The Moab Music Festival is a local staple, hosting concerts throughout the year that showcase classical music. The organization’s new executive director, Amy Weiser, has been in the position for a little over two months; the Moab Sun News caught up with Weiser about her goals in the position and what she’s looking forward to.
Moab Sun News: What’s your background, and how did that bring you to the MMF?
Weiser: Most of my professional career has been working as a land use planner. I came to Moab initially in 2016 to work for the City of Moab, which led to working for Business Resolutions, a local development group, until 2020 when COVID hit. I went to California to help my parents out through COVID, and then I was able to travel around a bit and work different jobs while I decided what to do next.
I decided not to work in land use planning anymore, and I knew that I wanted to work in something that I was passionate about. My daughter lives here, and I have lots of friends here, so it was always in the back of my mind to come back, but it had to be for the right job. When I saw that MMF was looking for a new Executive Director, I applied. It offered the chance to use my skills in a different way, and to work for a non-profit that combines two things I am passionate about: music and the outdoors!
MSN: What about this job was appealing to you?
Weiser: I love what the Moab Music Festival does: “music in concert with the landscape.” The first time I went to a Moab Music Festival concert was on one of the music hikes in 2016. I had no expectations going in, and I was just blown away by the experience. Our founders, Michael Barrett and Leslie Tompkins were, and still are, visionaries; to put music right in the midst of this beautiful landscape, to experience music in a different way, is just fabulous.
It seemed like a great fit because I come from a very musical family: my grandfather was a concert pianist and taught at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. I play piano, my dad plays jazz guitar, my brother plays the drums—music has just always been a big part of our family.
The Moab Music Festival is a non-profit that values our community and brings musical education to rural Utah. The upcoming Summer String Camp (June 12 to 16) is a collaboration between the BEACON String Program, Moab Music Festival, and Moab Folk Festival. Our Winterlude Festival brings adult music education to Moab, and our Musical Story Hours with our local library introduces young children to the magic of instruments. Growing our community connection is important—we always provide free community concerts during every festival—and we are exploring more ways to include the community.
MSN: What are your main goals?
Weiser: My goal for this year is to learn as much as I can about the organization—how music festivals do what they do. There’s so much that goes into putting on a music festival: planning, organizing, production and operations, festival management, transportation, housing, everything that goes on behind the scenes. All of that hard work creates the backdrop for the artists to play their best in our unique locations. I’m also looking at how we can streamline things, where we can grow as an organization, how best to implement our newly adopted strategic plan, and planning ahead for our 2024 season.
MSN: What challenges are you expecting?
Weiser: I’ve heard from existing staff that the fall festival is a marathon—I think the pace of it and the quick changes, from a grotto concert to an intimate house concert to a large concert at Star Hall, will be an interesting challenge. I’ll be focused on helping staff and keeping things running smoothly, and keeping my energy up!
MSN: What are you looking forward to the most?
Weiser: I’m looking forward to attending all of the concerts at our MMF Highwater spring concert series June 9 to 17 and at our Annual Fall Festival (August 21 to September 15). It will be my first time attending a floating concert and a grotto concert. We have great musicians coming this year, so I also can’t wait to hear the fabulous music and just be a part of everything.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
