Arizona Musicfest

Arizona Musicfest—America’s Premier Winter Music Festival—presents top artists of classical orchestral, chamber, opera, jazz, Broadway, country-western, blues, and pop music in exceptional programs (created especially for Arizona Musicfest) at venues throughout the scenic desert foothills of Scottsdale and Carefree.

At the heart of the Festival is the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Robert Moody, and comprised of musicians from the nation’s finest orchestras, including; the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Phoenix Symphony, and others.  In addition, the Festival features the 100-voice Arizona Musicfest Chorus; and the Arizona Musicfest Chamber Players.  A recent Chamber broadcast on American Public Media’s “Performance Today” caused the announcer to exclaim, “You gotta love those folks from Arizona!”

The Arizona Republic recently recognized Arizona Musicfest as “The Best Classical Music Festival” and regularly features its concerts in “Top Ten” Lists.

Arizona Musicfest Youth Education

Equally impressive, Arizona Musicfest is committed to broadening our musical footprint through extensive programs which enrich our area’s music education offerings, inspire our youth, and provide valuable and lasting investment in our community.  Each year, 6,000 school children experience classical music exposure through Musicfest Minutes, a daily curriculum-based music lesson in area classrooms. Utilizing the emerging trend of using ukuleles to teach the fundamentals of music, Musicfest Strummers provides string instruments to 3rd through 6th graders throughout the Valley.  In the fall of 2012, Musicfest Makers made its debut, introducing third and fourth graders to string, wind and brass instruments.  Through the Festival’s exciting Katzen Jazz Program, area elementary students are provided with unique exposure to the Jazz repertoire, history and performance practice.  The Arizona Musicfest Orchestra Outreach Program provides master classes for promising music students and music education forums for school assemblies. The Orchestra also introduces thousands of students each year to the experience of an orchestra rehearsal through a Festival Orchestra open rehearsal.  Additionally, Arizona Musicfest maintains an Instrument Rental Program; hosts an annual children’s concert by the Phoenix Youth Symphonette; and sponsors the annual Cave Creek Unified School District’s One Voice concert.

Arizona Musicfest Programs for Young Musicians

In addition to providing accessibility to music instruction and exposure to classical music, performance opportunities for exceptional young Valley musicians (grades seven through twelve) are provided through the Young Performers Recital Series, the annual Young Artists Concert and the highly regarded Young Musicians Competition.  Celebrating the talent of our area’s outstanding young musicians and investing in their future is also key to Musicfest.  This commitment is best recognized through Arizona Musicfest Scholarship funds which annually help to underwrite the college education of outstanding student musicians pursuing degrees in music performance.

For updates on the Arizona Musicfest concert schedule, fundraising and special event calendar, Competition and Scholarship details, and a description of community programs and concerts for students, please visit the Arizona Musicfest website at www.azmusicfest.org or call 480.488.0806 / toll free 866.488.0806.