Tickets are free but required. Donations accepted.

Strings is pleased to welcome C Street Brass back to Steamboat Springs!

Join us as C Street Brass performs onstage in the Pavilion. In this intimate concert, you’ll sit onstage along with the musicians, former Strings Young Artists in Residence, while hearing diverse repertoire from your favorite brass quintet. Tickets are free but extremely limited due to the intimate nature of the evening.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

The 32nd Festival classical season opens with Wagner’s surprise birthday present to his wife, a piece first played on Christmas morning by musicians on their staircase. Following is a fun ride through the Norwegian countryside with Grieg’s Holberg Suite depicting a beautiful and powerful landscape. The concert rises to a close with Beethoven’s upbeat, but lesser performed, Symphony No. 4.

Michael Sachs, conductor

WAGNER Siegfried-Idyll, WWV 103
GRIEG Holberg Suite for Strings, Op. 40
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4, in B-flat Major, Op. 60
STRINGS FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Violin I: Peter Otto (concertmaster), Katherine
Bormann, Johnny Lee, Alicia Koelz, Ellen Pendleton
Troyer, Natalie Gaynor
Violin II: John Macfarlane, Scott Weber, Jeffrey
Zehngut, Jeanelle Brierley, Eva Dove
Viola: Wesley Collins, Paul Murphy, Joanna Patterson-
Zakany, Gabrielle Skinner
Cello: Tanya Ell, Karissa Zadinsky, David Rosen,
Ariana Nelson
Bass: Oscar Meza, Scott Dixon
Flute: Christina Smith
Oboe: Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, Michele Tosser Smith
Clarinet: Afendi Yusuf, Robert Woolfrey
Bassoon: William Short, Elise Wagner
Horn: Gail Williams, Josh Phillips
Trumpet: John Rommel, Michael Tiscione
Timpani: Jeremy Epp

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

The evening begins with a beautiful Czech folk melody by Martinu before advancing to a gorgeous love song by Suk, which highlights his love for his wife, composer Antonín Dvorák’s daughter. The concert finale is Smetana’s autobiographical string quartet, expressing Smetana’s wonder and grief as he realized his tinnitus was unstoppable and he would soon be completely deaf. The string players come to Steamboat Springs from the world-class Cleveland Orchestra. The concert also features the virtuoso Principal Keyboard player of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Peter Otto, Katherine Bormann, violin
Joanna Patterson-Zakany, viola
Tanya Ell, cello
Joanne Pearce Martin, piano

MARTINU Piano Trio No. 2 in D minor (Otto, Ell, Pearce Martin)
SUK Chant d’amour Op. 7, No. 1 (Otto, Pearce Martin)
SMETANA String Quartet No. 1 in E minor (Otto, Bormann, Patterson-Zakany, Ell)

We invite you to mingle with the musicians following this evening’s performance.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

Ahead of Independence Day, Strings presents its third annual Celebrate America concert with the Festival Brass and Percussion Ensemble. Performed by the nation’s top musicians, program highlights include John Philip Sousa marches, John Williams’ iconic film and Olympic music, the 1812 Overture, and other American classics to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.

Mark Gould, conductor

BRASS AND PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Trumpet: David Bilger, Conrad Jones, Travis Peterson, John Rommel, Michael Sachs, Scott Thornburg, Michael Tiscione
Horn: Angela Cordell Bilger, Jennifer Montone, Josh Phillips, Julia Pilant, Michael Thornton, Hugo Valverde
Trombone: Domingo Pagliuca, Peter Sullivan, R. Douglas Wright
Bass Trombone: Hakeem Bilal
Euphonium: Adam Frey
Tuba: James E. Jenkins
Timpani: Jeremy Epp
Percussion: Peter Flamm, Will Hudgins, Kevin Watkins

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

Gabriel Royal got his start as a busker on the New York City subway, but the Oklahoma-born, Brooklyn-based musician has emerged as a trailblazing talent with inimitable style and enviable range. He’s performed at NYC’s top music venues, played to sold-out crowds in countries around the world, and collaborated with some of the industry’s most in-demand names. Known for his soaring vocals, hum-along melodies, and lush arrangements, Royal, a classically trained musician, is among a select number of artists combining cello and voice.

