Inaugural Vancouver USA Music and Arts Festival

Presented by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA (VSO) and City of Vancouver, the inaugural Vancouver USA Music and Arts Festival celebrates music and art inspired by America, spanning three days. The multidisciplinary art festival features performances from the VSO conducted by VSO Music Director, internationally renowned composer and conductor Maestro Salvador Brotons and Maestro Gerard Schwarz. 

The Vancouver USA Music and Arts Festival begins with a free all-day event on August 4, presented throughout downtown Vancouver. Streets will be opened to attendees for an extended gallery walk, live street art, an instrument petting zoo, and pop-up concerts. Stages built specially for the event will host live music outdoors, in addition to chamber music and jazz performances in the galleries. Following the daytime festivities, the VSO presents a free evening outdoor concert of popular American music, from film to Broadway, at Esther Short Park featuring the full orchestra under the baton of Ken Selden with Time for Three.

On August 5, the festival continues with pop-up concerts in partnership with the Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market. Further daytime activities include a free family-friendly concert at the nearby Esther Short Park, an educational artist panel, improvisation workshops in partnership with the historic Kiggins Theatre, a gallery walk with pop-up performances, and a ticketed all-star chamber music concert. Additionally, guest star American actor Lawrence Gilliard Jr. will be at the festival to participate in community outreach events. That evening, Maestro Gerard Schwarz leads the VSO in a ticketed indoor concert at Skyview Concert Hall, in partnership with Vancouver School District. This performance features Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, music by Adolphus Hailstork, and Anne Akiko Meyers performing Barber’s Violin Concerto. Food trucks will be stationed in the venue’s parking lot and there will be a celebration of local art in the lobby.

The festival’s final day kicks off Downtown with more local art and music. The festival culminates with a ticketed matinee performance at Skyview Concert Hall with Maestro Schwarz conducting the VSO with acclaimed pianist Orli Shaham performing Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Food trucks will be available in the parking lot for lunch and a different art exhibit will be on display in the lobby.