Moab Artist-in-Residence Program

The Festival identifies professional musicians who enjoy teaching music and interacting with community groups and invites these musicians to spend time in Moab as Artists-in-Residence. Artists-in-Residence work with the community and area schools, the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, and community radio KZMU to address the  to real needs in Moab for music education and cultural enrichment.

Festival Artist-in-Residence programs are supported by grants from the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation, WESTAF, the C. Comstock Clayton Foundation, Moab’s Quintstar Management and the Moab Music Festival Benefit Events.

2010 Artist-in-Residence:

Christopher Layer

In January 2010, Christopher Layer returned came to Moab with Boulder, CO based nyckelharpist Sandra Wong and singer and former Utah resident Marta Burton to perform with the Moab Community Dance Band at part of the 6th Annual Robert Burns Birthday Tribute Concert.  This program, initiated and curated by Layer, took place in the “Great Hall” of the Moab Grand Center.  On a chilly Moab winter evening the Hall was packed wall-to-wall as the Moab community turned out for a joyous celebration of the poetry and all-encompassing worldview of “Rabbie” Burns, the Scottish national poet. Dressed in full Scots regalia, Layer, Burton and members of the Moab Community Dance Band enchanted an audience of more than 225 with lively Highland tunes and songs.  Community members participated as guest readers of Burns inspiring and delightful poems. “Rabbie” Burns music and poetry is loved the whole world ‘round.”  Layer quipped. “Burns’ themes of love, joy, brotherhood, and music are truly universal in scope.” Layer added.

After almost the full evening of music and poetry, the celebration concluded with the ceremonial procession of the Haggis as the pudding, steaming on a silver tray and preceded with great solemnity by a bearer brandishing a replica of William Wallace’s massive sword was paraded before the assembled multitudes as Layer followed playing the Highland pipes.  Once the procession arrived in front of the audience, the “Ode to a Haggis was then read and the sword was used to stab the dish which was quickly sliced and shared by everyone present.  The festivities were enhanced by additional support for the event came from Red Rock Brewery, thanks to Music Festival Board Member Robert Jensen.

During their time in Moab preparing the 2010 Burns tribute Layer and Burton coached instrumentalists and singers at Grand County High and Middle Schools.  

2008 & 2009 Artists-in-Residence:

Christopher Layer

Christopher Layer returned to Moab for in January of 2008 and 2009 to revive the Rabbie (Robert) Burns Birthday Tribute Concert. Together with singer Marta Burton and the Moab Community Dance Band, Layer treated a community audience of nearly 200 to an evening of songs and readings of Burns' immortal poetry. In keeping with the world-wide tradition of the Burns Supper, the concert ended with the Procession of the Haggis, preceded by a claymore and piped in by Layer on the Highland Pipes. During his two-week stay in Moab, Layer also worked the Moab Middle School band, the Moab Community Dance Band and returned to KZMU-Moab Community Radio to host "Desert Dance". He also spent four weeks in Moab in August, 2008 and August 2009, providing intensive coaching and individual attention to members of the Moab Community Dance Band, an organization he helped to bring into existence during previous Residencies.  He also collaborated with Moab based musicians as part of The Playford Trio to create and perform two interpretive programs for Arches National Park at the Park Visitor Center.

2006 & 2007 Artists-in-Residence:

Christopher Layer

Christopher Layer visited Moab for two weeks in January of 2007, presenting an evening of Scottish music and songs in a “Tribute to Robert Burns” program with the stunning soprano Marta Burton to an overflow crowd. In addition, Chris worked the Moab Middle School band, the Moab Community Dance Band and the Music History Singers. He hosted a show called "Desert Dance" on KZMU community radio. Chris also spent six weeks in Moab in July and August, 2007 and 2006 continuing his on-going work with Moab Community Dance Band and offering programs to seniors at the Grand Center, Moab's new senior center. Chris also offered a number of classes, including a weekly class in "Music Arranging" and another weekly class in "music History through Traditional Song." In partnership with the 21st Century After School Program and the Moab Teen Center, he also led a Youth Music Improvisation class. Prior to this visit, Chris was also in Moab in January, 2006, where he offered his Robert Burns program and worked with Community Dance Band.

Marco Granados & Jackeline Rago

In November, 2006 flutist Marco Granados spent two weeks in Moab working with students in Grand County schools, following up on the school assemblies that took place during the Festival season and providing a more in-depth musical experience for the students of Moab. He worked with students at Red Rock Elementary, Helen M. Knight Intermediate school, and Grand County Middle School, as well as spending some time coaching the Moab Community Dance Band. This residency culminated with a community concert where Moab residents enjoyed the remarkable talents of this international flutist.

In May 2007, Marco Granados and quatrist Jackline Rago spent a week in Moab working with Grand County School District children and youth to lay the foundation for the September 2007, Sonidos Latinos school assemblies and to coach the Moab Community Dance Band in Latin American musical styles. Jackeline Rago returned in October 2007 to present rhythm workshops at the Middle and High Schools and to entertain youth at Moab's Club Red.

2004 & 2005 Artist-in-Residence:

Christopher Layer

Christopher Layer made a series of planned visits to Moab, totalling over 15 weeks during 2004 and 2005. In 2004, he created and rehearsed the Moab Community Dance Band, hosted a radio show on traditional music, and gave two lecture/performances on Moab's musical traditions. Chris also organized three community dances, one of which was held during the 2004 Festival. In 2005, Chris continued his work with Moab Community Dance Band, gave a seven-week course in musical arrangement, and presented concerts/lectures at Arches National Park and the Moab Arts and Recreation Center.

2002 & 2003 Artist-in-Residence:

Eric Thomas

Eric Thomas took up full-time residence in Moab in 2002- 2003, thanks to a generous grant from the S.J. and Jesse E. Quinney Foundation. Working with the schools, the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, and the Moab Repertory Theater, Eric offered music courses of varying levels to both children and adults, assisted with the Moab Community Chorus and conducted a variety of small ensemble workshops for teens and adults interested in music. He provided help to local composers and helped showcase their work during the 2003 Music Festival. He was also the host of a regular classical music radio show on local radio KZMU.