When the Park City International Music Festival opened its new season on July 15, it marked several milestones — chiefly the celebration of its 20th anniversary this summer, making it the oldest continuously run music festival in Utah, and one of the oldest in the United States.
Also distinguishing this year's edition is the fact that festival co-directors Leslie and Russell Harlow have expanded the event to include concert venues outside of its home base in Park City.
For the first time, the Harlows have decided to present concerts in Salt Lake City. Five of this season's 15 performances will be held in Dumke Recital Hall in the University of Utah's David Gardner Hall. "The reason we chose Dumke instead of another hall is because it's an intimate space," Leslie Harlow said. "We play to smaller, more intimate audiences, and Dumke suits our purposes."
However, she hasn't completely ruled out using larger venues at some point. "We have plans to move to Libby Gardner, as we'll be doing more and more concerts in Salt Lake."
Expanding the summer series into Salt Lake City is only part of Harlow's vision for the festival's future. One of her goals is to incorporate concerts by the Cathedral of the Madeleine Chamber Orchestra into the festival. "I want to bring the group up here (to Park City) during the festival. And (the Cathedral Choir and Choristers) will perform with the orchestra."
The Cathedral of the Madeleine Chamber Orchestra is under the baton of cathedral music director Gregory Glenn. The ensemble consists of members from the Utah Symphony, along with local freelance musicians. Harlow has performed with the orchestra for the past 15 years.
Some of the changes that the Park City festival is undergoing these days have been taking place behind the scenes with the festival's administration, and there are also some new faces. A new addition to the staff is Chris Julian, hired earlier this year as the festival's director of development.
The Harlows have been keeping Julian busy. Not only has he been employed to contribute fresh ideas to increase the festival's audience base, but he's also working out the details on bringing the cathedral orchestra to Park City. "He's been working closely with the Cathedral of the Madeleine. And, in fact, his office is in the Madeleine Choir School."
But despite the transformation the festival is experiencing, Harlow said she is certain that some aspects will never change. "We have always brought in really strong players, many of whom have been loyal to the festival for years."
In large part, what Harlow sees as the festival's selling point, and what distinguishes it from most of the other summer festivals around the country, is that she doesn't bring established groups to Park City. Instead, Harlow invites musicians who don't normally perform together during the year.
"We mix people together," she said. "Having combinations of players who have played here in the past, along with new people, makes a difference in the quality of our concerts. This concept will always be at the core of our festival."
If you go. . .
What: The Park City International Music Festival
When: Continues through Aug. 15
Where: Various venues
How much: Prices vary
Phone: 435-649-5309
E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com