YOUR AD HERE »

Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute presents concert in Breckenridge

Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute presents “The Hills Are Alive!” commemorating the 50th anniversary of “The Sound of Music.” The concert is at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Special to the Daily |

IF YOU GO

What: The Hills are Alive! concert with Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute

When: Sunday, July 10; 2 p.m.

Where: Riverwalk Center, 150 W. Adams Ave., Breckenridge

Cost: Free

Musicians have once again invaded Breckenridge this week for the third annual Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute, hosted by the Summit Concert Band. The institute consists of five days of intensive rehearsals, master classes, ensemble coaching, public performances and camaraderie.

Attendance this year has grown to approximately 90 musicians from 19 states, who will present the institute’s finale concert this year, “The Hills Are Alive!” commemorating the 50th anniversary of “The Sound of Music.” The concert is at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

“The Hills Are Alive!” will feature symphonic, popular and patriotic band music. The concert will begin with the traditional playing of both the American and U.K. national anthems, in deference to the institute’s British conductor Dr. Graham O. Jones. Highlights of the concert include excerpts from Richard Rodger’s “Sound of Music,” directed by Col. (Ret.) Thomas Rotondi, former director of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” Also featured will be “English Folk Song Suite,” created from Vaughn Williams’ vast collection of folk songs and Joseph Kreines’ arrangement of Percy Grainger’s “Mock Morris,” inspired by the traditional English Morris folk dance. “Symphonic Episode I,” by Satoshi Yagisawa, contrasts between slow and fast sections, with the slow movement exemplifying his ability to write emotionally inspired music. Malcolm Arnold’s “Padstow Lifeboat” is a tribute to the town’s heroic lifeboat crew and will showcase the brass, as will the exuberant “Bombasto” by O.R. Farraro. “Day at the Carnival” will make you reminisce about popcorn and hotdogs and hot summer days. The concert showcases a “Gershwin Medley” featuring guest clarinet soloist Carl Topilow, with Music at the Summit’s executive director Beth Steele conducting. Topilow, well known in the Summit County area as the conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra, is also the founder and conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. The concert ends with “ABBA Gold” from the popular Swedish pop group and, of course, a rousing rendition of “The Stars & Stripes Forever.”



Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute is the brainchild of Summit Concert Band’s director, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steele. Steele serves as the institute’s executive director and will be conducting the medley of Gershwin tunes at the final concert.

“We are extremely happy with the growth of Music at the Summit and are looking forward to presenting a first-class performance for concert goers on Sunday, as well as at the ‘Ensemble Escapades’ concert on Saturday,” she said.



“Ensemble Escapades” is a concert of small ensembles, all formed at the institute and decided on as classes progress. It will be held Saturday, July 9, at 3 p.m. at Blue River Plaza on Main Street in Breckenridge. Anticipated groups include flute ensemble, clarinet quartet, saxophone quintet and brass choir.

The adult musicians attending the institute will take part in rehearsals under the direction of Dr. Graham O. Jones, MBE. Jones recently retired from the British Army after a glittering career spanning nearly 40 years. He retired as the senior director of music, Household Division and director of music, Coldstream Guards, a position unequaled throughout military music in Great Britain. He was made a member of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace for outstanding service to military music in 1993 and retired from military service in 2012. Jones will be conducting the band for rehearsals and at “The Hills Are Alive!” concert on Sunday afternoon.

For more information about Music at the Summit Adult Band Institute, “The Hills Are Alive!” concert, “Ensemble Escapades” or the Summit Concert Band, call (303) 809-9171 or visit musicatthesummit.com or summitconcertband.org.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.