & Cello in D:
Performed by the stellar Stars Aligned Siblings youth soloists
Verdi, Anvil Chorus
Handel, Music from the Royal Fireworks, La Rejouissance,
Mozart, Overture to Figaro
Rossini, Wilhelm Tell Overture, the famous ending
Copland, Rodeo, Hoedown for Strings
Original Pieces, Local youth singer-songwriters to perform original pieces with orchestra: Lois Miles (12 yrs old) and Kiana Chanelle (16 yrs old)
Star Wars, Main Title

Week 3
Wednesday August 3, 2022
7:00pm: Chamber Concert - Classical Concert
This intimate classical experience opens with Bear Valley’s own international award-winning pianist Ken Iisaka playing one of Chopin’s most crowd-pleasing piano pieces, followed by chamber selections from BVMF orchestra’s brilliant woodwinds and brass players, rounding out the evening with the back-by-popular-demand Stars Aligned Siblings string quartet, whose four accomplished members are ages 9 to 15 years old. Be prepared to sit back, relax, and let the music take you away!

Ken Iisaka
Chopin, Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brilliante, Op.22

BVMF Woodwind Quartet
Umoja – Valerie Coleman
Summerland – William Grant Still
March – John Barrows

BVMF Brass Quintet
Victor Ewald, Quintet No. 3
Allegro Moderato
Intermezzo
Andante
Vivo

Stars Aligned Siblings (Breshear Family)

Thursday August 4, 2022
7:00pm: Blues Night with Chris Cain
Take some influence from B.B. King, Albert King, Ray Charles, and a pinch of Albert Collins. Add in dazzling blues and jazz guitar chops, a rich soulful baritone vocal delivering original, often wry and beleaguered lyrics with sophisticated chord changes and instrumentation, and skills on various horns and keyboards, all delivered with an uptown cool that never lacks searing passion. It all adds up to the one and only Chris Cain, who has gone from being a newcomer phenomenon bursting onto the blues scene in 1987 with a classic debut release, to being a legend, inspiration and long-established member of the blues pantheon.

Friday August 5, 2022
7:00pm: German Roots - Classical Concert
This evening’s lush homage to Maestro Michelthwate’s ancestral roots features Weber’s “Der Freischütz Overture”, Clara Schumann’s moving piano concerto, performed by the remarkable Asiya Korepanova, and rounds out the night with Schubert’s famous “Unfinished Symphony”. A musical journey to remember!

Weber, Der Freischütz Overture
Clara Schumann, Piano Concerto
Schubert, Symphony no. 8, Unfinished

Soloist: Asiya Korepanova

Saturday August 6, 2022
7:00pm: California Flower Power - Classical Concert
Revel in this tribute to California, the Golden State, and musically embrace its experimental spirit, rich diversity, technological leadership, and counterculture. From Frank Zappa’s “Dogbreath” with banjo highlights, to “Avartan” by Reena Esmail, an LA-based young South Asian/American composer, to Mason Bates’ revolutionary electronic sounds with symphony orchestra, to a rich string solo played by Emil Miland on John Williams’ cello elegy, this evening will leave you inspired and proud to be a Californian.

Frank Zappa, Dog Breath/Uncle Meat
Reena Esmail, Avartan
Korngold, Captain Blood Overture
Mason Bates, Rusty Air in Carolina
John Williams, Elegy for Cello
Terry Riley, In C

Emil Miland, soloist

Sunday August 7, 2022
Noon: Auction Luncheon
Enjoy a delicious catered lunch, wine, and fine auction items from a wide variety of local vendors and artists. What better way to support your favorite festival and mix and mingle with the community on a summer afternoon in the shade of the big white tent! Priority seating will be held for luncheon guests attending the 2pm concert.

2:00pm: Bear Valley Pops - Classical Concert
From Gershwin to Star Trek, from Sondheim to Abba, this orchestral party is not to be missed! Maestro Mickelthwate brings a potpourri of pops, rounding out the festival finale with Broadway favorites sung by shimmering vocalist Carrie Hennessey.

Send off this season in style with this not-to-be-missed,
unforgettable afternoon of music.

Gershwin, Crazy for You: Overture
John Kander, Chicago Medley, for orchestra only
Star Trek, Through the Years
Abba, Solid Gold
Gershwin, Comedy Tonight
Prima, Sing, Sing, Sing
Gershwin, Strike up the Band
Kander, Life is a Cabaret
Kern, All the Things You Are
Streisand, Don’t Rain on My Parade
Streisand, I’ve Got to be Me
Sondheim, Send in the Clowns
Sondheim, No One is Alone
Gershwin, By Strauss
Gerswin, Bla Bla Bla
Rodgers, Climb Every Mountain

Carrie Hennessey, soloist

Date: July 22 - August 7, 2022

Location: Village of Bear Valley, CA

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