Eugene Symphony returns to Cuthbert Amphitheater on July 24 for 12th annual free outdoor summer concert and to Cottage Grove’s Bohemia Park on July 26

Tickets required for Eugene concert in limited quantity; tickets not required for Cottage Grove concert

EUGENE, OR (July 1, 2021)—The Eugene Symphony Association, in partnership with Kesey Enterprises Inc. and the City of Eugene, is pleased to bringEugene Symphony in the Park, its annual free outdoor summer concert series, back to the community following last year’s interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The orchestra will perform at the Cuthbert Amphitheater on Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m. and at Bohemia Park in Cottage Grove on Monday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. This year will mark the 12th performance at Cuthbert Amphitheater and the sixth performance at Bohemia Park.

Tickets will be required for all attendees at Cuthbert Amphitheater and will be distributed in a limited quantity online only this year. Tickets are not required for the Bohemia Park performance in Cottage Grove.

Ticket information for Cuthbert Amphitheater (Eugene) concert:
Free tickets—required for ages three and up—are limited to four per household and will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 9. Tickets will be available online at www.eugenesymphony.org. Beginning at that time, click on “Tickets” on the summer concert image on the homepage. Tickets will not be available through the Hult Center ticket office.

COVID-19 Precautions & Protocols
Eugene Symphony Association and its partners will follow state and local guidance related to COVID-19. Any updates to concerts will be available at eugenesymphony.org and thecuthbert.com, and ticket-holding patrons for the Cuthbert will be informed of any changes via their email used on TicketsWest. In addition, Eugene Symphony strongly encourages mask wearing when not seated with your household, especially while in line at the gates, in concession lines and in the restrooms. Eugene Symphony will provide masks upon request.

Concert Program
At both venues, Music Director & Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong will lead the orchestra in a family-friendly program that includes well-known classics, works by living composers, and film score music. The program will also include guest vocalist, Eugene native, and YouTube sensation Evynne Hollens. 

“I cannot think of a better way to return to full orchestral performances than by gathering with friends, family, colleagues, and music-lovers of all ages at the Cuthbert for one of the most beloved Eugene Symphony traditions,” says Music Director & Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong. “We’ll celebrate with grand orchestral classics, musicals, film scores, and dance music – something for everyone!”

“We’ll celebrate with grand orchestral classics, musicals, film scores, and dance music – something for everyone!”

Concert program (subject to change) 
Scott Joplin: The Entertainer 
Gabriela Lena Frank: Mestizo Waltz
Arturo Marquez: Danzon No. 2
Edward Elgar: Nimrod from Enigma Variations
Harold Arlen: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (Featuring Evynne Hollens)
Stephen Schwartz: “Defying Gravity” from Wicked (Featuring Evynne Hollens) 
arr. Carmen Dragon: America the Beautiful (sing-along) 
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture 

History & Quotables
Eugene Symphony in the Park is a favorite annual, community event that began in 2009 at Eugene’s Cuthbert Amphitheater. In 2015, the Eugene Symphony Association expanded the program to include additional concerts in Cottage Grove and, in some years, Roseburg. The Symphony was unable to present this series in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With vaccination rates increasing and restrictions on gatherings  decreasing, the Association is excited to bring this annual tradition back to the community this year.

“We are thrilled to bring the summer concert back to both Eugene and Cottage Grove,” says David Pottinger, president of the Eugene Symphony Board of Directors. “There is always a special feeling in the air on the evenings of these events. After so much time away from hearing a live symphony orchestra, the enthusiasm will be positively palpable.”

In keeping with the Eugene Symphony’s mission of enriching lives through the power of music, this free summer concert expands the scope and capacity of the symphony’s community engagement programs that currently serve more than 20,000 children, adults and families annually. Kesey Enterprises Inc., the City of Eugene and the Eugene Symphony all share a goal of increasing cultural opportunities—particularly among underserved audiences—by providing access to high-caliber music performances, and promoting engagement in the area’s cultural resources among audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and means.

Concert Sponsorship: This year’s concerts are sponsored by PacificSource Health Plans.

Eugene Concert Support: Operating support is provided by the Chambers Family Foundation, Kesey Enterprises Inc., Double Tee Concerts, TicketsWest, City of Eugene, and the American Federation of Musicians’ Musicians Trust Fund.

Cottage Grove Concert Support: Operating support is provided by the City of Cottage Grove, Bohemia Park, Bohemia Foundation, and the Woodard Family Foundation.

About Eugene Symphony
Now in its 56th season, the Eugene Symphony is recognized as a cornerstone of the performing arts in Oregon’s southern Willamette Valley. Under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, the Eugene Symphony pursues its mission of enriching lives through the power of music by presenting annual classical, pops and community engagement performances, regularly commissioning and premiering new American works, and disseminating its performances via radio broadcasts and online channels. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Eugene Symphony continues to serve its mission through reimagined concert experiences and programs both virtually and in person. For more information, please visit eugenesymphony.org.

About Cuthbert Amphitheater
A beautiful outdoor concert venue, theCuthbert Amphitheater offers everyone an opportunity to enjoy live music during spectacular Oregon summers. Located in Eugene, Oregon at the edge of Alton Baker Park near the University of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, The Cuthbert features superb sound, beer gardens, food booths and an environment perfect for enjoying music performed live by the best touring bands in the country. More information at thecuthbert.com

About Bohemia Park
Bohemia Park is a 14-acre heritage park in the heart of downtown Cottage Grove on the site of a former railway storage yard. The public park was inspired by L.L. “Stub” Stewart, a Cottage Grove native and one of the original owners of Bohemia Lumber Co. Mr. Stewart, a champion of parks, wildlife and forest conservation statewide, envisioned a large community green space where southern Lane County residents and visitors could enjoy the beauty of the valley while celebrating the heritage of the region. Mr. Stewart passed away in 2005 at age 93. In his will, Mr. Stewart provided initial funding to launch the creation of Bohemia Park. Today, The Bohemia Foundation and the City of Cottage Grove have teamed up to make the park a reality.