McCall MusicFest 2026 - Thursday, July 23

A McCall, Idaho tradition since 2012, this week-long festival of classical and pops orchestra concerts returns in 2026.

We continue the week with...

Pops! It's Magic
McCall Mountain Symphony with Star Vocalist Joan Ellison

Sparks will fly when Joan Ellison brings the Golden Age of studio recording back to life with a swinging celebration of the most dazzling singers, songwriters, and arrangers of the mid-twentieth century. The timeless hits include Rosemary Clooney’s “April in Paris,” Lena Horne’s “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine,” Judy Garland’s “San Francisco” and “When The Sun Comes Out,” Ella Fitzgerald’s “’S Wonderful,” Doris Day’s “It’s Magic,” Eydie Gormé’s “Johnny One-Note,” Keely Smith’s “When Your Lover Has Gone,” and many more, featuring the original arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Conrad Salinger, and Paul Weston.

The premiere performance was reviewed by the Chicago Tribune: “Who better than Ellison to bring back…the music of the golden era of Hollywood with her intimate understanding of musical styles of the 1920s, ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s….[they] entertained the crowd with a variety of American classics, heavy on Nelson Riddle arrangements, which played perfectly with Ellison’s extraordinary vocal talents.”

Praised by Michael Feinstein for her “vocal prowess…[and] organic grasp of the classic songs,” Joan has made a specialty of reviving Judy Garland’s repertoire, including restoring Ms. Garland’s glorious original orchestrations for the Judy Garland Heirs Trust, and now brings that authenticity to a whole new set of tunes.