Festival Miami Announces 2014 Season Highlights

Festival Miami—Florida’s premier live music festival hosted by University of Miami Frost School of Music and presenting sponsor UHealth at Coral Gables opens its 31st season October 10 with the FROST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA led by THOMAS SLEEPER conducting works by American composers, and spotlights internationally acclaimed saxophonist DALE UNDERWOOD and virtuoso violinist MICHAEL LUDWIG; and closes November 8 with beloved blues artist KEB’ MO’ in a rare Florida appearance of this legendary entertainer as he performs music from his latest album BLUESAmericana, plus hits from his illustrious 20-year career. World-class instrumentalists, ensembles, singers, songwriters and composers alongside astounding faculty and student musicians from the Frost School of Music present 35 unique concerts and free events over 30 days.

Featured guest artists also include beloved jazz vocalist PATTI AUSTIN; rising Country music star CRAIG CAMPBELL; steel pan virtuoso LEON FOSTER THOMAS; a children’s afternoon concert featuring Parents’ Choice Award winners IN THE NICK OF TIME; classical guitar favorites Concierto Aranjuez and Andaluz performed with string orchestra; acoustic rock legend JORMA KAUKONEN; Latin/Brazilian fusion of percussionist SAMMY FIGUEROA and vocalist GLAUCIANASSER; Met Opera favorite DAWN UPSHAW and composer MARIA SCHNEIDER give the Florida premiere of their three-time Grammy Award-winning project Winter Morning Walks with the Frost School of Music’s HENRY MANCINI INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA; music and dance alumni from the National YoungArts Foundation in Moments: an Interdisciplinary Showcase; an explosive JAZZ GUITAR SUMMIT; Van Cliburn Gold Medalist VADYM KHOLODENKO in an impressive solo piano recital; high-energy BASS EXTREMES duo STEVE BAILEY and VICTOR WOOTEN; award-winning piano duo GENOVA & DIMITROV; Latin Grammy’s 2013 Best New Artist GABY MORENO; New Latin Soul Sensation FANTINE presented by EMILIO ESTEFAN; two inventive chamber music trios, TIME FOR THREE and PULSE; jazz singer GRETCHEN PARLATO with the FROST JAZZ VOCAL 1 ENSEMBLE; the FROST WIND ENSEMBLE in an all-Gershwin program under the direction of GARY GREEN featuring Broadway touring sensation ALICIA HALL MORAN, operatic favorite KEVIN SHORT and Grammy Award-winning violinist MARK O’CONNOR; THE JAZZ CRUISE ALL STARS featuring pianist SHELLY BERG, and singer NIKI HARIS, plus many more.

Festival Miami concerts are presented at UM Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus. Tickets start at $15. Lectures and master classes are free and open to the public. For ticket information, call 305-284-4940 2014 or visit www.festivalmiami.com. All artists are subject to change without notice; check website for updates.