George Rebane

[This is the transcript of my regular KVMR commentary broadcast on 22 June 2016 and posted early to get the word out.]

Dear listeners, today let’s take a break from politics and terror and capitalist greed, and talk about happier things.  This year our very own Music in the Mountains is celebrating its 35^th year as our greater community’s premier promoter and producer of classical music concerts that many of you have attended over the years.  Actually MIM’s offerings extend beyond classical music to include popular artists, jazz, country music, patriotic programs, and even ballet.  And all of that right here in Nevada County, contributing to our cultural scene and making it the most desirable place in the Sierra foothills to live, work, raise a family, and retire.

The 2016 Summerfest is expanded to 12 concerts – three indoors and nine outdoors – that start today and continue over the next two weeks.  The productions are programmed to please every musical palate – from the spectacular classical composers, through pops featuring Don McLean and Judy Collins, to pure Americana with Gershwin’s ‘American in Paris’ and the grand finale Independence Day celebration on July 3^rd.

This year Summerfest moves to Penn Valley’s Western Gateway Park with expanded facilities to handle large outdoor concerts.  Improvements include a newly constructed audience area under a shaded pavilion in front of a large covered stage that can comfortably contain MIM’s full symphony orchestra and chorus.  And right behind the audience area is the new parking lot.  No more schlepping your al fresco from a mile away.

Speaking of al fresco dining and drinking.  Did I mention that the concerts will be catered by vendors offering everything from a single glass of wine to a full dinner set up so you don’t have to bring anything but your wallet.  Such a deal.

So let me quickly list the performances to give you an idea of the musical feast that awaits your pleasure.  No need to take notes since you can get all the info you need by googling ‘MIM Summerfest brochure’.  OK, here’s the list –

Mendelsohn’s Violin Concerto and 4^th symphony; Beethoven’s Pastoral plus Holst’s ‘The Planets’, From Broadway to Hollywood show stoppers, All Mozart recital and selected works, Seductive Serenades pops, Don McLean singing his hits, Gershwin/Copeland/Grofe/Ellington and more, Judy Collins sings her classics, Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812’ and more, The Music of the Beach Boys, and last but not least the traditional Patriotic Pops on July the third.

Again, for everything you need to know about Summerfest, please google ‘MIM Summerfest brochure’ and download your very own PDF of the brochure that contains all the information about what, when, and where.  (Or simply click here.)

Remember, the outdoor concerts start this Friday evening so there’s plenty of time to get your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets packed with all kinds of nummies for your evenings with family and friends.  And the whole affair takes place both in the Amaral Center at the fairgrounds, and ten minutes down Hwy 20 in our very own Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley.

Jo Ann and I will be attending many of the concerts and look forward to meeting our KVMR listeners, some of whom will no doubt want to give me a piece of their well thought out minds.  We look forward to seeing you at the Music in the Mountains Summerfest, an enduring Nevada County classic.

My name is Rebane, and I invite you to visit Rebane’s Ruminations where the transcript of this commentary is posted along with the link that lets you download the Summerfest brochure, and where you can give feedback on the concert series.  As always, my views are not necessarily shared by KVMR.  Thank you for listening.