Every day for 3 days, 12:00AM - 11:59PM
Cost:
Varies
Moss Performing Arts Center
1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 United States
Contact:
Phone
970-248-1604

Additional Information

Music at Mesa presents 16th annual Best of the West Music Festival sponsored by Karen Combs

·         WHAT: Best of the West Music Festival

·         WHERE: Moss Performing Arts Center

·         WHEN: December 3-5

·         TICKETS:  Box Office 970.248.1604

 

December 3–5, Music at Mesa and Karen Combs will present the 16th annual Best of the West Music Festival featuring three public concerts and two days of workshops for over 200 talented high school musicians from Colorado and Utah.

On December 3rd, guest artist Lisa Pegher will present a percussion recital at 7:30pm in the Love Recital Hall. Tickets for her guest recital are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students.

On December 4th, the Wind Symphony will take to the stage at 7:30 pm in the Robinson Theatre and will present the world premiere of Julie Giroux’s new composition “Vortex.” As a composer of film music, one of Julie’s favorite movie scenes for which to compose music is a chase scene. But in a movie, chase scenes often jump from one event to another, never really giving the composer a sense of completion. Conceived as a chase scene from a movie, “Vortex” is an exciting piece of music from start to finish. The Wind Symphony also is performing Julie’s “Riften Wed,” a slow, beautiful work inspired by the video game Skyrim.

The featured soloist on Friday’s concert is percussionist Lisa Pegher, who is performing Brett William Dietz’ “Concerto for Percussion and Symphonic Band.” This three-movement work explores the timbres of a variety of percussion instruments, vibraphone and marimba composed in a grandiose manner with exciting rhythms, bright colors and dissonant harmonies.

Rounding out Friday’s concert is a standard piece from the wind band repertoire, Gordon Jacob’s “Original Suite.” Composed in 1924, “Original Suite” is considered one of the most important works composed for wind band, and will be conducted by Ray Cramer, professor emeritus from the University of Indiana (retired). Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students.

On Saturday, December 5th at 3pm in Robinson Theatre, a free final concert will be presented, featuring a variety of music by current composers, played by three different student bands.