Grand Teton Music Festival 2024

Grand Teton Music Festival (GTMF) Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles and Executive Director Emma Kail announces programming for its 63rd season—from June 27-August 17, 2024—featuring eight weeks of performances by the Festival Orchestra, four Gateway Series presentations, five chamber music concerts, two special events, and family and community presentations.

Programming Includes:
Premieres of Works by Melody Eötvös and Detlev Glanert
Debuts by Guest Conductors David Danzmayr and Juraj Valčuha
and Violist Amihai Grosz

Distinguished Soloists: Violinists Augustin Hadelich and Jennifer Koh;
Pianists Michelle Cann and Anna Geniushene; Third Coast Percussion; and others
Two Special Events featuring Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Pianist Garrick Ohlsson

Continuation of Opera Initiative with Mozart’s The Magic Flute

Maestro Runnicles conducts five of the Festival Orchestra programs in 2024, plus the annual July 4 performance and a special event, leading a rich array of works from the Classical era to the present day by John Adams, Brahms, Debussy, Elgar, Gershwin, Haydn, Mahler, Ravel, Vaughan-Williams, and a world premiere by Detlev Glanert, as well as Mozart’s The Magic Flute in a semi-staged concert version.

“There is so much to look forward to this summer!” said Sir Donald Runnicles, GTMF’s Music Director. “The highlight among a season of highlights remains our brilliant orchestra—eight weeks of the most glorious orchestral repertoire and chamber music. This year we close out our season with one of my favorite operas, The Magic Flute, ensuring a spectacular finale.”
2024 Summer Festival Highlights

Three dynamic guest conductors join the Festival in 2024: David Danzmayr (Music Director, Oregon Symphony) and Juraj Valčuha (Music Director, Houston Symphony) make GTMF debuts in their respective weeks, and Dalia Stasevska returns with a program featuring works by Ginastera, Missy Mazzoli, and Sibelius. Danzmayr leads a program of music by William Grant Still and Dvořák, as well as a GTMF co-commission by Clarice Assad featuring Third Coast Percussion, and Valčuha conducts the U.S. premiere of Melody Eötvös’ Pyramidion along with music by Bartók and Rachmaninoff.

“This summer, we will celebrate the finest and most intimate music-making in the world’s most beautiful surroundings,” said Emma Kail, GTMF’s Executive Director. “I’m especially excited to announce the return of Yo-Yo Ma to help us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our beloved home, Walk Festival Hall, on August 7. From Missy Mazzoli to Mahler to Mozart, there will be so many can’t-miss performances this summer for our audiences and musicians.”

Featured soloists this summer include distinguished violinist Augustin Hadelich, who performs Beethoven’s popular violin concerto on opening night (June 28 & 29); pianist Michelle Cann in a French-inspired program (July 5 & 6); Third Coast Percussion and Clarice Assad, who perform PLAY!, a GTMF commissioned work by Assad (July 12 & 13); violist Amihai Grosz in his debut in Walton’s Viola Concerto as part of an English-themed program (July 19 & 20); violinist Jennifer Koh performing Missy Mazzoli’s violin concerto (August 2 & 3); and pianist Anna Geniushene in Rachmaninoff’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 2 (August 9 & 10).

GTMF continues its successful semi-staged opera initiative this summer with Mozart’s The Magic Flute (August 16 & 17) and an acclaimed cast of soloists: Heidi Stober, Paul Appleby, Alexander Birch Elliott, Jeni Houser, Raymond Aceto, Meechot Marrero, Rodell Rosel, Noel Bouley, Kim-Lillian Strebel, Davia Bouley, and Natalie Lewis along with Choristers of the Madeleine Choir School and the GTMF Chorus. David Lefkowich is the stage director.

Two special one-night-only events bring stellar solo artists to GTMF: a recital of Beethoven’s sonatas by renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson (July 23) and an appearance by iconic cellist Yo-Yo Ma as soloist with the Festival Orchestra and Maestro Runnicles (August 7), in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of GTMF’s Walk Festival Hall.

