Festival announces Grand Finale concert

Set your sights on dragons at this year's Grand Finale concert as the Festival at Sandpoint welcomes the Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra led by conductor Morihiko Nakahara.

This year's concert will be held Sunday, Aug. 4.

A winner with audiences and critics alike, DreamWorks’ "How to Train Your Dragon" is a captivating and original story that combines humor, fire-breathing action, and epic adventure.

In the tale, Hiccup is a young Viking who defies tradition when he befriends one of his deadliest foes — a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless. Together, these unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds.

"How to Train Your Dragon — In Concert" features this acclaimed film presented in HD, with composer John Powell’s Academy Award-nominated score performed live to picture by a full symphony orchestra in a thrilling experience for all ages.

Back by popular demand, this movie in concert will be performed by the Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra, featuring over 70 talented instrumentalists from across the Inland Northwest, many of whom have been featured as part of the Spokane Symphony. The movie in its entirety, with dialogue, will play on a 33-foot screen accompanied by the largest orchestra in Festival at Sandpoint history performing the score live to picture.

Conducting this performance is Morihiko Nakahara, who spent 16 years as resident conductor of the Spokane Symphony. He is also the music director of the South Carolina Philharmonic and the director of orchestra studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is well-known for his charismatic presence on and off the podium, his innovative and audience-friendly programming skills, and his thoughtful interpretations of both standard and contemporary repertoire.

Sandpoint local Jason Moody will serve as concertmaster for the Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra. Since his solo debut with the Spokane Symphony at age 16,  Moody has performed across the United States, Europe, and Japan. Moody has received fellowships for the Aldeburgh Festival, the Spoleto USA Festival, the Masters Music Festival, and the Lancaster Festival. Moody is an adjunct faculty at Whitworth University and Edmonds Community College, teaching violin, viola, and chamber music.

The concert is underwritten by Innovia Foundation as part of its region-wide, 50th anniversary “Celebrating Community” and in support of its commitment to a vibrant arts and culture presence throughout the region.

“We are excited to work with the Festival at Sandpoint and local nonprofits to ensure that low-income and families experiencing hardship will enjoy this extraordinary evening of music and a family-friendly film," Shelly O’Quinn, Innovia CEO, said of the foundation's underwriting of more than 200 tickets for vulnerable residents in Bonner and Boundary counties. "Innovia will also sponsor free face painting for all children attending what is sure to be a memorable event.”

The Grand Finale will also include performances by the Festival at Sandpoint’s 2024 scholarship winners as well as fireworks to conclude the night and the 2023 summer concert series. The concert is a seated show, meaning that the area in front of the stage is general admission and is short chair and blanket seating only.

From 5-7 p.m., before the Grand Finale performance, concertgoes who are 21 and older can add on a ticket to the Taste of the Stars: Wine, Beer, & Spirit Tasting event where guests will sample pours from across the region during the two-hour event and receive a souvenir tasting cup.

Taste of the Stars is a separate ticketed event, all guests must be 21 and older and present valid ID upon admission.

Tickets purchase in advance are $44.85 before fees and taxes for adults; youth tickets are $12.95 before fees and taxes. Tickets purchased the day of are $49.95 for adults and $14.95 for youth. Taste of the Stars add-on tickets are $9.95 before fees and taxes.

Information: festivalatsandpoint.com