Posted by: thepinetree on 08/08/2013 08:39 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 08/10/2013 02:02 PM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
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Bear Valley Music Festival Offers Enchanting Closing Weekend
Bear Valley, CA...“Attendees of the 45th annual Bear Valley Music Festival have been delighted with the quality of this year’s series and the smaller tent and more intimate setting. We are also excited about the music Michael Morgan has planned during the closing weekend. Concert attendees will enjoy a variety of musical styles and superbly talented guest artists,” states Irene Nielsen, Executive Director.
Closing weekend begins on Thursday August 8th at 7PM, as the Festival presents a concert titled “Bravo for Broadway” with stars Katy Stephan, Soprano and Bobby Conte Thornton, Tenor, performing an enchanting mix of favorite classics and new Broadway selections....
  
Katy Stephan- You might have heard Katy Stephan’s solo voice on ABC’s Hot Properties, Warner Bros. Catwoman, Dreamworks Time Machine and Sci-Fi’s EarthSea, a singing salad for Dole and more. She has been a soloist with the Oakland East Bay Symphony under Michael Morgan and won a Bay Area Critics Circle Award for her role as Luisa in The Fantasticks at San Francisco Playhouse. During her years with the Pacific Mozart Ensemble, Stephan was a soloist on the Grammy-nominated Mass with the Deutsche Philharmonie under conductor Kent Nagano, and performed in the Meredith Monk 40th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall.
Bobby Conte Thornton—The charismatic and talented 2011 Bay Area Teen Idol winner is thrilled to be making his Bear Valley Music Festival debut with Michael Morgan. His credits include Les Misérables (Enjolras), The Light in the Piazza (Fabrizio) 8 The Play (Spencer), Equus (Alan Strang) and Dog Sees God (Beethoven), The Who’s Tommy (Tommy) and The Secret Garden (Dickon). Thorton has appeared at the Venetian Room, opening for Laura Benanti in a birthday tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, and debuting his solo concert at the Metropolitan Room in New York City. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the American Honors Choir, is pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan and will begin studying at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London.
Nielsen comments, “The Cal Trans bus for this concert is half full and needs a few more riders from San Andreas, Murphys and Arnold to avoid cancellation. Please call the Festival office 209 753-2574 to reserve a round trip fare at $20. Riding the bus to our concerts is a great way to enjoy the Bear Valley Music Festival without having to worry about the drive. “
The Friday, August 9th 7PM Concert is titled “Summer Memories” with the Festival Orchestra and guest artist Shawnette Sulker, Soprano. Highlights include the works of Dvorak, Barber and Poulenc.
Shawnette Sulker has been described as a singer “…displaying a bright, superbly controlled soprano with perfectly placed coloratura” and “a firework of a coloratura.” On the operatic stage, Sulker has been a featured artist in San Francisco Opera productions of: Porgy and Bess, The Mother of Us All and Louise. She was also a part of the joint production of Dido and Aeneas between San Francisco Opera and the Crucible, singing the roles of Second Woman and Second Witch. She has sung leading roles with many other companies including Hawaii Opera Theatre, Internationale Opera Producties (The Netherlands), Festival Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Natchez Opera Festival, Mendocino Music Festival, West Bay Opera, Berkeley West Edge Opera and Livermore Valley Opera, to name a few.
The annual Gala and auction on Saturday, August 10th, titled “Bollywood”, includes a themed and catered dinner. Only a handful of seats remain to be sold at $75 each.
The Festival closes on Sunday, August 11th with a 12-noon concert titled “Mozart, Mozart, Mozart” featuring Mat Krejci, Flute and Meredith Clark, Harp performing the Flute and Harp Concerto in C Major, K299 with the Festival Orchestra. The Orchestra will also perform Symphony No. 31 in D Major, K 297 “Paris” and Symphony no 41 in C Major, K551 “Jupiter.” A catered brunch is also available for purchase prior to the concert next to the Festival tent. The brunch cost is separate from the cost of a ticket.
For more information go to www.bearvalleymusicfestival.org or call 209 753-2574.
Contact Irene Nielsen 209 753-2574
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