The Gateway Series returns with an eclectic mix of artists, genres and multidisciplinary offerings: Sergio & Clarice Assad (July 11); Tony DeSare presents Sinatra & Beyond (July 18); Counterpoint with pianist/composer Conrad Tao and choreographer/dancer Caleb Teicher (July 25); and banjo duo Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn (August 1).

GTMF Appoints Benjamin Manis as Resident Conductor

GTMF is pleased to announce the appointment of rising young conductor Benjamin Manis—who has served as Associate Conductor at Utah Symphony and Resident Conductor at Houston Grand Opera—as its new Resident Conductor, beginning in 2024. In his new role, Manis leads the Free Family Concert on July 3 at Center for the Arts Park, hosted by GTMF Education Curator Meaghan Heinrich. Manis also serves as the cover conductor for the summer’s orchestra concerts. The annual July 4 Patriotic Pops concert returns to Center for the Arts Park, led by Sir Donald Runnicles with vocalist Capathia Jenkins this summer.

Programming for the GTMF Chamber Music Series featuring Festival Orchestra musicians and additional community events, including GTMF On the Road performances, will be announced in April.

Live from the Grand Teton Music Festival Radio Show & Podcast

In anticipation for the summer season, listeners can now tune into the seventh season of Live from the Grand Teton Music Festival—GTMF’s national radio broadcast series co-hosted by Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles and General Manager Jeff Counts—just released to radio stations. Live from the Grand Teton Music Festival comprises 13 one-hour episodes and is a production of Classic Digital Syndications. Select past seasons are also available to listen to on GTMF’s SoundCloud and as a podcast through Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon. To learn more about where to listen to Live from the Grand Teton Music Festival, please visit gtmf.org/radio.

Live from the GTMF will be aired on Wyoming Public Radio on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. MT through April 10. The show can be listened to online at wyomingpublicmedia.org/grand-teton-music-festival. Summer 2024 concerts are recorded for broadcast on Wyoming Public Radio in the fall of 2024.

Subscriptions to 2024 GTMF series are available now; single tickets go on sale April 9. Subscribers enjoy a $5-$10 discount off single ticket prices (excluding concerts on 7/4, 7/23 & 8/7), plus waived fees for ticket exchanges. The Fritz Box Office at Walk Festival Hall opens in June 2024. For further information about purchasing tickets, please visit gtmf.org or call 307-733-1128.

2024 SUMMER SEASON DETAILS
Events will be held at the Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village unless otherwise noted.

Festival Orchestra Series
Tickets $40/$85; children/students $5
*denotes GTMF debut
Friday, June 28 at 7 PM
Saturday, June 29 at 6 PM
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin
Detlev Glanert Vexierbild (World Premiere)
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Brahms Symphony No. 3

Friday, July 5 at 7 PM
Saturday, July 6 at 6 PM
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano
John Adams Slonimsky’s Earbox Ravel Piano Concerto in G
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Debussy “Iberia” from Images

Friday, July 12 at 7 PM
Saturday, July 13 at 6 PM
David Danzmayr, conductor*
Third Coast Percussion, soloists
Clarice Assad, soloist
William Grant Still Darker America
Clarice Assad PLAY! (GTMF co-commission)
Dvořák Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

Friday, July 19 at 7 PM
Saturday, July 20 at 6 PM
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
Amihai Grosz, viola* Elgar Cockaigne (In London Town) Walton Viola Concerto
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 5 Friday, July 26 at 7 PM
Saturday, July 27 at 6 PM
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
Haydn Symphony No. 88
Mahler Symphony No. 5

Friday, August 2 at 7 PM
Saturday, August 3 at 6 PM
Dalia Stasevska, conductor
Jennifer Koh, violin
Ginastera “Malambo” from Estancia: Four Dances, Op. 8a
Missy Mazzoli Violin Concerto
Sibelius Symphony No. 2

Friday, August 9 at 7 PM
Saturday, August 10 at 6 PM
Juraj Valčuha, conductor*
Anna Geniushene, piano
Melody Eötvös Pyramidion (US Premiere)
Bartók Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2

