Mountain Light Music Festival |
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Founders, History, and Vision
Mission - An exclusive chamber music festival located in Pagosa Springs CO featuring musicians of the highest caliber. Based at the Mountain Light Lodge, this week long festival of chamber music seeks to inspire and engage audiences in Pagosa Springs CO. Students will discover their true musical identity and find purpose in their creative pursuits while working alongside world class faculty.
History:
This is the tenth year of the Mountain Light Music Festival. The festival was featured as a trombone summit in 2015 with students and faculty from SMU, Rice, University of Houston, Houston Grand Opera, Baylor, University of Texas El Paso, University of Alabama, University of Illinois, and the University of Texas Arlington. We are excited to present the Mountain Light Festival Trombone Choir at the Liberty Theatre on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
The Baylor Brass was in residency in 2017 and 2018 and performed concerts for the Cade Mountain Community at the Mountain Light Lodge and performed to a sold out audience at the Wyndham Resort, Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association Club House and Community United Methodist Church. We are grateful to our sponsors: Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado, Pagosa Springs Sun, KWUF, Voice of Wilderness, New Wave Lending, Bank of Colorado, Riff Raff Brewing and the Liberty Theatre. We are looking for long-term underwriters to help this festival continue its growth and bring other instrumental genres to Pagosa.
Vision:
I sincerely believe that with your help, we can build a world class venue in Pagosa Springs and host a uniquely intimate and inspiring summer long music festival. Pagosa will be the summer home of world class faculty and students who will live here and perform in our homes, at the Mountain Light Lodge, Keyah Grande, the Springs, Liberty Theatre and ultimately on a newly built summer stage! Imagine sponsoring a string quartet or a jazz trio, or underwriting a symphony orchestra and top tier soloist, and being a part of this exciting startup here in Pagosa!
We believe in mentoring students and building community at this Festuval. I have been fortunate to teach many talented young musicians who have gone on to great success. MLMF is unique because our mission is one of spiritual value. Students discover how to place their trust in what is eternal, rather than a position or a title. We play music because we are inspired - not because we want attention. Help me share these truths about performance, art, community, and the gift of music with these wonderful students.
Founder, Director
This is the tenth year of the Mountain Light Music Festival. The festival was featured as a trombone summit in 2015 with students and faculty from SMU, Rice, University of Houston, Houston Grand Opera, Baylor, University of Texas El Paso, University of Alabama, University of Illinois, and the University of Texas Arlington. We are excited to present the Mountain Light Festival Trombone Choir at the Liberty Theatre on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
The Baylor Brass was in residency in 2017 and 2018 and performed concerts for the Cade Mountain Community at the Mountain Light Lodge and performed to a sold out audience at the Wyndham Resort, Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association Club House and Community United Methodist Church. We are grateful to our sponsors: Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado, Pagosa Springs Sun, KWUF, Voice of Wilderness, New Wave Lending, Bank of Colorado, Riff Raff Brewing and the Liberty Theatre. We are looking for long-term underwriters to help this festival continue its growth and bring other instrumental genres to Pagosa.
Vision:
I sincerely believe that with your help, we can build a world class venue in Pagosa Springs and host a uniquely intimate and inspiring summer long music festival. Pagosa will be the summer home of world class faculty and students who will live here and perform in our homes, at the Mountain Light Lodge, Keyah Grande, the Springs, Liberty Theatre and ultimately on a newly built summer stage! Imagine sponsoring a string quartet or a jazz trio, or underwriting a symphony orchestra and top tier soloist, and being a part of this exciting startup here in Pagosa!
We believe in mentoring students and building community at this Festuval. I have been fortunate to teach many talented young musicians who have gone on to great success. MLMF is unique because our mission is one of spiritual value. Students discover how to place their trust in what is eternal, rather than a position or a title. We play music because we are inspired - not because we want attention. Help me share these truths about performance, art, community, and the gift of music with these wonderful students.
Founder, Director
Summer 2025 Overview
Your favorite movie scores, popular tunes and patriotic songs are coming to Pagosa Springs this summer! The Mountain Light Music Festival returns for two special live concerts at Liberty Theater and the Mountain Light Meadow, July 31 and August 1, 2025. Take in the power of live music performed by top musicians, in Pagosa’s own unique, summery settings.
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about this annual local favorite:
Where Music Meets the Outdoors
Now in its 10th season, the Mountain Light Music Festival (MLMF) is an exclusive chamber music festival that makes its home in Pagosa Springs, CO. For two weeks in the summer, top musicians from around the country trade in the concert hall for the for the fresh air and breathtaking views of Colorado.
The visionary festival was founded in 2015 trombonist Brent Phillips, who is on faculty at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. As a boy, Phillips visited Pagosa each summer to participate in Voice of the Wilderness (VOW) outdoor adventures led by Chet Russel, backpacking through the glorious San Juan mountains and forests. When the former “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band trombonist became a professor at Baylor University, Pagosa kept calling him back, and he launched MLMF through VOW in a fruitful, decade-long partnership.
