Press Release by the Moab Music Festival

MOAB MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON 33: NEW BEGINNINGS WITH NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TESSA LARK; AUGUST 27 – SEPTEMBER 12

The Destination Festival for Adventure-Seekers and Classical Music Lovers Includes Outdoor Bucket List Experiences, Debuts, Celebrity Author, and A World Premiere
Artists Include Edgar Meyer, Sierra Hull, People of Earth, Inon Barnatan, Celebrity Author and Chef Kenji López-Alt, and a World Premiere MMF Commission by Viet Cuong


April 14, 2025 (Moab, UT) — The Moab Music Festival (MMF) rings in its 33rd season with the appointment of award-winning violinist Tessa Lark as Artistic Director. As the Festival ushers in a bold and adventurous future, it will also honor the legacy of its co-founding Directors Emeriti Leslie Tomkins and Michael Barrett with exhibitions, events, and concerts exploring the ambitious visionary dream they turned into a magnificent reality.

A Kentucky native, Tessa Lark has charmed Moab audiences since her 2016 Festival debut with her technical mastery, stylistic fluidity of wide-ranging abilities, and spiritual openness. She boasts a long list of classical music bona fides, including a GRAMMY™ nomination for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Lark is also a recipient of the Hunt Family Award, one of Lincoln Center’s prestigious Emerging Artist Awards; a 2018 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship; and an Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Lark’s trademark omnivorous sensibility is on display this summer with concerts featuring a global Latin fusion band, the unconventional trio Triple Cortado (trumpet, trombone, piano), a premiere by Composer-in-Residence Viet Cuong, guitarist Frank Vignola, pianist Inon Barnatan, and seven-time Grammy-winning bassist and composer Edgar Meyer, making his Festival debut this summer. Lark herself will take the stage to share original compositions, traditional fiddle tunes, and chamber music gems alongside programs featuring beloved classical and romantic repertoire, modern Americana music, and more.

The spectacular settings play a starring role this season, as they have since the Festival’s founding. Natural red rock amphitheaters and the current of the timeless Colorado River make the perfect backdrop for MMF’s do-not-miss Music Hikes and Grotto Concerts. Other events include a special opening night celebration honoring the co-founders, as well as a return to picturesque Easy Bee Farm. Floating Concerts on an open-air river boat, and a program at the Red Earth Venue make a comeback as well. There’s also an exciting Musical Raft Trip featuring Lark and double James Beard Foundation Award Winner and New York Times Bestselling cookbook author/chef Kenji López-Alt. Taken together it’s more than a music festival or a destination–it’s music in concert with the landscape®.

Full Calendar

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION
Moab’s momentous 33rd season begins as it should–with a celebration. On Wednesday, August 27, directors past and present take the stage to kick off the landmark year at beautiful Star Hall in downtown Moab for a concert celebrating its rich legacy with a program of duos and Schubert’s Trout Quintet. Opening Night: Celebrating 33 Years of Moab Music Festival opens with a video presentation honoring Barrett and Tomkins and echoes the Festival’s inaugural 1992 performance, while heralding Lark’s exciting new direction. Begin the evening at the MARC (Moab Arts & Recreation Center) with an exhibit tracing MMF’s years of visionary music and joy born from Tomkins and Barrett’s dream.

GROTTO
An exhilarating jet boat ride down the Colorado River brings listeners to one of MMF’s signature Grotto Concerts in “nature’s own concert hall” (The New York Times), where the scenic and sonic wonders of the remote acoustically pristine grotto carved from the surrounding red rock are on full display. The inaugural Grotto Concert, Colorado River Winds, on Thursday, August 28, features the quintet WindSync. Each individual instrument gets a solo turn in the site’s otherworldly acoustics before uniting for Poulenc’s cheeky Sextet for Piano and Winds. This sojourn in this very special locale also features food and drink. The grotto’s alien beauty inspires a second look at beloved repertoire in Classics Reimagined. On Thursday, September 4, the rocks become a cathedral when Renaissance composer Gregorio Allegri’s haunting Miserere, originally written for three choirs at the Sistine Chapel, will be played by two distanced instrumental groups, surrounding listeners with the myriad sonic phenomena of the ancient canyons. Mendelssohn’s beloved Piano Trio in D minor is heard next anew in a thrilling version for piano, trumpet, and trombone. The program closes with the immortal Death and the Maiden string quartet, whose second movement borrows from the famous song Der Tod und das Mädchen, heard in this grotto event as a vocalise for viola and piano. In Manouche!, Romani folk traditions from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries bring the grotto’s normally placid walls to life with virtuosic energy and spirited melodies rippling against the rock formations. Folk-inspired works by Haydn, Liszt, and Brahms meld with Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche for a fittingly vibrant MMF finale on Tuesday, September 9.