Friday, August 16 at 7 PM
Saturday, August 17 at 6 PM
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
Heidi Stober, Pamina
Paul Appleby, Tamino
Alexander Birch Elliott, Papageno
Jeni Houser, Queen
Raymond Aceto, Sarastro
Meechot Marrero, Papagena
Rodell Rosel, Monostatos
Noel Bouley, Speaker
Kim-Lillian Strebel, First Lady
Davia Bouley, Second Lady
Natalie Lewis, Third Lady
Choristers of the Madeleine Choir School, Melanie Malinka, director
GTMF Chorus, Barlow Bradford, director
David Lefkowich, stage director
Mozart The Magic Flute
semi-staged in concert

Gateway Series
Gateway Concerts are held at Walk Festival Hall
Tickets: $50/$75; children/students $5

Thursday, July 11 at 8 PM
Sergio & Clarice Assad
Part of “Brazil’s First Family of Music,” pianist/vocalist Clarice and guitarist Sérgio Assad share their timeless passion for music composition and performance, together reimagining old classics and writing new works as a collaborative team

Thursday, July 18 at 8 PM
Tony DeSare presents Sinatra & Beyond
Called “two parts Frank Sinatra and one part Billy Joel,” the triple-threat singer/pianist/songwriter Tony DeSare takes on the legend of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself.

Thursday, Thursday, July 25 at 8 PM
Counterpoint with pianist/composer Conrad Tao and choreographer/dancer Caleb Teicher
This creative duo explores the harmonic and rhythmic counterpoint between their artistic traditions, driving the imagination and opening the heart.

Thursday, Thursday, August 1 at 8 PM
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn
“The king and queen of the banjo,” married couple Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn will perform pieces from their GRAMMY®-winning self-titled debut album, as well as their newer record, Echo in the Valley.

Chamber Music
Thursday, June 27 at 7 PM
Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, and 31 at 7 PM
Tickets: $30; children/students $5
GTMF’s Chamber Music Series at Walk Festival Hall features the artistry of GTMF’s world-class Festival musicians and special guests. Enjoy core classical repertoire mixed with rarely heard gems weekly for five weeks. Programming to be announced in April.

Outdoor Concerts
Outdoor concerts are held in the Center for the Arts Park in downtown Jackson.

Family Concert
Wednesday, July 3 at 6 PM
Benjamin Manis, conductor
Meaghan Heinrich, host
Free, but tickets required

Patriotic Pops
Thursday, July 4 at 7 PM
Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, vocalist
Reserved seats – $35/$50 adults; $15 children/students
Lawn seats – free

Open Rehearsals at Walk Festival Hall
Fridays, June 28 through August 9 at 10 AM
Tickets: $20; children/students $5
Open Rehearsals provide a behind-the-scenes look as the conductor and orchestra rehearse for the weekend Festival Orchestra concerts.

Special Events at Walk Festival Hall
Garrick Ohlsson Piano Recital
Tuesday, July 23 at 7 PM
Tickets: $50/$75; children/students $5
GRAMMY®-winning pianist Garrick Ohlsson will perform a program featuring Beethoven’s piano sonatas.
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma: In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Walk Festival Hall

Wednesday, August 7 at 7 PM
Tickets: $250, available first to GTMF Guarantors and 2024 Subscribers.
A special evening to support GTMF, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform in Walk Festival Hall with the GTMF Orchestra, conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles. Program to be announced.

About the Grand Teton Music Festival (GTMF)

Over eight weeks each summer, Grand Teton Music Festival unites over 220 celebrated orchestral musicians led by Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles. These musicians represent 75 orchestras and 55 institutions of higher learning in North America and Europe. In addition to orchestral concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, the summer season also features visiting guest artists and chamber music on weekdays.

Grand Teton Music Festival is one of America’s leading summer classical music festivals. Recognized by The New York Times as one of the top 10 music festivals in the U.S. and chosen by BBC Music Magazine as their 2020 “Festival Choice,” it is the most prominent arts organization in the state of Wyoming and a national treasure. As the single largest performing arts presenter in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with nearly 100 annual events, GTMF presents yearlong programming that includes community concerts and education programs for Teton County students.

GTMF is a 4-star charity as rated by Charity Navigator and has a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, visit gtmf.org.

All programs, dates and artists subject to change.