SUNRIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2025 LINEUP!
 From August 2-13, 2025, Sunriver Music Festival presents its 48th season in two spectacular, historic Central Oregon venues—the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend and the Sunriver Resort Great Hall. Performances feature world-class orchestra musicians and renowned soloists, led by Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell.
Programs include four classical concerts, a pops concert, a solo piano concert and a family concert. The Summer Concert Series opens August 2 at the Tower Theatre and closes August 13 at the Sunriver Resort Great Hall. "I'm thrilled to share with you a season of orchestral music that celebrates 150 years of French musical life, composers from Leipzig, Germany, and iconic music related to Vienna, Austria, including Beethoven’s epic 5th Symphony, which was premiered in Vienna in 1808,” said Mitchell. “Other highlights include the appearance of a 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition medalist, a tribute to legendary scores from Broadway and film, and a fun family concert."
Ticket sales for Friends of the Festival members begin as early as April 1; tickets are available to the public on June 1. Members have first choice of the best seats, plus receive ticket discounts, gifts, invites to special events, and potential tax benefits. Other Festival events prior to the Summer Concert Series include Piano Showcase at the Tower with boogie-woogie pianist Arthur Migliazza on March 29, PLAY ON! Pickleball Tournament May 31-June 1, Young Artists Scholarship Recital on June 6, and the Raise the Baton Fundraising Party on June 21. More information on year-round events can be found at sunrivermusic.org. Sunriver Music Festival also presents free music education events and masterclasses during these two weeks in August. Most orchestra rehearsals are free and open to the public. More details to be announced.
2025 SUMMER FESTIVAL CONCERT SCHEDULE Orchestra concerts conducted by Maestro Brett Mitchell
Opening Classical Concert: A FRENCH SOIRÉE Saturday, August 2, 7:30 p.m. | Tower Theatre, Bend DUKAS Fanfare from La Péri RAVEL Piano Concerto in G Major Stewart Goodyear, piano FAURÉ Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande BIZET Selections from Carmen Opening Night celebrates several important 150th anniversaries in French musical life. The evening kicks off with the Fanfare from Dukas' La Péri for the brass alone. Stewart Goodyear plays the Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the composer‘s birth. The second half opens with Fauré's stunningly beautiful Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande. And the program closes with selections from Bizet's Carmen to mark the 150th anniversary of both Bizet's passing and Carmen's premiere. Pops Concert: A Tribute to Broadway & Film Music Sunday, August 3, 7:30 p.m. | Tower Theatre, Bend Enjoy the Festival Orchestra in a tribute celebrating musical anniversaries from Broadway (80th anniversary of Carousel and 50th anniversaries of A Chorus Line and Chicago) and the great composer of light concert music, Leroy Anderson, who passed away 50 years ago. Many of Anderson's works were premiered by the Boston Pops, and the orchestra will perform a selection of his greatest hits. The second half highlights great film score anniversaries from 1965 through 1995, including The Sound of Music, Jaws, Out of Africa and more. Classical Concert II: THE CLASSICAL TRADITION Thursday, August 7, 7:30 p.m. | Tower Theatre, Bend WILLIAM BOLCOM Commedia for (Almost) 18th-Century Orchestra TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme Mark Kosower, cello MOZART Overture to The Marriage of Figaro STRAVINSKY Danses Concertantes Experience different takes on what "classical" music is, rooted in the Classical Era. The Bolcom piece is a fun take on the classical overture that audiences always love. This is followed by Mark Kosower, principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra, joining us for Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations,which were inspired by his role model, Mozart. The evening closes with Stravinsky’s brilliantly neoclassical Danses Concertantes. Family Concert Friday, August 8, 3 p.m. | Sunriver SHARC’s Benham Hall This entertaining matinee presents orchestral music in a fun, informal setting. Bring the whole family and enjoy a one-hour concert featuring a virtuosic Young Artists Scholarship recipient with the full Festival Orchestra. An instrument petting zoo is presented prior to the concert. Maestro Brett Mitchell will introduce the various sections of the orchestra for young ears to enjoy, featuring Les Toreadors from Carmen, Leroy Anderson’s Bugler's Holidayand more. Classical Concert III: THE LEIPZIG CONNECTION Monday, August 11, 7:30 p.m. | Sunriver Resort Great Hall SCHUMANN Manfred Overture MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto Yi Zhao, violin J.S. BACH Toccata and Fugue in D minor (arr. Luke Styles) J.S. BACH Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major
This concert features the three most central composers in the musical life of Leipzig. After Schumann's lively Manfred Overture, Concertmaster Yi Zhao performs the ever-popular Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. The second half is all Bach, including a chamber orchestra arrangement of the Toccata and Fugue in D minor (famous from Fantasia) and Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (featuring the famous Air on the G String).
Solo Piano Concert Tuesday, August 12, 7:30 p.m. | Sunriver Resort Great Hall The picturesque Great Hall sets the scene for a solo piano concert by a 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition medalist, to be announced. This June, tune into the world’s pre-eminent piano competition at cliburn.org to see who our soloist will be! Season Finale Classical Concert: VIENNA WAITS FOR YOU Wednesday, August 13, 7:30 p.m. | Sunriver Resort Great Hall HAYDN Symphony No. 96, “Miracle“ MOZART Piano Concerto TBA 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition medalist BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 This Classical Era program centers around Beethoven‘s 5th (the most iconic symphony of all time), paired with the “Miracle“ Symphony by his teacher, Haydn. A Mozart piano concerto will be performed by a 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition medalist, to be announced. Patrons who purchase a full six-concert series of classical concerts, pops and solo concert receive a 10% discount. Other flexible package options are available. Festival Orchestra single tickets start at $45; tickets for age 25 & under are $25. Details and tickets are available at sunrivermusic.org or by calling 541-593-9310.
Sunriver Music Festival is a year-round nonprofit presenting world-class orchestral performances and supporting music education throughout Central Oregon. Through a commitment to excellence, collaboration and innovation, the Festival seeks to foster a lifelong love of classical music in its many diverse forms. Visit sunrivermusic.org for more information. |