mo-06.6 Sommerfest Records, 1980-96 Finding aid created by Leslie Czechowski University of Minnesota Libraries 24 Apr 2003
University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455
EAD encoding by Leslie Czechowski, 24 Apr 2003 English Minnesota Orchestra Staff Sommerfest Records 1980-96 University of Minnesota Libraries. Performing Arts Archives, Manuscripts Division [paa] 19 boxes (7 linear feet) Sommerfest was inaugurated in 1980 as Viennese Sommerfest, a summer music festival. Maestro Leonard Slatkin was the artistic director of the festival during the 1980s. The collection contains office records that document the artistic planning, publicity, operations, and box office activities. PA 12, Series 6.6 English Mezzanine Restrictions on Access

Materials are open to research without restriction except for portions designated as restricted, confidential, or sealed. For the latter material, prior permission in writing from the President of the Minnesota Orchestral Association is required.

Permission to examine this collection will be granted to any qualified researcher upon completion of an application form. The original documents do not circulate and may only be used in the Reading Room of the Manuscripts Division.

 Restrictions on Use

Photoreproduction and audio reproduction of any materials in which the Minnesota Orchestral Association holds copyright, shall be performed only with the written permission of the MOA except for photoreproduction of any published materials of the Association in the public domain.

 Preferred Citation

Sommerfest Records (PA12, Series 6.6), Minnesota Orchestra Archives, Performing Arts Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis.

 Acquisition

Transferred to the archives from 1995-2000.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Leslie Czechowski in September 2002.

 Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized in rough chronological order and by staff member, when known.

 Historical Note

Sommerfest was inaugurated in 1980 as Viennese Sommerfest, a summer music festival. It incorporated an outdoor “marktplatz” on Peavey Plaza (with food vendors and an eclectic mix of musical groups) with a concert series in Orchestra Hall that featured a wide variety of classical, popular classical, and exciting, innovative programs. The artistic director for the festival from 1980-89 was Leonard Slatkin; David Zinman served in the same capacity from 1993-96. Jeffrey Tate was the principal conductor from 1997-2000, the final summer of Sommerfest. It was succeeded by MusicFest.

Numerous staff of the Orchestral Association were involved with planning and implementing Sommerfest. Laurie Stroope was Sommerfest coordinator from 1981-84; Samuel C. Dixon was Sommerfest Project Manager from 1985-89; Michael Steinberg was Artistic Director from 1990-92. Mary Ann Feldman was closely involved with planning and programming throughout the run of Sommerfest. As with most Orchestral activities, staff from many departments were responsible for different aspects of the festival – staff from Public Relations (Public Affairs), Artistic Administration, and Operations.

 Scope and Content Note

Sommerfest files from the offices of numerous staff were collected and put together at some point before being transferred to the Archives. Even though it was possible to ascertain the origin of most files, the interconnectedness of the records indicates the shared responsibilities of producing Sommerfest by staff in different offices. The files contain multiple versions of the program for each season as it was developed throughout the year; publicity materials and publicity campaign plans; detailed records about Marktplatz performers and performers for the classical series; set and costuming plans; sales & ticket reports; post-season surveys; correspondence relating to radio and television broadcasts; and correspondence with artists and other people, most notably, Maestro Slatkin.

 Related Material

See also files in Artistic Administration (Series 5.3) for additional files relating to Sommerfest, especially in the 1990s and files in Operations (Series 5.5) for Sommerfest 1981-83.

 Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Slatkin, Leonard Feldman, Mary Ann Stroope, Laurie Dixon, Samuel C. Steinberg, Michael Minnesota Orchestra Music festivals--Minnesota Sommerfest Viennese Sommerfest Detailed Contents

The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection.

Sommerfest Records, 1980-96 Mary Ann Feldman's Files, 1981-91 1-2 Public Relations' Staff Files, 1980-88 3-4

Includes files of Deb Blakely & Lynn Winkler

 Laurie Stroope's Files, 1982-84 5 Miryam Yardumian's Files, 1980-87 6 Sam Dixon's Files, 1985-90 7-13 Polly Barten's Files, 1988-94 14 Sommerfest binders, 1995-96 15 Publicity, 1980-90 16-17

Includes press packets, PR plans, etc.

 Press books and Showcase magazines, 1980-86 18 Miscellaneous Files, 1980-96 19