Popular Hot Springs Music Festival Continues Historic Program

Black & white logo of the Hot Springs Music Festival with a large treble clef placed on top of the wordsFor 24 seasons, the Hot Springs Music Festival has been bringing classical music to the Spa City.  The dates of the 2019 festival are June 2-15.  Audiences will hear Orchestral performances of music by Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, Britten, Dvorak, and 2019’s Featured Composer, Dr. Phillip Schroeder. 

The festival pairs world-class mentor musicians with pre-professional college-age apprentices, and the two groups perform side-by-side in over 20 concerts and 250 open rehearsals.  A wide variety of orchestral and chamber repertoire will be performed in different venues throughout Hot Springs during the festival.  The orchestra will be under the direction of Principal Conductor Peter Bay, Music Director of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.   One of the highlights of the festival will be the presentation of Finlandia by Sebelius.  It will feature the Hot Springs Music Festival Chorus singing a new text prepared by Lynn Payette, Festival Executive Director and Chorus Director, and Laura Rosenberg, Festival Co-Founder.  The chorus will also perform the world premier of Dr. Schroeder’s Peace.

Festival events take place in a variety of venues, including historic buildings, churches, school auditoriums, and open air spaces.  All rehearsals are free, and most are open to the public, and are often just as entertaining as the actual performance.  Festival passes can be purchased online, or single concert tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.  All apprentices receive full instructional scholarships and all donations support the Festival Scholarship Fund.  

Our rooms are booking up fast for the Festival, so we recommend making your Hot Springs, AR, lodging reservations soon!  Most concerts are in the evening (the official schedule will be released soon), which frees you to visit Garvan Woodland Gardens, hike Hot Springs National Park, or relax in the Quapaw or Buckstaff Bathhouses during the day.  Tiffany will be performing with the Festival Chorus, so for those of you who have asked to hear her sing, don’t miss your chance!

 

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