The Festival of Life
The condition of considering things in a celebrating spirit, the inner joyfulness of the person, his gifts and talents and service to his fellow man is at the core of our festival. 
The highest form of affirmation is the festival: to belong, to rest, seek peace, the intensity of life, and contemplation, all at once.  

We seek to hold a disposition of receptive understanding, of contemplative beholding, and immersion in the beautiful life and what is real. 

Leisure is not the attitude of the one who intervenes, but the one who lets himself go and opens up, accepts and trusts.

This is what charms those who participate in the Mountain Light Music Festival. We do not advocate, indoctrinate, push agendas, or require allegiance. We simply ask that you take time to contemplate, rest, be still and know that the ability to uplift one's spirit in festivity and to connect with life giving forces that renew our faith, restore our souls, will make us alive again, allows us to be human and of service. 

What a wonderful week we spent in Pagosa Springs Colorado!
2025 MLMF Recap!
Our young musicians were inspired by your attendance and cannot stop talking about their time in the mountains. 

Faculty and young artists arrived on Sunday, to a huge lasagna dinner, check in and time around the fire talking about goals hopes and dreams. 

On Monday we dove in to rehearsing some of the most difficult trombone choir repertoire on the planet. We assigned parts months before and the students were prepared and up to speed. We had 17 trombones (4 alto, 9 tenors, and 4 bass trombones!

Tuesday we hiked to Fourmile falls and sat under a rather small stream of water but cold nonetheless. Most of these students had not hiked before and found themselves renewed and thrilled to be in this high alpine setting.

Wednesday we all went fishing at Echo Canyon, followed by a dress rehearsal and performance at Riff Raff Brewing. After our pop up concert at Riff Raff, we all went to the springs. Many took the cold plunge from the "Lobster Pot" and of course we enjoyed our time in town. 

Thursday was a day of individual practice, a short sound check, and then our performance at Liberty Theatre. We loved this venue. This was a quaint and fun venue and we all thought the acoustics of the movie theater were quite nice. 

If you were able to make it up to the lodge on Friday, you will recall the perfect weather, and ideal temperature. The clouds filtered the sunlight in a surreal glow with the San Juan range as our backdrop. Intense beams of sunlight lit sections of the range while we played. People just kept coming and our parking skills were challenged. We cannot wait to do more of this. 

This was a memorable summer for us! Thank you for all you do. Please consider making the Mountain Light Music Festival an annual or monthly charitable donation to our non-profit. We are looking forward to more partnerships, added venues, more weeks, and varied chamber music programming. ​

Thursday Liberty Theatre program order:

National Anthem
Fanfare - James Kazik
Sancta Maria - Giovanni Gabrieli
Canzona for Eight Trombones - Walter Hartley
Ave Maria, from Vespers Op. 37 no 6 - Sergei Rachmaninoff
Giant's Tale - Stephen Verhelst
El Capitan, Manhattan Beach, Stars and Stripes Forever - J. Philip Sousa
America the Beautiful - Samuel Ward
Arms Forces Medley 

Intermission - specialty mocktails and drinks, Riff Raff Brewing, popcorn and treats before the movies begin!!

Planet Krypton from Superman - Williams
Parade of the Charioteers from Ben Hur - Miklos Rozsa
Star Trek 2009 - Michael Giacchino
Closing Credits from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Williams
Star Wars!
Star Wars Main Title: The Battle Over Coruscant - Williams
The Flag Parade
Mandalorian
Emperor's Theme
Imperial March
Yoda's Theme
Star Wars Throne Room and Closing Titles

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.
Meet and greet following the concert. Be sure and join us up at the lodge tomorrow night (August 1st 6PM)

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
Map and turn by turn directions provided on the Eventbrite link below.
Tickets are not required, but charitable gifts are welcomed on Eventbrite >
​
2025 Artists
Faculty
Jonathan Whitaker
Professor of Trombone, University of Illinois
Steve Wilson
Professor of Trombone, University of Texas El Paso
Brad White
Associate Principal Trombone, ​Houston Symphony
Brent Phillips
Affiliate Artist, University of Houston
​Professor of Trombone, Baylor University (retired)
Collin Williams - special guest 
Associate Principal Trombone, New York Philharmonic
John Williams - special guest, 
Windy City Chicago Tribute Band trombonist, Mountain Light Music Festival consultant, mentor, development

Young Artists
Kizer Brown University of ​Arkansas
Adam Almeter University of Illinois
Jonathan Kirchem University of Illinois
Jackson Parker University of Illinois
Nolan White University of Illinois
Matt Williamson University of Illinois
Isiah Vasquez Rice University
Gannon Allen Baylor University
Matthew Willingham Baylor University
Grace Lipscomb Baylor University
Tayton Crutsinger Baylor University
Santi Amieva Baylor University
​Wyatt Bond Baylor University

The Mountain Light Music Festival returns this summer, July 23-29, culminating in some spectacular jazz band concerts on July 26-28 at the Keyah Grande Guest House. Mountain Light Music Festival is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing high quality music concerts to Pagosa Springs audiences and outdoor music camp opportunities to specially selected high school and college age students.​

The Mountain Light Music Festival was born out of a dream. As a young boy, MLMF founder, Brent Phillips, came to Pagosa Springs every summer to participate in Voice of the Wilderness (VOW) outdoor adventures led by Chet Russel, backpacking through the glorious San Juan mountains and forests.
Throughout his life he has remained dedicated to the spiritual benefits that nature, music, and physical exercise bring to his life and the lives of others.

Though his summer adventures took a break when he entered Rice University as a talented trombonist to pursue degrees in music, his Pagosa Springs experiences remained a foundational influence in his life.
At the completion of his college years, he auditioned to be a member of the "President's Own" US Marine Band in Washington, D.C. and served as a member of the trombone section and soloist for 8 years. He has performed as a soloist on national concert tours and performed in the White House during the Clinton and Bush administrations. He has since gone on to be a professor of music at Baylor University, where he continues to teach and influence aspiring music professionals.

​Pagosa Springs continued to call Phillips back to the wilderness, and he began to think in terms of how his amazing formational experience could be shared with other young musicians. Phillips spent most of his summers studying in Colorado, at the Keystone Summit Brass Institute and the Aspen Music Festival.

He spoke with Chet Russel about the idea blossoming in his mind that would involve using Russel's Mountain Light Lodge in Lost Valley as a basecamp for a music festival for young aspiring professional musicians. The camp would offer expert tutelage by professional musicians along with daily wilderness hikes. The festival would culminate with musical performances for members of the Pagosa community. In 2015, the dream became a reality, and we have all been richer for it.

The dream continues to evolve with hopes of making Mountain Light Music Festival a multi-week festival that offers classes for selected students in chamber, jazz, choral, and orchestral music under the tutelage of world-class instructors from across the nation.

​"This music festival is an exciting way to showcase our beautiful community in ways that complement through music the spiritual and natural beauty of our glorious surroundings. We are working to establish strong financial support from members of our community and music enthusiasts from across the nation, says executive director, Carol Larsen. For information on ticket purchases for the summer concerts or on how you can support this exciting venture, go to www.mountainlightmusicfestival.com.