HISTORY

The evolution of the Lancaster Festival has created the amazing 10-day Festival that we all know and love today. Each year we strive to grow and explore new ways to entertain. As you look through our history, remember that we have survived thanks to the hundreds of volunteers that have given their time and talent to better the festival.

1980: Cameo Concerts formed as a non-profit with goals to present artistic events that would enrich the cultural climate of the community.  

1980-1983: Annual symphony and chamber music concerts.  

1984: “Picnic + Pops”- first outdoor concert featuring the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in a natural but undeveloped amphitheater on the OUL campus.  

1985: The first Lancaster Festival runs for eight days under the artistic direction of Maestro Christian Badea, Artistic Advisor Al Romano, and Festival Managers Eleanor Hood and Barbara Hunzicker. The Festival includes symphony orchestra concerts, a chamber music concert, community arts and music events. Featured classical artists: Thomas Veregge; Joseph Swenson.  

1986: The Festival is extended to 10 days with expanded programming including drama and dance. Featured classical artists: Michael Murray; Jean-Yves Thibaudet; Carter Brey. 

1987: The Columbus Symphony Orchestra performs in their third and final Festival. Featured classical artists: Ballet Metropolitan; James Tocco. 

1988: Artistic director Gary Sheldon joins the Festival staff. The first Lancaster Festival Orchestra is formed. The orchestra includes 65 professional musicians representing 38 orchestras nationwide. Special guest artists: Christopher Reeve; Ben Vereen. Featured classical artists: Martin Bookspan; Cavani String Quartet. 

1989: The first official Art Walk is organized, and an orchestra fellowship is established to provide a unique performance opportunity for outstanding young musicians. Special guest artists: Tony Randall; Tommy Tune and the Manhattan Rhythm Kings. Featured classical artists: Emily Rawlins; Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. 

1990: The Festival expands to a 12-day schedule. Special guest artists: Ballet Metropolitan; Roberta Flack. Featured classical artists: Ballet Metropolitan; William Bolcom. 

1991: The Lancaster Chorale performs a world premiere of a commissioned work for chorus and guitar by internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer Jeffrey Van. The piece is based on four Civil War poems written by Walt Whitman. Special guest artists: Lorna Luft; Bernadette Peters. Featured classical artists: The Cleveland Duo; Jeffrey Van; Rodion Shchedrin; Kristin Huffman. 

1992: Special guest artists: Judy Collins with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason; Lou Rawls. Featured classical artists: The Cassini Ensemble; Joan Tower; The Eroica Trio. 

1993: The Festival establishes the Artist-in-Residence program. The selected artist creates a portfolio of work related to their experience during the Festival. Special guest artists: Patti Austin; Emmylou Harris. Featured classical artists: William Bolcom; Anton Kuerti. 

1994: The Lancaster Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary season with encores by returning favorite artists and sensational new debuts. Special guest artists: Stars from Sondheim & Co.; Melissa Manchester. Featured classical artists: Mercedes Ellington; Gary William Friedman; Dorothy Papadakos; The Eroica Trio. 

1995: The Lancaster Festival Orchestra performs “The Case of the Missing Concert Hall,” featuring Maestro Sheldon as Conductor and Senior Investigator and Bobby Weinapple as Inspector Clue-not. The performance is part of the “Where in the World of Music is Carmen Sandiego™ concert series developed by Maestro Sheldon. Special guest artists: Dudley Moore; Marcia Ball; Ben Vereen. Featured classical artist: Jon Kimura Parker. 

1996: Composer-in-Residence Leslie Burrs prepares the opera “Vanqui” to debut the following season. Described by Maestro Sheldon as the “Wynton Marsalis of the flute,” Mr. Burrs performs a blend of music he calls “urban classical”. Guest artists: Doc Severinsen; Kathy Mattea. Featured classical artists: Stephanie Tingler; The Bowling Green String Quartet; Leslie Burrs. 

1997: Guest artists: Dionne Warwick; Gary Morris performance cancelled when storms caused OUL concert site to be evacuated. Featured classical artists: Susan Starr; Veronika String Quartet and Kirke Mechem. 

1998: The Festival commission’s composer Gary William Friedman and choreographer Melinda Baker to create a ballet for children based on the story of Puss ‘n Boots. Mr. Friedman conducts the world premiere of the ballet at Ohio University Lancaster. Guest artists: Gary Morris*; Aretha Franklin. Featured classical artists: The Chicago Brass Quintet; Jon Kimura Parker; Gang Situ; Jennifer Koh. 

