Vivaldi by Candlelight Concert

Jean-Féry Rebel- Le Cahos (Chaos), from The Elements
Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for Cello in C Minor, RV 401
Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto in A Minor for Bassoon, RV 498
Markus Heinrich Graul - Concerto No. 2 for Viola in E-Flat
Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Violin and 2 Flutes, BWV 1049
Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for Strings in B-flat Major, RV 164

First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
203 South 200 East Salt Lake City
5:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Join Utah Global Diplomacy for an exclusive pre-concert dinner catered by Màstra Italian Bakery Bistro, a local restaurant located in American Fork. Their mission is to offer affordable, authentic Italian passion food made to nourish the body and the soul. You will experience more than just the food; it's a gathering space of acceptance and love, leading up to an evening of beautiful music.

Following dinner, head upstairs at 6:45 p.m. for the concert.

Menu:
Appetizers:
Focaccia
Burrata
Salad
Charcuterie
Pizzette

Main:
Gnocchi Pesto
Rigatoni Bolognese

Dessert:
Pannacotta with Berries

Please note that balcony seats are not ADA accessible.

• Premium seating with dinner: Ticket includes our pre-concert hosted dinner and drinks at Laziz Kitchen and reserved premium seating for the performance. $200 per ticket.
• Premium seating: Ticket provides reserved premium seating for the performance. $75 per ticket
• General seating: Ticket provides reserved standard seating. $50 per ticket.
• Semi-obstructed view: Ticket provides reserved standard seating with a partially blocked view of the stage. (There is an organ that cannot be moved.) $20 per ticket.
• ADA seating: Ticket provides accessible seating for patrons with disabilities. Seats 3 & 4 in this row are for wheelchairs, and seats 1 & 2 are additional accessible seats. $20 per ticket.

You may have seen advertisements for commercialized candlelight concerts; however, Utah Global Diplomacy proudly presents Utah's original Vivaldi by Candlelight Concert, an exquisite blend of captivating music and ambiance. For over four decades, we have dedicated ourselves to promoting music diplomacy, utilizing the enchanting glow of candlelight set to old-world charm. Our passion for producing this timeless tradition, combined with Maestro Gerald Elias's talents in curating an extraordinary experience, brings the masterpieces of Vivaldi and other Baroque composers to life. As the pioneers of this distinctive concept, we remain committed to preserving the enchantment of this event by ensuring each concert is unique and original.

We wholeheartedly invite you to support us in our ongoing efforts to celebrate the artistry of the Baroque era. It's important to note that this event serves as our signature fundraising initiative. Every ticket sold contributes to building global connections between Utah and the world, promoting mutual respect, understanding, and international goodwill. Join us in this remarkable journey of harmonious diplomacy and make a meaningful impact.

Maestro Gerald Elias, music director of the Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series since 2004, is a former violinist with the Boston Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony. He has authored many mystery short stories and novels, including the prize-winning Daniel Jacobus series that takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world.

Elias divides his time between the shores of Puget Sound in Seattle and the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, where he continues to expand his literary and musical horizons. Click here to learn more about Maestro Elias.

Ambrynn Bowman is a versatile cellist who can be found performing across classical, contemporary, and early music settings. Raised in a family of professional musicians, she holds degrees from the University of Utah and Penn State University, studying under John Eckstein and Kim Cook. Based in Utah, she performs with groups including the Ballet West Orchestra, Utah Chamber Artists, and Orchestra at Temple Square. She enjoys recording for film, video games, and musicals and has worked with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Laufey, Disturbed, and The Piano Guys. Ambrynn also has a passion for historical performance, playing Viola da Gamba and Baroque Cello.

Cameron Jeppson, who began studying violin at age three with Asheley Madsen Watabe, continued his studies with Dr. Hasse Borup at the University of Utah and is presently enrolled as a master’s student at the University of Michigan with Fabiola Kim. Cameron has served as concertmaster of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute orchestra, performed in Carnegie Hall as a member of Pentasuite Quintet, and was a recent winner of concerto competitions at the Eastern Music Festival and the University of Utah.

Christina Castellanos has enjoyed a prosperous and diverse musical career. She is the Assistant Professor of Flute at Brigham Young University and has been an international guest artist at Xornadas de Frauta de Galicia, Spain; Saarburg International Music Festival, Germany; and the Festival des Anches d’Azur in La Croix-Valmer, France. Christina is the Principal Flutist of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Salt Lake Symphony, solo flutist of Sinfonia Salt Lake, and performs frequently with the Utah Symphony and Opera, Orchestra at Temple Square, other regional orchestras, the TAD Wind Symphony in Japan, and many off-Broadway productions. Christina performed in a 6-year run of Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular, as well as backing countless headliners from Placido Domingo to Sting. A passionate chamber musician, Christina performs with the Orpheus Winds Quintet, most recently at the International Double Reed Society Convention. When not teaching or performing, Christina enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, co-owner and solo horn of Boston Brass, and their two beautiful children, Lily and Orion.

Devan Maria Freebairn is a passionate and versatile violist whose career has taken her across the U.S. and around the world. She holds a master’s degree from New England Conservatory, studying with Dimitri Murrath, and a bachelor’s degree from BYU with Dr. Claudine Bigelow. She has performed frequently with the Vivaldi by Candlelight orchestra, the Orchestra at Temple Square and with Ballet West, and regularly on major recording projects in Salt Lake City. This year she toured nationally with Twilight in Concert and recently performed in Argentina with the Tabernacle Choir. When not on stage, Devan works for Amazon Web Services, teaches from her home and at BYU, and enjoys traveling to new places, both in person and through reading. Known for expressive playing and adventurous spirit, Devan is thrilled to be soloing tonight—and honored to be the first to record the Graul Viola Concerto.

Azerbaijani-American flutist, Dr. Jeiran Hasan, has been the Assistant Professor of Flute at Utah State University since 2022. An active and versatile musician, Hasan enjoys a multifaceted career as a flutist and educator. A sought-after master teacher and adjudicator, Jeiran has given masterclasses on four continents and in numerous languages, including Azerbaijani, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. Dr. Hasan is also a frequent presenter and clinician at flute fairs, colleges, and universities across the US, most recently at Oberlin Conservatory and in Baku, Azerbaijan. An accomplished soloist, she has competed in and been a prize winner or finalist in over twenty international and national competitions, including the National Flute Association’s Orchestral Excerpt and Young Artist Competitions. Hasan is a LefreQue Sound Bridge performing artist and holds degrees from the University of Iowa (D.M.A.) and the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM and BM). Please visit www.j-hasan.com for more information.

Ryan Van Liere plays principal bassoon with the Salt Lake Symphony and Sinfonia Salt Lake, and frequently performs with the Salt Lake Choral Artists, Utah Symphony, and Ballet West. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. Having begun on the clarinet as a child in North Carolina, Ryan switched to bassoon at fifteen, and moved to Utah where he completed high school, studied with Roger Hicks, and performed as a Salute to Youth soloist with the Utah Symphony, conducted by Joseph Silverstein. Outside of music, Ryan is a homebrewer and certified beer judge who has adjudicated many local competitions. Living in Midvale with his wife (Leza), they are avid Seattle Mariners and Utah Mammoth fans.

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