Colorado’s Music in the Mountains Festival Appoints New Artistic Director

Violinist Vadim Gluzman will assume the role as of the festival’s 2025 season

Based in Durango, Colorado, the classical music festival Music in the Mountains has welcomed violinist and arts leader Vadim Gluzman as its new Artistic Director. 

Also the founder of Chicago’s acclaimed North Shore Chamber Music Festival, Gluzman will start his new role at Music in the Mountains in the 2025 season, curating the festival’s program, and bringing in top-tier musicians. 

His relationship with the festival stretches back to 1997 when he was involved in the Music in the Mountains Conservatory. Since then, he has been a favorite at the festival as a soloist, director, and chamber musician.

Additionally, his extensive industry network will help raise the festival’s profile nationally and abroad, as will his commitment to education and outreach programs to support up-and-coming artists. 

Gluzman has played solo with the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, London Symphony, and Royal Concertgebouw, and performed the new works of Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli, Morritz Eggert, Elena Firsova, Lera Auerbach, and Pẽteris Vasks. 

In the current season, he continues to introduce ErkkiSven Tüür’s new violin concerto, Dialogues with the Unknown. He is also the distinguished Artist in Residence at The Peabody Conservatory, where he teaches a select group of young violinists. 

His acclaimed recordings on the BIS, Platoon, and EuroArts labels have garnered awards such as the Diapason d’Or of the Year, Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice, and Classica Magazine’s Choc de Classica award. Gluzman performs on the 1690 “ex-Leopold Auer” Stradivari — on loan through the Stradivari Society of Chicago.

Gluzman’s first responsibility in his new role is to appoint the 2025 season’s conductor-in-residence, Daniel Raiskin, who is Principal Conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. The upcoming season will run from July 10 to August 3, 2025. 

“I am deeply honored and excited to join Music in the Mountains as its Artistic Director,” Gluzman said in a press release. “The festival has a rich history of bringing world-class music to the beautiful landscape of Colorado, and I look forward to contributing and building on its legacy. On a personal level, I first performed at Music in the Mountains nearly three decades ago and have relished every opportunity to return; for me, this appointment as Artistic Director is truly a full-circle moment, and I am confident that we will engage with Durango’s wonderful community in new and meaningful ways by introducing innovative programs, fostering young talent, and showcasing the world-class artistry one can expect at Music in the Mountains.”

“We are delighted to welcome Vadim Gluzman to Music in the Mountains,” added the festival’s Board President, Sheryl Kaufman. “His artistic vision, extraordinary talent, and passion for the highest caliber music make him the perfect choice to lead our festival into the future. We are confident that Vadim’s leadership will inspire both our musicians and audiences, and we look forward to the new heights he will bring to our beloved festival.”