1999: Guest artists: Doc Severinsen, The Chenille Sisters, The Manhattan Transfer. Featured classical artists: Scott Kluksdahl; Augusta Read Thomas. 

2000: The Festival hosts its first composer’s contest and symposium. Judges include Maestro Sheldon, Ohio University Professor of Music Mark Phillips and Ohio State University Professor of Music Tom Wells. Guest artists: Nanci Griffith with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason; The Manhattan Transfer*. Featured classical artists: Joseph Joubert; Paul Anderson; Veronika String Quartet. 

2001: Guest artists: Ben E. King; Collin Raye. Featured classical artists: PRISM Saxophone Quartet; Richard Stoltzman. 

2002: The Festival returns to a 10-day schedule. Guest artists: Three ’Mo Tenors; Lee Greenwood. Featured classical artists: Bryan Glenn Davis; Christopher O'Riley. 

2003: Eleanor Hood and Barbara Hunzicker announced their retirement effective at the conclusion of the 2003 season. Lou Ross is selected to be the first compensated Executive Director of the Lancaster Festival. The Festival presents its first opera “Turandot in Concert” at St. Mary Church on opening night. Guest artists: Arturo Sandoval; Sheena Easton. Featured classical artists: Los Angeles Guitar Quartet; Zina Schiff. 

2004: Artist Keith Sklar is commissioned to create a mural that reflects the Festival’s role in the community. “Opus 20,” a 20-foot by 30-foot tribute to Lancaster, is completed during the 10-day Festival. Guest artists: Tony Roberts; Kathy Mattea. Featured classical artists: Judith Lynn Stillman; Alfreda Burke. 

2005: The Festival adds a mid-week pop concert at Ohio University-Lancaster. The inaugural performance features Shawn Colvin with Livingston Taylor. Guest artists: The Flying Karamazov Brothers; Randy Travis. Featured classical artists: Olga Kern; Dmitri Pogorelov. 

2006: The Festival presents its first evening of dance and chamber music featuring dancers from BalletMet and Columbus Dance Theatre.  Guest artists: The Pointer Sisters, Peter Cetera, 10,000 Maniacs, The Tweaksters, Laura Smith and Bryan Glenn Davis. 

2007: This season marked the 20th year for the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and Maestro Gary Sheldon.  A reunion celebration included the return of the Chicago Brass Quintet, Jon Kimura Parker, the Eroica Trio and Livingston Taylor.  The Puss ‘n Boots ballet, first premiered here in 1998, was restaged.  Other guest artists: Dan May, Jen Chapin, Arnett Howard, Gary Friedman and the Generations Trio. 

2008: The 24th year of the Festival included the first recording for international release of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra with guest soloist Richard Stoltzman performing compositions by Grammy award winning composers William Bolcom and Clare Fischer.  Marquis Classics will be the record label, distributed in the US by Koch Entertainment.  Wynonna and Kenny Loggins appeared with the LFO for the Saturday night Pops Concerts. 

2009: The Festival produced a World premiere ballet set to the music of Robert Kapilow for Dr. Seuss’ popular story, Green Eggs and Ham. Saturday night artists were Lee Ann Womack and The Temptations. 

2010: The Lancaster Festival Orchestra was named the recipient of the first ever American Prize for Orchestral Performance (professional orchestra division) and two weeks later, Maestro Gary Sheldon was honored with the American Prize for Conducting. Cellist Jonah Kim, guitarist Mak Grgic and pianist Olga Kern were featured as soloists with the Orchestra. The Saturday artists were Classical Mystery Tour, a tribute to the Beatles and the country/pop icon, Kenny Rogers.  

2011: The Festival receives the Governor’s Award for the Arts for Community Development and Participation. Two world premieres: Te Deum by English composer Patrick Hawes and the ballet Pinocchio. Saturday guest artists: Celtic Fire and The Beach Boys. Classical artists: Lancaster Chorale and Ballet Met.  

2012: Twenty fifth anniversary of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra. Opening night features pianist Misha Dicter with the LFO. A new outdoor concert features Hayes Carll and Amanda Shires. Disney awards Festival rights to screen Fantasia at the Family Concert. Guests artists: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Satisfaction (Rolling Stones Tribute) and Clay Walker filling in for LeAnn Rimes who canceled 36 hours prior to the Saturday finale.  