Royal plays his ‘grown-up lullabies’ in the subway stations of New York City where he continues to find a genuine connection with his inspiration: the commuters of New York. Influenced by Stevie Wonder’s groove and Burt Bacharach’s jazzy yet poppy sensitivities, along with other contemporary artists such as John Legend, Hiatus Coyote, Flying Lotus, James Blake, Janelle Monae and Thundercat, Gabriel’s trademark sound is all his own.

In 2016, Royal released his first album, a self-titled project that he mostly wrote while performing underground. Despite the album’s humble beginnings, it established Royal as a singer-songwriter with extraordinary sensitivity and creative intuition. His sophomore release, Miss Once in a Blue Moon, was released in 2018. The album features sweeping melodies, soulful ballads, and layered harmonies along with plenty of bright, toe-tapping numbers that will make you want to sing along.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

You’re welcome here.

At our first-ever community night, Strings welcomes music lovers ages six and older to enjoy a beautiful performance without the worries of cost, seating, or classical music knowledge. Attendees are invited to pay what they can and choose seats anywhere in the Pavilion. At this event, we take the opportunity to foster an inclusive listening experience, whether it’s your first or fiftieth time at the Pavilion.

About the Dover Quartet

In 2013, the Dover Quartet won every award at the Banff International String Quartet Competition. The warmth, rhythm, and phrasing of their music create a unique, inviting sound. They have received numerous awards, been praised by critics, and serve as the quartet-in-residence for the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University.

Bryan Lee, Joel Link, violin

Milena Pajaro-Van De Stadt, viola

Camden Shaw, cello

BRITTEN String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25

DVORˇÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, “American”

We invite you to mingle with the musicians following this evening’s performance.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

Montreal’s cutting-edge classical string band collectif9 has been gaining steam since its 2011 debut, attracting diverse audiences in varied spaces. Known for energized, innovative arrangements of classical repertoire, collectif9 heralds a new age in genre-bending classical performance. Described by critics as “dazzling” with “great brio and vitality,” the ensemble’s debut album Volksmobiles was released in 2016. Since then, collectif9 has performed and toured internationally, combining the power of an orchestra with the crispness of a chamber ensemble for a completely unique experience.

Get to know members of collectif9 at a special house party fundraising event on July 12.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

American pianist Daniel Hsu was awarded the bronze medal at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. His collection of awards and recognition is expansive, and he is increasingly recognized for his easy virtuosity and bold musicianship.

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Hsu began taking piano lessons at age six. He made his concerto debut with the Fremont Symphony Orchestra at age eight and his recital debut at age nine before being accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of ten. Now 21 years old, Hsu has studied under numerous renowned teachers and performers. Offstage, he enjoys app programming. In 2015, the app Workflow, to which Hsu contributed, won the Apple Design Award.

We invite you to mingle with the musician following this evening’s performance.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has inspired some of the most beautiful and powerful music ever written. In this unique performance, Boston Brass, along with strings, piano, and percussion, offers new arrangements that depict a journey of intense passion and tell Shakespeare’s tragic love story.

Sam Pilafian, Conductor

BOSTON BRASS AND FEATURED MUSICIANS
Violin: Vijay Gupta, Laura Albers, Missy Lukin
Violin II: John Macfarlane, Scott Weber
Viola: Claude Sim, Megan Tam
Cello: Joel Noyes, Austin Fisher
Bass: Owen Levine
Trumpet: *Jeff Conner, Michael Sachs, *Jose Sibaja
Horn: *Chris Castellanos
Trombone: *Domingo Pagliuca
Tuba: *William Russell
Piano: Helen Lukan
Percussion: Daniel Hostetler

*denotes member of Boston Brass

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

Highlighting composers who demonstrated inspired musical talent at early ages, the audience hears the genius of Italian composers Rossini, Verdi, and Respighi, as well as frequent Italian visitor, Mozart. All composers on the program began writing music before they reached their teens. The program highlights Rossini’s rarely played Sonata No. 3, written when Rossini was just 12 years old. The evening also highlights pieces inspired by the Italian countryside and some of the most beautiful music ever written.

