The Bellingham Festival of Music is one of America’s premier virtuoso orchestra festivals. Each summer the Festival returns to Bellingham, Washington to perform a repertoire of the finest symphonic music. Members of the orchestra all hold artistically prestigious positions elsewhere, and many of them are principal players in major North American symphony orchestras. The Festival also features world famous guest artists and young rising stars.

2023 Festival Season

Saturday, July 1, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Concert Sponsors: Phyllis and Charles Self
Guest Conductor Sponsor: Sandy and Mamiko McIntyre
Guest Artist Sponsor: Lois Nicholl in memory of Bob Nicholl

Ward Stare conducting
Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Haydn

Samuel Barber, Knoxville Summer of 1915
Andriana Chuchman, soprano

Mahler, Symphony No. 4
Andriana Chuchman, soprano

I. Bedächtig, nicht eilen
II. In gemächlicher Bewegung, ohne Hast
III. Ruhevoll,poco adagio
IV. Sehr behaglich

Thursday, July 6, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Concert Sponsors: Kurt and Wilma Schweickhard
Guest Conductor Sponsor: Robert and Cindy Klein
Guest Artist Sponsor: Don and Karen Berry

Marcelo Lehninger conducting
Valentin Silvestrov, Hymne – 2001

Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
Blake Pouliot, violin

Dvorak, Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88

Monday, July 10, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Concert Sponsor: Diane Norman in memory of Arlie Norman
Guest Conductor Sponsor: Carol Snowball
Guest Artist Sponsor: David Wu and Una Yang

Ken Lam conducting
Cindy McTee, Circuits

Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2
Conrad Tao, piano

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 9

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Concert Sponsor: Jack and Marybeth Campbell
Guest Artist Sponsor: Jack and Marybeth Campbell

The Calidore String Quartet
Beethoven, String Quartet No 7 in F major Op. 59 No. 1
Beethoven, String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2
Beethoven, String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2

Friday, July 14, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Concert Sponsors: David and Carol Robinson
Guest Conductor Sponsor: Marti Caputi
Guest Artist Sponsor: John Harter

Joshua Weilerstein conducting
Gideon Klein, Partita for String Orchestra

Samuel Barber, Violin Concerto, Op. 14
Alexi Kenney, violin

Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major

Sunday, July 16, 2023 - 4:00 PM FAIRHAVEN CRUISE TERMINAL

Concert Sponsor: Lynne Rein and Terry Clark

Chamber Music by the Bay
BFM Principals

Missy Mazzoli, Lies You Can Believe

Sergei Prokofiev, Quintet in G Minor, Op. 39

Max Reger, Serenade op. 141a in G Major

Alexandre Tansman, Septet

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Concert Sponsors: People’s Bank in memory of I and F LeCocq
Guest Conductor Sponsor: John and Julie Binns
Guest Artist Sponsor: Sandy Wolf and Robert Harris

Conner Gray Covington conducting
Anna Clyne, This Midnight Hour

Florence Price, Piano Concerto in One Movement
Michelle Cann, piano

Mendelssohn, Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Ravel, Mother Goose (complete ballet)

Dates: July 1 - July 18, 2023

Locations:

Performing Arts Center,  516 High St, Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Cruise Terminal/Ferry Terminal, 355 Harris Ave, Bellingham, WA

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