FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cohn Dutcher Associates
 Lois Cohn, 917.339.7187, lcohn@cohndutcher.com
Dan Dutcher, 917.339.7157, ddutcher@cohndutcher.com 
Laura Malick, 917.339.7183, lmalick@cohndutcher.com
Whitney Holden, 917.339.7188, wholden@cohndutcher.com  
 

FESTIVAL SUCCESS!

CARAMOOR INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL REACHES REVENUE & ATTENDANCE GOALS FOR SUMMER 2009

SOLD-OUT EVENTS, CRITICAL ACCLAIM, AND DIVERSE PROGRAMMING ENABLE FESTIVAL TO ACHIEVE SMASHING BOX OFFICE SUCCESS

KATONAH, NY - August 11, 2009 - The Caramoor International Music Festival concluded its 2009 summer season the first weekend of August with a critically acclaimed performance of Rossini's Semiramide followed by a two-day Jazz Festival headlined by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves.  The winning weekend helped the festival's six-week ticket sales reach season projections.  Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts today announced that it achieved various benchmarks, fulfilling some expectations while surpassing others.  A total of 21,222 attendees were recorded to the various ticketed events at the festival - which ran June 27 through August 5 - meeting Caramoor's revenue goal for the season, and outshining last year's audience totals for the same time span. 

"We embarked upon this year's festival with a prudent budget, recognizing the uncertainties of the economic downturn all arts organizations are facing," said Michael Barrett, Chief Executive and General Director of Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.  "However, we believed it to be most crucial not to compromise the artistic integrity of the festival in any way.  In fact, we celebrated new and enhanced programming this summer, and are introducing our first-ever Fall Festival in October."

Events that attracted large audiences were: the July 4th "Pops, Patriots & Fireworks" extravaganza: the "Bel Canto at Caramoor" opera series, which featured Donizetti's L'elisir d'Amore and Rossini's Semiramide: the legendary Paquito D'Rivera with his all-Cuban band, a cornerstone of the third year of Caramoor's Latin American music initiative Sonidos Latinos: banjo star Bela Fleck and his Africa Project; the 16th Annual Jazz Festival: Vladimir Feltsman and Jonathan Biss, great classical pianists of different generations; and family oriented events such as concerts Al Fresco and a performance of Peter and the Wolf.

"The great variety of musical offerings in this summer's programs certainly enabled us to broaden our audience," continued Mr. Barrett. "We introduced a new 'Dancing at Dusk' program especially for family audiences and increased the number of Al Fresco performances, which allow audiences to enjoy live music from the picnic lawns.  From gala concerts to garden tours, the festival turnout was outstanding, and we have treasured the abundance of positive feedback received both from visiting music connoisseurs and local audiences alike."

ON THE HORIZON:  Caramoor's First-Ever Fall Festival

Ticket sales are already strong for Caramoor's very first Fall Festival, which kicks off on October 2.  The New York Philharmonic makes its Caramoor debut under the baton of new Music Director Alan Gilbert in an all-Beethoven performance featuring pianist Emanuel Ax. Continuing through October 4, the festival also features jazz giant Chick Corea, internationally acclaimed opera diva Sumi Jo, and a Saturday afternoon Cavalcade of three family concerts. Tickets for the fall performances range from $15 to $110: to purchase, please call the box office at 914.252.1252 or visit online at www.caramoor.org.  Special arrangements may be made for groups of 16 or more; contact Matt Scarella at 914.232.5035 ext. 248.

PRESS TICKETS:

Laura Malick                                              Whitney Holden
917.339.7183                                            917.339.7188
lmalick@cohndutcher.com                        wholden@cohndutcher.com

Credits
 Performances are made possible, in part, by Arts Westchester, with funds from Westchester County Government                                                                                           

Performances are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency

The New York Philharmonic concert is made possible, in part,
through the generous support of The William Petschek Family.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is located at 149 Girdle Ridge Road in Katonah, New York.

For more information about Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, please visit www.caramoor.org

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