Bravo! Vail

The six-week-long festival begins in late June and ends in early August. Programming consists of chamber music, classical music, jazz, and pops concerts provided by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic along with chamber music artists.[1]

London's acclaimed Academy of St Martin in the Fields, led by violinist Joshua Bell, was added to the orchestral roster in 2016, making Bravo! Vail a four-orchestra festival. The Academy was both the first international and the first chamber orchestra residency in Bravo's history. In 2019, the Chamber Orchestra Vienna – Berlin featuring German violinist Anne Sophie Mutter will fill this fourth orchestra slot, opening the Bravo! Vail season in their North American and snowstorm debut.[2] In 2021, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra opened the Festival, returning in 2022 to open as well.

Bravo! Vail was founded in 1987 by John Giovando and Ida Kavafian.[3]

Orchestral performances by the National Repertory Orchestra and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra formed the early chamber concert series. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra joined the festival in 1989 and left in 2008.[4] The Detroit Symphony Orchestra joined the festival in 1995, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in 1999, the New York Philharmonic in 2003, and The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2007.

Flutist Eugenia Zukerman became the festival's artistic director in 1988.[3] In 2011, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott replaced Zukerman.[5]

In 2012, Giovando retired and James W. Palermo, who had recently served as CEO of the Colorado Symphony Association, became Bravo! Vail’s new executive director.[6] Giovando returned to serve as interim executive director in December 2014.[7]

In 2016, Jennifer Teisinger, formerly of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, became the Festival's new executive director.[8]

Caitlin Murray accepted the position of executive director in 2018. Murray has been associated with Bravo! Vail since 2009, most recently serving as the Vice President of Development.[9]

Bravo! Vail utilizes many venues around Vail and the Eagle Valley during the season, including:

• Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
• Vilar Performing Arts Center
• Vail Interfaith Chapel
• Edwards Interfaith Chapel and Community Center
• Donovan Pavilion
• Brush Creek Pavilion

In a typical season, Bravo! Vail provides a number of concerts and events, including:

• Orchestra concerts
• Chamber Music Series[10]
• Classically Uncorked Series[10]
• Free Concert Series[10]
• Linda & Mitch Hart Soirée Series[1]
• Bravo! Vail's Annual Gala
• Free Family Concerts
• Bravo! Vail After Dark
• Education & Community Engagement Events[11]
  • After-School Piano and Strings Programs[12]
  • Master Classes
  • Piano Fellows Program
  • Pre-Concert Talks
  • Chamber Musicians in Residence Program
  • Luis D. Juarez Honorary Music Award
  • Internship Program

A number of artists and musical ensembles have performed at Bravo! Vail since it was founded. Below is a list of some of its notable performers:

• Academy of St Martin in the Fields
• Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra
• Dallas Symphony Orchestra
• Colorado Symphony Orchestra
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• National Repertory Orchestra
• New York Philharmonic
• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
• The Philadelphia Orchestra
• Chamber Orchestra Vienna-Berlin
• The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

• Official Website

39°38′22″N 106°21′53″W