Napa, CA (August 2, 2022) – Festival Napa Valley concluded its 16th summer season with record-setting audiences and an unprecedented 60 artistically diverse concerts, events and programs including 20 admission-free concerts, and raising $3.9 million at its Arts for All Gala headlined by multi-Grammy Award winner Trisha Yearwood.
“Our 2022 season electrified audiences with the most exciting and varied program we have presented to date,” said Festival President & CEO Richard Walker. “The range of music styles, venues, and price options made it possible for everyone to enjoy the Festival.”
Highlights included:
- The world premiere of Nia Imani Franklin’s Polaris, an anthem commissioned by Festival Napa Valley to commemorate the new Juneteenth national holiday
- Festival Orchestra Napa’s performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony against a backdrop of artwork created by local children and seniors participating in the Festival’s How I See Music program
- The Young People’s Chorus of New York City’s performance of Gordon Getty’s Young America, and the West Coast premiere of California Medley featuring hits from Good Vibrations to Hotel California
- Ansel Adams: America by Dave and Chris Brubeck followed by a performance by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, as part of the Olivia Decker Power of Music Series
- An innovative staging of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini, with Gemma New conducting Festival Orchestra Napa, starring Andriana Chuchman, Mikayla Sager and Mario Chang
- A Night at the Ballet: From Tchaikovsky to The Rolling Stones
- World premiere of art songs by Jake Heggie, Jack Perla and Luna Pearl Woolf set to poetry by Lisa Delan and performed by Alexandra Armantrading and Kevin Korth
- Performances by Joshua Bell, Larisa Martínez, Tessa Lark, Sophia Bacelar, Dmitry Masleev, Lara Downes and Peter Dugan, with conductors Constantine Orbelian and Carlo Ponti
- The Maria Manetti Shrem Daniel Brewbaker Composer Prize awarded posthumously to Daniel Brewbaker
- Taste of Napa at The Meritage Resort, featuring jazz performed by Shelly Berg and the Frost All-Stars
- Admission-free programs including Festival Live! with the Frost School at Festival Napa Valley and the Blackburn Music Academy, Novack Concerts for Kids, and the Bouchaine Young Artist Series with Amaryn Olmeda, Jordan Bak and Tabea Debus
- Prizes awarded to Mikayla Sager and Mario Chang (Manetti Shrem Prize), Michelle Di Russo (Joel Revzen Conducting Fellowship), Tessa Lark (Khaledi Prize), and Lauren Scanio (Prescott Ashe Scholarship)
- Tuition-free Blackburn Music Academy and Manetti Shrem Summer Vocal Conservatory
- AloneTogether, a multimedia exhibition created by Francisco J. Núñez and members of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, on view at The CIA at Copia through September 30, 2022
- Patron Experiences at Alpha Omega, Artesa, Auberge du Soleil, Bardessono, Beringer Vineyards, Cardinale, Castello di Amorosa, Charles Krug, Far Niente, Four Seasons Napa Valley, Frank Family Vineyards, Grgich Hills Estate, HALL, Harbison Estate, Hess Persson Estates, Meritage Resort, Mont La Salle, Nickel & Nickel, Quintessa, Raymond Vineyards, Spring Mountain Vineyard, St. Supéry Estate, Stull Residence, Tamber Bey Vineyards, Trinchero Napa Valley, and Wheeler Farms.
Festival Napa Valley returns for its 17th season July 14-23, 2023. Multiday Patron Experience passes are available through August 15, 2022 at a 25% savings. Please visit festivalnapavalley.org.
About Festival Napa Valley
Blending the beauty and bounty of Napa Valley with the performing arts, Festival Napa Valley offers programs that enrich the economic and cultural vitality of the region and make the arts accessible to all. The Festival presents world-class performances staged in iconic venues and inspiring educational programs offered at Napa County schools year-round. It is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit organization governed by a board of prominent vintners and local leaders. More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, restaurants, chefs, and vintners participate each year. Visit festivalnapavalley.org.
Many thanks for your consideration of coverage, and know that you’re invited to join us next year to celebrate our 17th summer season!
