This year's orchestral season will include guest conductors Alexandra Arrieche and Peter Bay.

The Britt Festival Orchestra is back in action this summer with an assortment of orchestral works ranging from iconic film scores to the famous works of classical composers such as Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.

With the return of guest conductor Peter Bay after 10 years away and the Britt debut of guest conductor Alexandra Arrieche, the three-week season is set to bring a wide range of orchestral music to Rogue Valley audiences.

“The Britt Festival Orchestra is so special, because for three weeks Britt brings some of the most talented musicians in the world to play together,” said Abby McKee, president and CEO of the Britt Music & Arts Festival.

“This year, I think, is going to be such a wonderful year,” McKee added.

The orchestra’s 2024 setlist is stacked with prominent and recognizable film score music from movies including “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and “The Red Violin.”

Beyond the featured film music, the season will include classical favorites such as Dvořák’s “Seventh Symphony,” Tchaikovsky’s “Second Symphony,” Gustav Mahler’s “First Symphony” and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” suite.

Four soloists will feature during the season including pianist Gabriela Montero, violinist Geneva Lewis, violinist Alex Gonzalez and cellist Joshua Roman.

Composer John Williams’ “Star Wars” score will be performed live-to-picture during the performance, and the final night of the season will include a display of the spirit of Buenos Aires, Argentina with a tango program featuring works by Astor Piazzolla and other composers from Brazil, Mexico and Cuba.

The Britt Festival Orchestra’s 62nd annual season will run from June 13 to June 29 with multiple performances starting at 8 p.m. throughout.

Tickets are $49 for a premium reserved seat, $35 for a standard reserved seat, $29 for an adult lawn seat and $12 for kids under 12 years old and Southern Oregon University students.

To purchase tickets and find dates and times for each of the season’s seven performances, visit brittfest.org/performances.

“Every dollar being spent supports the community,” McKee said.

The two “Star Wars” concerts — June 20 and June 21 — are anticipated to sell out quickly, with Britt organizers recommending interested patrons purchase their tickets sooner rather than later.

Organizers also strongly recommend attendees purchase their tickets via the Britt Music & Arts Festival’s official website and not any third-party ticket sellers.

Tickets can also be purchased by calling 541-773-6077 or at the Britt box office, located at 216 W. Main St. in Medford.

The Britt Festival Pavilion is located at 350 S. First St., Jacksonville.

Guest conductor Peter Bay is excited for his Britt homecoming and to come back to the pavilion stage, one of the conductors favorite venues.

“I was so touched and honored that they asked me to come back,” Bay said.

“For a summer festival, I don’t know a better venue … There’s something very magical about hearing the orchestra play outside, after sun goes down and the stars are in the sky,” Bay added.

McKee agreed.

“You get too be out there in nature listening to extraordinary music; you don’t have to dress up and you can show up in whatever you’re comfortable with,” McKee said of the venue.

The talented musicians within the orchestra assemble and rehearse the music only three days in advance of the first concert, practicing and blending to create a unified sound with a short amount of preparation time.

There are “some of the best players in United States and abroad and they play with such enthusiasm and excitement,” Bay said, adding, “One of great things about the orchestra is they’re so good and able to put together the program very quickly.”

McKee is eagerly anticipating the opening night and getting to showcase the music and performers within the Britt Festival Orchestra.

“I’m always so excited for that moment, a little nervous always like on somebody’s birthday, but then you get to watch them open the present,” McKee said.

To learn more about the orchestra and other Britt-related events, visit brittfest.org.