Celebrating 40 years of the Grand Canyon Music Festival.

Welcome to our 40th season!

40 years of great music, incredible artists, at the most extraordinary location imaginable! It is an honor to present our 40th season with some of our favorite artists, like guitarist Michael Newman – who was there at the beginning – and cellist David Speltz who was there, if not quite at the beginning, in the early years. And we will perform Arnold Black’s Serenade for the Grand Canyon Music Festival, written for us in 1986.

The Grand Canyon Music Festival is supported in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment

for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schedule:

SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2, 2023

The Catalyst String Quartet

September 1, 2023 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm

Concert Repertoire

For this evening’s program, the Catalyst Quartet steps out of the quartet realm to bring you duets and trios, and Paul Laraia’s take on Bach’s Sarabandes, with assistance from Karlos Rodriquez, who will perform Bach’s originals.

ANTONÍN DVO?ÁK

Miniatures for Two Violins and Viola, Op. 75a

BÉLA BARTÓK

Selections from 44 Duos for Two Violins, Sz. 98

AUGUSTÍN BARRIOS MANGORÉ

“Las Abejas”

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH / PAUL LARAIA

Sarabandes

ASTOR PIAZZOLA

La Calle 92

September 2, 2023 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

The Catalyst returns to the realm of quartets, with these works by master composers.

PAQUITO D’RIVERA

A Farewell Mambo

But, Just a Minute?

Wapango

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA

Angel Suite

MAURICE RAVEL Quartet in F Major

Doors open at 7:00 pm.

Sunday, September 3, 2023 at 5:00.

Native American Composer Apprentice Project

World premiere concert of NACAP apprentice composers’ works.

Shrine of the Ages

This event is free and open to the public.

Join us for performances of our NACAP apprentice composers’ original compositions, performed by the Catalyst Quartet!

We are deeply grateful for the support NACAP receives from the National Endowment for the Arts; The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation; The Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives funding from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts; The Arizona Women’s Partnership; The Lewis Prize for Music; The Densford Fund of Riverside Church; and in-kind support from Grand Canyon National Park Lodges Xanterra Travel Collection.

September 8, 2023 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

Manhattan Chamber Players

Joined by the Newman and Oltman Guitar Duo, Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica, and Clare Hoffman, flute

Concert Repertoire

The Manhattan Chamber Players

Brendan Speltz, violin; Connie Kupka, violin and viola; Luke Fleming, viola;

Jacob Fowler and David Speltz, cello; Daniel Anastasio, piano

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

Michael Newman and Laura Oltman

Popper Requiem for Viola, Two Cellos, and Piano

Boccherini’s Fandango from the Guitar Quintet in D

Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G Minor, Opus 57

September 9, 2023 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

The Manhattan Chamber Players

Brendan Speltz, violin; Connie Kupka, violin and viola; Luke Fleming, viola;

Jacob Fowler and David Speltz, cello; Daniel Anastasio, piano

The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo

Michael Newman and Laura Oltman

Clare Hoffman, flute; Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica; David Koerner, piano

Boris Pigovat

Pastorale-Elegy for harmonica and strings

Arnold Black Serenade for the Grand Canyon Music Festival, written in 1986 for the GCMF.

David Koerner “Summer Triangle” for solo piano

Dvo?ák Piano Quintet in A Major, Opus 81

Our dear friend, the extraordinary composer Arnold Black, served as an inspiration for the founding of the GCMF. We are pleased to reprise this wonderful work for our 40th Anniversary!

The Manhattan Chamber Players

Connie Kupka and Brendan Speltz, violin; Luke Fleming, viola; David Speltz and Jacob Fowler, cello; with Clare Hoffman, flute; Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica; and the Newman and Oltman Guitar Duo.

The suggested donation is $20

September 15, 2023 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

The Bonfiglio Group

Robert Bonfiglio and guitarist Steve Benson are joined by the extraordinary pianist, composer, producer, conductor, music director, and arranger Mark Berman, and locals John Vail and Bryan Stone for an evening of blues, jazz, and more.

Suggested donation is $20

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

School of Rock

This event is free and open to the public.

School of Rock student concert Friday, September 15, 2023.

5:00 p.m. at The Shrine of the Ages.

September 16, 2023 7:30 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

40 Years and Deep Time

40 Years and Deep Time with cellist Rhonda Rider, pianist Judith Gordon, and flutist Clare Hoffman

Concert Repertoire

Jon Deak Metaphor for Solo Cello and Narrator, with text by Willa Cather

Raven Chacon Invisible Arc

John Kennedy Even the Stones Breathe

George Crumb Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale) for Three Masked Players 

Date: September 1-16, 2023

All concerts at The Shrine of the Ages, unless otherwise noted.

Location: 20 South Entrance Road, South Rim, Grand Canyon.

Suggested donation is $20 

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