Port Townsend, WA — Artistic Director Julio Elizalde announces the Olympic Music Festival’s (OMF) 2019 summer season featuring chamber music’s most sought-after artists for six weeks of captivating performances in Port Townsend, Washington. Performers include superstar violinists Sarah Chang and Ray Chen, the return of Musicians from GardenMusic led by Louisville Orchestra Music Director Teddy Abrams, and many other prominent musicians from around the globe. The 2019 season takes place over six weekends from July to early September with twelve individual performances. Concerts begin at 2:00PM.

“For our thirty-sixth season, we have assembled an unprecedented group of artists the Olympic Music Festival has ever seen,” shared Artistic Director Julio Elizalde. “Their individual strengths have been tailored to unique programs that explore the connections between the composers and their stories, creating a season that promises thought-provoking, electric, and inspiring experiences.”

2019 marks the fifth year of the Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship - the OMF’s internationally recognized educational program. Considered to be one of the most unique professional training programs in the country, the Fellowship serves as a critical link for young artists transitioning from student life to facing the challenges of becoming a professional musician. The four fellows, selected through a highly competitive audition process, will spend two weeks at the OMF collaborating with mentoring artists while learning about the intricacies of a building a career through group discussions on rarely covered subjects such as taxes, management, and contract negotiations. This year’s fellows include current students and graduates of major music schools such as the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Yale School of Music at Yale University.

The Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship is a full scholarship program made possible by numerous donors who believe in the OMF’s educational mission.

ABOUT THE OLYMPIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

Celebrating its 36th season, the Olympic Music Festival is one of the Northwest’s premier chamber music concert series. Year after year, festival patrons travel locally from Puget Sound communities and from as far as Asia and Europe. The audience’s enthusiasm is amply demonstrated through their continued commitment to the Festival, the contributions of volunteers, and the generosity of passionate donors. The Festival’s continued success is made possible by the vision of Artistic Director Julio Elizalde, the dedication of the on-site staff, and by the extraordinary leadership and support of the Board of Directors. Featuring an array of world- class performers at the pinnacle of their artistic careers, the OMF cultivates an appreciation for chamber music while intellectually and artistically engaging its audience.

Education is a central component of the OMF’s mission. The two week Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship program for young musicians embarking on professional careers has received international attention, with applications coming in from all over the world. The annual concert for children and families has inspired young minds while teaching fundamental elements of how music is made. Interactive post-concert question and answer sessions allow our audience to casually interact with the artists while learning about each program’s selected works and the working process that led to the performance.

The Olympic Music Festival was founded by violist Alan Iglitzin of the Philadelphia String Quartet. In 1966, after completing several successful international tours and recordings, the Quartet relocated permanently to Seattle to become the University of Washington’s Quartet-in-Residence. The Friends of the Philadelphia String Quartet was incorporated in Seattle in January 1977 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has been in continuous operation since that time. In 2002, the name was officially changed to Olympic Music Festival. In 2015, Iglitzin officially retired and the Olympic Music Festival moved to Port Townsend in order to continue presenting extraordinary performances on the Olympic Peninsula.

Concerts take place at the Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden in Port Townsend except for July 13 & 14 (Chapel at Fort Worden) and August 24 & 25 (Northwest Maritime Center). Tickets are now on sale at olympicmusicfestival.org and by phone at 800.838.3006.