Directed by Phillips and faculty Jon Whitaker, MLMF accepts an elite pool of collegiate musicians to participate each summer. The group is frequently joined by professional guest artists from University Texas El Paso, the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Baylor University and more.
Thursday, July 31: Trombone Summit at Liberty Theatre
What better place to hear movie music than the classic Liberty Theatre? Cool off with music from big screen favorites like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Star Trek, Ben Hur, and get in the summer spirit with American patriotic themes. Join us for a tribute to our armed forces and our America the Beautiful with the magnificent festival Trombone Choir. Top off your evening with beverages in the lobby sold by Riff Raff Brewing. Bring the whole family—this two-hour concert with one intermission is a great way to engage young ears.
Concert: 7 p.m.
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Liberty Theatre (418 Pagosa Street Pagosa Springs, CO 81147)
Tickets are $28.52 on Eventbrite >
Friday, August 1: Friends of Mountain Light Music Festival Concert at the Meadow FREE
Your stage is a meadow and your backdrop is the mountains for this free evening of music. Grab your picnic, drinks and camp chairs to take in the luminous sunset and music in a spectacular alpine setting. Hop in your ATV and side-by-side or take a vehicle up to trek up to the meadow, then stay for a reception with light bites. All are welcome to this free outdoor event.
Concert: 6 p.m.
Meadow opens: 5 p.m.
Where: 300C Columbine Court Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Tickets are not required, but charitable gifts are welcomed on Eventbrite >
We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about this annual local favorite:
Where Music Meets the Outdoors
Now in its 10th season, the Mountain Light Music Festival (MLMF) is an exclusive chamber music festival that makes its home in Pagosa Springs, CO. For two weeks in the summer, top musicians from around the country trade in the concert hall for the for the fresh air and breathtaking views of Colorado.
The visionary festival was founded in 2015 trombonist Brent Phillips, who is on faculty at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. As a boy, Phillips visited Pagosa each summer to participate in Voice of the Wilderness (VOW) outdoor adventures led by Chet Russel, backpacking through the glorious San Juan mountains and forests. When the former “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band trombonist became a professor at Baylor University, Pagosa kept calling him back, and he launched MLMF through VOW in a fruitful, decade-long partnership.
Directed by Phillips and faculty Jon Whitaker, MLMF accepts an elite pool of collegiate musicians to participate each summer. The group is frequently joined by professional guest artists from University Texas El Paso, the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Baylor University and more.
Thursday, July 31: Trombone Summit at Liberty Theatre
What better place to hear movie music than the classic Liberty Theatre? Cool off with music from big screen favorites like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Star Trek, Ben Hur, and get in the summer spirit with American patriotic themes. Join us for a tribute to our armed forces and our America the Beautiful with the magnificent festival Trombone Choir. Top off your evening with beverages in the lobby sold by Riff Raff Brewing. Bring the whole family—this two-hour concert with one intermission is a great way to engage young ears.
Concert: 7 p.m.
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Liberty Theatre (418 Pagosa Street Pagosa Springs, CO 81147)
Tickets are $28.52 on Eventbrite >
Friday, August 1: Friends of Mountain Light Music Festival Concert at the Meadow FREE
Your stage is a meadow and your backdrop is the mountains for this free evening of music. Grab your picnic, drinks and camp chairs to take in the luminous sunset and music in a spectacular alpine setting. Hop in your ATV and side-by-side or take a vehicle up to trek up to the meadow, then stay for a reception with light bites. All are welcome to this free outdoor event.
Concert: 6 p.m.
Meadow opens: 5 p.m.
Where: 300C Columbine Court Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Tickets are not required, but charitable gifts are welcomed on Eventbrite >
In Partnership with Voice of Wilderness
The primary goal of Voice of Wilderness is to communicate the reality of Jesus Christ and the practical application of the teachings found in the books of the Bible. In a complex society such as ours, man has virtually ignored this vital part of an educational process. We use the wilderness setting as a tool to relate Biblical principles to the everyday needs of the individual. God used the wilderness to deal with His people; Moses, Elijah, David, John the Baptist, and Jesus were all led into the solitude of their natural environments to reflect and develop.
Where life is basic, man is more likely to realize his need for dependence on his Creator. Here, an individual can see God's creation and understand more of His power. Free from day to day distractions, one can clearly examine the life Christ claimed to give.
The wilderness is truly a voice that declares God's "invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature." (Romans 1:20)
Where life is basic, man is more likely to realize his need for dependence on his Creator. Here, an individual can see God's creation and understand more of His power. Free from day to day distractions, one can clearly examine the life Christ claimed to give.
The wilderness is truly a voice that declares God's "invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature." (Romans 1:20)
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Over 30 years ago, Chet Russell had the vision of adding a music component to Voice of Wilderness programing. Raised by a mother who studied as a concert pianist, Chet was keenly aware of the power of music to the soul.
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Brent Phillips has been on the faculty at Baylor since 2004 and prior to that was a soloist and trombonist with the "President's Own" US Marine Band - Washington DC. As a young boy, he began backpacking and rock climbing as a participant on VOW trips with Chet.
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