Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony has become an eminent presence in the American music scene through its distinctive performances worldwide and its well-known recording legacy. The orchestra became recognized as a leading ensemble largely through the efforts of Maurice Abravanel, its Music Director from 1947 to 1979. With its many subscription, education and outreach concerts and tours, the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged orchestras in the nation. Since 1978, Utah Opera has cultivated and entertained a growing audience of more than 150,000 annually around the intermountain area. We produce opera with artistic standards of distinction and with a fresh vibrancy - new works for our area as well as the classics. The Deer Valley® Music Festival (DVMF) is Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's (USUO's) summer home in the mountain resort town of Park City, Utah. The 2012 Festival is in its ninth season of providing chamber music, classical, opera, and pops offerings in four venues: the Deer Valley Snow Park Amphitheater, St. Mary's Church, Temple Har Shalom, and salons in private homes in the Park City area. The Utah Symphony and Utah Opera merged in 2002 to form Utah Symphony | Utah Opera.