“Festival Napa Valley has made great strides since its founding by CEO Rick Walker with his team that includes executive producer Charles Letourneau and general manager Sonia Tolbert,” writes Catherine Bigelow in Tuesday’s (7/25) San Francisco Chronicle. “This year, [pianist-composer Aldo] López-Gavilán arrived in Napa with his wife, conductor Daiana Garcia, and her band, the Havana Chamber Orchestra…. The festival also trumpeted a new tagline, ‘10 Days, 100 Wineries, 60 Events’—starring actor Bill Murray, renowned musicians including André Watts, soprano Danielle de Niese.” Bill Murray’s appearance was part of his project New Worlds with cellist Jan Vogler, beginning a U.S. tour. “This year’s lineup attracted a sold-out crowd…. Highlights included composer Gordon Getty, pumping his arms like a triumphant prize fighter, as conductor Joel Revzen masterfully completed Getty’s sublime choral work, ‘Young America.’ … Walker reminded supporters of the nonprofit festival association’s ultimate mission: to enrich arts education for 30,000 Napa County Unified School District students. Since its start, the festival known as Festival del Sole until 2016, has donated $850K to that effort…. Walker announced … the new $10K Khaledi Prize for a talented emerging musician, which … was bestowed on López-Gavilán.”
Posted July 27, 2017
