About the Moab Music Festival

The Moab Music Festival was founded in 1992 by New York based musicians; violist and Artistic Director Leslie Tomkins and pianist/conductor and Music Director Michael Barrett. They were instantly captivated by the red rocks of Moab, and were inspired to combine the magical landscape with the joys of music-making.

The award-winning Moab Music Festival Festival makes music in concert with the landscape and is noted for its distinctive programming, superb performances, and intimate concert experiences of chamber music old and new, jazz,and Latin music. MMF presents approximately 20 concerts during its 2 week festival.  The star-studded roster of artists perform at a variety of venues from private area ranches, the charming Star Hall, private homes, and outdoor “venues” unlike any other Festival in the world. This  includes a pristine Colorado River wilderness grotto reached by jet boat; a sunset low speed open-air boat; and numerous Music Hike’s to “hidden” surprise locations in and around Moab. Bookending the Festival are two multi-day Musical Raft Trips.  

The Moab Music Festival, from its inception, has been committed to music education and cultural enrichment in the Moab area. The Board and leadership of the festival is passionate about arts education locally and nationwide and works to reach all children in the Grand County Schools annually, providing year-round education and engagement program to support, advise, and supplement local music education for all ages.

The Moab Music Festival was recognized with the Utah Arts Council’s Governor’s Award in the Arts, received First Prize for “Adventurous Programming” from the American Society of Composers, Artists, and Publishers (ASCAP) and received a Utah Governor’s Mansion Arts Award.