FLOATING CONCERTS
A fixture of MMF’s adventurous offerings in recent seasons is the Festival’s buzzy, and regularly sold-out Floating Concerts, which take patrons several miles up the Colorado River on an open-air river boat, where they are surrounded by towering canyon walls for another bucket list experience. This Michael Barrett-curated program on Friday, August 29 features the virtuosic WindSync in an intricate program filled with endless variation which defies classification. The program, which includes works by Buxtehude, Mozart, and Viet Cuong, takes inspiration from the natural world and patterns of music and nature, from the night sky to the plants of the desert. MMF’s newly minted Artistic Director turns the vessel into a party boat on Sunday, September 7 for á la Django, a sassy serenade featuring tunes popularized by the jazz guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt and his friend Stéphane Grappelli, with whom he formed the Paris-based Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. Joining Lark for this romp is Festival favorite guitarist Frank Vignola in a thrilling improvisation-infused, stylistically diverse program.

EASY BEE FARM
Next Week’s Trees blossom at charming Easy Bee Farm on Friday, August 29. Back by popular demand, this lively event offers complimentary beverages and bites and is where the sound of Tessa Lark’s fiddle leads guests down paths to virtuoso artists in mini-performances throughout the property. Toe-tapping folk-inspired gems from Bach to Mark O’Connor surround Composer-in-Residence Viet Cuong’s recently written Next Week’s Trees.

MUSIC HIKES
Among its most popular events, MMF’s three frequently sold-out Music Hikes offer unparalleled access to the natural wonders of Moab. Guides lead trekkers to secluded canyons, where an hour of impeccable music awaits, performed by Festival artists on intimate natural “stages.” Adventurers meet at the Aarchway Inn at 7:45am and board shuttles to the hikes’ surprise locations. The hikes require a moderate level of stamina and agility, so comfortable desert environment clothing is recommended, as are hiking poles. Hydration is a must! Musical serenity amidst the canyons starts the day on Saturday, August 30 when solos and duos for strings lead the way in A Little Respite. Classics by Bach and Rossini are complemented by a recent work by the enthralling composer/violinist Jessie Montgomery, which revels in friendship in all its joy and silliness, showing the surprisingly vast range of depth of just two instruments. Calm prevails in the quiet of Moab’s majestic landscape on Sunday, August 31 with Catharsis Canyon. Sublime music meets breathtaking wilderness in Beethoven’s Heiliger Dankgesang for string quartet, an extended prayer of thanks following a return to health. A work by Lark written during a time of deep personal grief, captivating Danish folk tunes, and Bach’s E major Partita, performed by Blake Pouliot, bring further rhythm and joy, heightening the sense of peace and quietude that only nature can provide. Finally, virtuosity is the order of the day on Saturday, September 6 when seven-time GRAMMY-winning bassist Edgar Meyer joins a glittering lineup of artists in Living Legends. This artistic rarity features Meyer’s seminal interpretation of solo Bach, virtuosic arrangements of Baroque brass music, and the dramatic whirlwind of Carl Maria von Weber’s devilishly difficult and delightfully entertaining Clarinet Quintet.

RED CLIFFS LODGE
The cliffs enveloping the tranquil Colorado River, made famous in so many film and television shows, is home to Red Cliffs Lodge, which hosts two electrifying shows this season. From the heart of Catalonia to the vibrant streets of New York City to the Moab desert, captivating singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist Lau Noah comes to the Festival on Saturday, August 30th. Hailed for her depth as a songwriter with a penchant for cross-cultural storytelling, her NPR Tiny Desk concert captivated listeners across the globe. Listeners will be in for a magical evening under the stars. The next night features powerhouse global music collective People of Earth, which exploded on to the music scene with some of today’s top artists. The Sunday, August 31 concert will bring the audience to its feet with Cuban timba and rumba, Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, Haitian Kompa, Brazilian MPS, and American soul, R&B, and hip-hop in an electrifying and memorable experience under the Moab moon at Red Cliffs Lodge.

LABOR DAY EXTRAVAGANZA: FREE ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER COMMUNITY CONCERT
Spread out your blanket, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy the Festival’s free annual Rocky Mountain Power Community Concert. Come together on Labor Day, Monday, September 1 beneath the shady cottonwoods at Old City Park for a joyous celebration in the community MMF calls home. Moab’s own Community Dance Band opens the show; WindSync dazzles with virtuosic chamber music works; percussionists Ian Rosenbaum and Andy Akiho impress with a marimba and steel pan duo; and members of Latin fusion band People of Earth take it home with its own originals to close the afternoon concert.

OUTREACH
As a festival rooted in the unique beauty of its natural home, MMF makes community investment essential to its operation. On Tuesday, September 2, members of NYC-based People of Earth will visit the Grand County Schools to give presentations for elementary, middle and high school classes. The band’s musicians are seasoned educators and have led workshops at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, and beyond. At MMF, the education programs go beyond just performances for students and include scholarships, teacher support, instrument purchases, and more. With these programs, the Festival endeavors to give back to the community that has nurtured and supported it for decades.