Vijay Gupta, Laura Albers, violin
Mark Jackobs, viola
Joel Noyes, cello
Owen Levine, bass
Benjamin Hochman, piano
MOZART String Quartet No. 7 in E-flat, K.160 (Gupta, Albers, Jackobs, Noyes)
RESPIGHI Notturno for Piano (Hochman)
ROSSINI Sonata No. 3 for Strings in C Major (Albers, Gupta, Noyes, Levine)
VERDI String Quartet in E minor (Gupta, Albers, Jackobs, Noyes)

We invite you to mingle with the musicians following this evening’s performance.

Strings is pleased to welcome young people tonight as part of the fourth annual Music Student Appreciation Night. Please congratulate these bright young musicians and their families on their commitment to music!

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

Virtuoso string playing has always been at the heart of pieces arranged for small ensembles. Writing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Russian composers featured on this program explore the devotion and hopelessness of love. Rachmaninoff and Borodin showcase the piano and string instruments with soaring lyricism and power. The program finishes with Glière’s melodic Octet.

Vijay Gupta, Laura Albers, John Macfarlane, Scott Weber, violin
Mark Jackobs, Claude Sim, viola
Joel Noyes, Patrick Jee, cello
Benjamin Hochman, piano
RACHMANINOFF Etude-tableaux No. 9, in D Major, Op. 39 (Hochman)
RACHMANINOFF “Vocalise” from 14 Romances, No. 14 (Noyes, Hochman)
BORODIN String Quartet No. 2 in D Major (Gupta, Albers, Jackobs, Noyes)
GLIÈRE String Octet in D Major, Op. 5 (Gupta, Macfarlane, Albers, Weber, Sim, Jackobs, Jee, Noyes)

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

The city of Vienna has always been an important center of the classical music world, a place where many composers went to make their name. Mozart, Haydn, and Brahms, three giants on the roster of Austrian composers, are featured during this concert. The program features superb strings, a stunning flute solo, and Brahms’ romantic gem for clarinet and strings, a composition that inspired the composer out of retirement.

Nurit Bar-Josef, Amy Lee, violin
Mark Jackobs, viola
Joel Noyes, cello
Sharon Sparrow, flute
Mark Nuccio, clarinet
HAYDN String Trio No. 21 in G Major, Hob V:G1 (Bar-Josef, Lee, Noyes)
MOZART Flute Quartet No. 1 in D Major, K.285 (Bar-Josef, Jackobs, Noyes, Sparrow)
BRAHMS Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115 (Lee, Bar-Josef, Jackobs, Noyes, Nuccio)

We invite you to mingle with the musicians following this evening’s performance.

TICKETS GO ON SALE
Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. MST for donors of $500 or more
Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. MST for the general public

J.S. Bach can easily be called the most important classical composer in history, due to his own work and for his influence on every composer who has come since. A great architect, Bach had a unique way of creating pieces that spanned a wide range of emotions and techniques. His six Brandenburg Concertos, four of which will be played here, reflect his stylistic versatility as he uses a variety of instruments and combinations to explore the different feelings and colors of sound.

Michael Sachs, conductor

BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
STRINGS FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

Violin I: Nurit Bar-Josef (co-concertmaster), Amy Lee (co-concertmaster), Nancy Wu, Milana Reiche
Violin II: John Macfarlane, Scott Weber
Viola: Lynne Ramsey, Mark Jackobs
Cello: Joel Noyes, Austin Fisher, Patrick Jee
Bass: Leigh Mesh
Flute: Sharon Sparrow, Jennifer Steele
Oboe: Frank Rosenwein
Trumpet: Michael Sachs
Harpsichord: Mark Robson

We invite you to mingle with the musicians at our Closing Night Champagne Reception following the evening’s performance.