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manny vega
Music in the Mountains
Groups in Wyoming enjoy high-brow culture at high altitudes
S
oon after the midsummer mark, musicians from all over the country flock to
Teton Village, Wyoming, an oasis of civilization amidst multiple national parks and forests. Known as Jackson Hole, this valley houses the municipalities of
Jackson as well as Teton Village, the home of the Grand Teton Music Festival. The Grand Teton Music Festival hosts orchestra and chamber concerts in the summer festival and a short concert series in the winter. During the festival over 200 orchestra musicians from all over the country assemble in Jackson Hole to make music together. Many of them come from prestigious orchestras such as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. Some musicians have been coming back every summer for over 25 years. In addition to the impressive roster of musicians, the festival’s concert facility, Walk Festival Hall, has been praised by both listeners and performers for its superior acoustics and friendly atmosphere. Built in 1974, the hall has comfortable, amphitheaterstyle seating with clear sightlines, a professional sound system, and enough space to accommodate on-stage receptions and banquets. The hall had a grand re-opening in 2007 after a 10-month, $4.85-million project to maintain its acoustics. The hall also received additional soundproofing as well as functional and aesthetic upgrades. If having renowned performers and an excellent concert hall were not enough, the
36 April 2012
LeisureGroupTravel.com