SIPS & SOUNDS
Tuesday, September 2 treats audiences to what has become an eagerly anticipated fun event, Sips & Sounds. This edition offers an intimate opportunity to meet and engage with the Moab Music Festival’s new Artistic Director. Listeners will sip on a favorite beverage and enjoy a mini-concert and lively 60-minute conversation at Café & Lounge Italiano moderated by Artistic Director Emerita Leslie Tomkins, where they’ll chat about Lark’s background, her creative vision for the Festival’s future, and of course, hear some fiddle tunes!

RED EARTH VENUE
The Red Earth Venue, a glass-walled structure surrounded by red rock cliffs, sits at the center of sprawling 17-acre wilderness in the heart of canyon country. On Wednesday, September 3, MMF brings longtime collaborators and close friends Andy Akiho and Ian Rosenbaum to the venue to share works from their recently released album, Kin. Akiho and Rosenbaum encapsulate their 15+ year creative partnership by presenting works by Akiho, old and new, written or reimagined for their duo of varied percussion, marimba, and steel pan. With the duo’s rhythms vibrating over immaculate glass-covered nature views, the multi-sensory experience is completed with hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine.

PRIVATE RANCH / HOUSE CONCERTS
Two of Moab’s most beautiful private homes host festival artists in intimate evenings of music and fine food. The convivial occasion offers an exceptional opportunity to experience a performance up close, followed by a celebratory dinner. Three much in demand artists who have carved unique roles in the music world form the Lark/Roman/Meyer trio. On Friday, September 5, the new ensemble brings its moxie in Edgar Meyer – Then & Now. Meyer, the renowned double bassist who has collaborated with a who’s who of artistic legends, joins Festival Director/violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Joshua Roman who, according to Yo-Yo Ma, is “one of the great exemplars of the ideal 21st-century musician.” These sought-after creatives bring a typically UNtypical program of Bach and Meyer, including a newly written work. On Monday, September 8, Inon Barnatan, “one of the most admired pianists of his generation” (The New York Times); violinist Kristin Lee, who has appeared on major stages across the globe; and guitarist Frank Vignola, known for his stunning virtuosity and work with musicians from Ringo Starr and Lionel Hampton to the Boston Pops and Madonna, offer an intimate evening of solos, duets, and trios across styles and genres.

SORREL RIVER RANCH
Kick off your hiking shoes and head over to the open-sided pavilion at Sorrel River Ranch on Saturday, September 6. The outdoor venue allows concertgoers of all ages to take in the show from the covered pavilion or the lawn. The dazzling mandolinist Sierra Hull returns to MMF for a solo show, after her 2023 appearance as a member of Béla Fleck’s band. Two-time Grammy nominated Hull headlines with her 5-piece band playing tracks from her first new album in five years, A Tip Toe High Wire, which blends a modern sonic palette with the bluegrass and Americana that launched her trajectory.

STAR HALL
On Sunday, September 7, MMF presents a powerful exploration of music in times of war, revealing the human spirit’s struggle, hope, and ultimate resilience when words offer limited reprieve. The Promise of Peace at historic Star Hall in downtown Moab brings together music across four different era-defining conflicts–the Civil, Vietnam, and First and Second World Wars–for a survey of art’s response in troubled times. This program also includes the world premiere of the MMF Commissioning Club’s newest project – a clarinet quintet by award-winning American composer Viet Cuong, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and reflects Cuong’s own experience as an American-born composer whose parents fled Vietnam in 1975. The varied program also includes works by Stravinsky, Charlie Parker, Bernstein, Ives, Blitzstein, Ravel, and more.

CATARACT CANYON MUSICAL RAFT TRIP + KENJI LÓPEZ-ALT
The festival concludes with the trip of a lifetime, when adventurers embark with Tessa Lark and special guest Kenji López-Alt on Tuesday, September 9 for an unprecedented, star-studded musical and culinary journey through Cataract Canyon! This 4-day/3-night Musical Raft Trip will satisfy thrill-seekers and music lovers alike, with daily concerts by renowned festival artists, the glorious scenery of Canyonlands National Park, and some of the largest and most challenging whitewater in the United States. The celebrated cookbook author and chef (not to mention talented violinist) López-Alt, curates remarkable meals along with demonstrations, and hosts conversations exploring the parallels between food and music. Powerhouse string players—violinist Geneva Lewis, and cellist Jay Campbell—transform the canyon and the mighty Colorado into nature’s concert hall. Launching after the signature Grotto Concert, rafters continue on past the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers, with an expert crew guiding travelers through exhilarating days of adventure. A scenic return flight over Canyonlands National Park lands back in Moab on Friday, September 12, concluding a transcendent journey. Outfitted by Sheri Griffith River Expeditions.

For more information about the Festival or to purchase tickets for the 33rd annual Moab Music Festival go to the website, or telephone the Box Office at (435) 259-7003. You may also visit the Festival Office at 58 East 300 South, Moab, UT 84532.

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