2023 FREE SUMMER CONCERTS

Welcome to our Annual FREE Concerts on the Commons series! This unique event is brought to you by the Holladay Arts Council, whose volunteers donate hundreds of hours annually to promote art as the vehicle to bring our community together in the public square. These concerts will be good medicine for the ills brought on by a few tough years!  Thanks to the businesses and individuals that have so generously donated to the arts council. Your support allows us to not only continue offering these concerts free to the public, but also to provide additional offerings within the community. Special thanks again to our arts council volunteers because the passion you bring to this important work is paying dividends in the Holladay community. We look forward to seeing you at the concerts!!! 

Mayor Rob Dahle    

      Summer Concerts 2023  As we launch another season of summer concerts, I am thrilled to share exciting updates for our loyal community and supporters. The 2023 summer concerts continue to thrive with our commitment to bringing professional quality, Utah-based entertainment to our community.
    We have an amazing lineup of nine concerts for the 2023 season. Country music favorite Charley Jenkins will kick off the series on July 4th, with concerts continuing each Saturday night thereafter for eight weeks. We’re featuring artists and virtuosos performing a range of musical genre including Latin, country, soul, Motown, pop, folk, R&B, jazz, and classic rock. Grab your beach chairs, blanket, cooler full of snacks and head out to listen to some great tunes . . .  and yes, all for free thanks to our generous sponsors!  

     We have a priceless support group of volunteers who spend infinite hours doing design, advertising, setting up, and taking down the equipment for each concert. Please show your appreciation by saying thank you when you see them.  

     Our partnership with Excellence in the Community has allowed us to provide professional quality entertainment to our community and to others who live in the Valley. We are grateful for this opportunity to build a stronger, more diverse community for everyone.  

     We look forward to another amazing season and express our sincere gratitude to our loyal supporters. We are privileged to bring this musical enjoyment to all and are excited to continue our work into the future.    

“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” — Leopold Stokowski  Kathy Murphy, Concert Chair 

Excellence in the Community is honored to be  working as partners again with Mayor Rob Dahle, the Holladay Arts  Council, and Sheryl Gillilan and Kathy Murphy for this concert series. 

During 2020 when most events were cancelled or  challenged by obstacles, the resilience, persistence and vision of our  Holladay partners resulted in four drive-in community concerts. We  believe this concert collaboration brings individuals,  families, friends and neighbors together in ways that foster lasting  memories and a cohesive community. 

In a recent meeting the executive director of a major foundation summarized Excellence in the Community in this way:

Excellence has a new  story. And the old story was already impressive. Here’s the old story:  “Excellence creates more and better performance opportunities for Utah  artists and invites the public to attend at no  charge.” But the new story is even better. “During the pandemic  Excellence keeps live music alive in downtown Salt Lake City by giving  hope and employment to Utah artists when other performance opportunities  canceled. And in so doing creates an international  audience for Utah talent.”

Please enjoy these concerts we are bringing to Holladay in summer 2021!

Jeff Whiteley

Links to recent articles about Excellence in the Community

https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/everlasting-excellence/Content?oid=16729755

http://welikemusic.net/americain-a-paris-jeff-whiteley/.

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Warm summer weather and live music are the perfect combination for an evening of fun in the community. The Holladay Arts Council and Holladay Bank & Trust present Concerts on the Commons, a free concert series that started in July and runs through the end of August.

The arts council partnered with Excellence in the Community to find local musicians and give them a chance to interact with residents.

“We started the free concert series a few years back as a way to bring our community together through the arts,” said Holladay Mayor Rob Dahle. “Our first concert drew 70 residents. The first two this year, averaged 700. We act on the assumption that residents want to gather as a community. We believe the continuing growth and popularity of our concerts corroborate this assumption. The more opportunities we can create as local leaders to bring our citizens together in the ‘public square,’ the healthier our communities will be.”

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The events are held at Holladay City Hall Park (4580 S. 2300 East), just west of Holladay City Hall. Guests can bring chairs, blankets, picnics and soft drinks to enjoy an evening of musical entertainment.

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