2013: Guest artists: Michael Bolton, Tracy Silverman, Bruce in the USA (Bruce Springsteen Tribute) and Ohio’s American Idol, Crystal Bowersock. Classical artists: Francisco Renno and Miami City Ballet.  

2014: World premiere of “Spring Song” by composer and pianist Vadim Neselovsky with Lancaster Festival Orchestra. First Poet in Residence Nicole Sealey. First Food Truck Rally. Guest performers: Red Wanting Blue, Amy Grant, Queen Nation (Queen Tribute Band), and Christopher Cross. Lou Ross resigns after the Festival concludes. Dave Gallimore appointed as Interim Director.  

2015: Joseph Piccolo selected as Festival Executive Director. Guest performers at OUL include Thompson Square, Mo Pitney, The Police Experience (Police Tribute Band), Marshall Crenshaw and Blues Traveler. The Festival inaugurates a juried art competition “Ohio Rising”. The Family Concert features “The Magical Music of Disney.” Mr. Piccolo resigns after one season. Dave Gallimore returns as Interim Director, followed by Ken Culver.  

2016: Ken Culver applies for and is selected as Executive Director. New outdoor concert at OUL features Humming House. The Lancaster Festival Orchestra’s first Flash Mob appearance at ArtWalk. Other guest performers at OUL: The Midtown Men, Live Wire (AC/DC Tribute) and Vince Gill. Classical artists: Lancaster Chorale, Christian Howes.  

2017: 30th Anniversary of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra. “Fan favorite” music programmed throughout. First Saturday night concert scheduled to feature The Mavericks cancelled due to torrential rain- only the second cancellation in Festival history. Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band “Tusk” performs Wednesday concert at OUL and includes Lancaster High School Percussion Ensemble as special guest. The Beach Boys attract one of the largest crowds ever to the Finale. Classics artists include Jason Gunnell, Mak Grgic and Columbus Dance Theatre.  

2018: Ken Culver announces his retirement, effective at the conclusion of the 2018 season. A Board committee conducts a national search and elects Deb Connell to succeed Ken as Executive Director. The Festival’s theme is a “Season of Firsts” with new programming, debuts, premieres, and new venues throughout. Guest performers: Dennis DeYoung and the Music of STYX, Full Moon Fever Tom Petty Tribute Band and Martina McBride. Classical artists include Sybarite5 and Festival Orchestral Fellow, Ansel Norris. Poster art is a work by Dion Johnson, 1997 Artist in Residence. 

2019: The 35th Anniversary of the Lancaster Festival was celebrated with a photo-choreographed production from Westwater Arts that included images from the history of the Festival.  A special commemorative poster was created with the images of all the posters to date.  Family Night hosted Tommy Tallarico and Video games Live.  Headliners were Sara Evans and Kansas.  Other guest performers included Bluffett: A jimmy Buffett tribute band and Logan Winkles.  The Generations Trio welcomed new member Markus Stoker from Switzerland for the Chamber Music Classics performance.

2020: All in-person events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Festival organizers presented virtual concerts by local favorites Bad Influence, Vital Signs and Buck Run Stompers with guest Elena Aiello as well as Canadian star Elton Rohn: a tribute to Elton John.  Art Educator Karla Young created 3 weeklong sessions of innovative virtual art projects.  A special poster was created by Martin Barker to chronical the challenges faced by the community. 

2021: Because of lingering COVID-19 restrictions, a shortened schedule of outdoor only events were planned.  The Wendel Concert stage at OUL was the setting for The Band Perry with the LFO, a jazz performance by The Bryon Stripling Band with pianist Bobby Floyd, a Lancaster Festival Orchestra soloist spotlight, Dancin’ Dream- an ABBA tribute band and the finale featuring Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles) with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra. 

2022: The Festival returns to a full 10-day schedule.  Opening night was held in St. Mary Church.  The Bravo Beethoven program featured the Lancaster Festival Orchestra with Cuban pianist Aldo Lopez- Gavilan and the choirs of St. Mary.  Festival pianist and composer Judith Lynn Stillman presented a new chamber music theater piece “Beethoven: Torment and Triumph” to great acclaim.  Special guest artists included Rick Springfield, Bryon Stripling and Friends, Elton Rohn in an Elton John Tribute Show and a surprise: country artist Billy Currington replacing Lady A, which cancelled just days before they were to appear.  Al other programming such as children’s and family events, ArtWalk, Café Concerts and free Orchestra ensemble concerts returned.

*Denotes performances rescheduled due to inclement weather.