Education

Music education initiatives of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival are year-round, involving our island community and concert guests of all ages in interactive and inspirational experiences.

Know the Score Lectures
Comprehensive in scope, these in-depth seminars occur during the Summer Festival and involve highly regarded lecturers from the Northwest and guest artists, representing unique aspects of the classical music world. These seminars are always rich in detail, reflecting the social and historical context of each composer and the specific repertoire of the concert evening. Each is augmented by a coveted visit to a concert rehearsal. Purchase a seminar ticket the same way you purchase a concert ticket. A limited number of seats may be sold at the door, depending on available space.

Rosalie Chantiny Pre-Concert Talks
Named to honor a beloved founding Board member, the Rosalie Chantiny Pre-Concert Talks are free and open to everyone, echoing Rosalie’s inquisitive nature, fond wit and charm. Pre-concert talks begin one hour before Festival concerts. 

Guest Artists as “Musicians-in-Residence”
We call our guest artists Musicians-in-Residence when they focus their talents on the role of “teaching artists” for island music students and our preschoolers, too. The results are both inspirational and practical! Musical story times, rhythm call-and-response, and the language of music introduce 3-7 year olds to the cadences of a lifetime. OICMF guests artists are welcomed into the classrooms of K-12 music students and their teachers, offering skills-building techniques, mentoring for instructors and advanced students, and a peek into the lives of highly trained musicians. Talented Orcas Island community musicians have also stepped forward to help. Their enthusiasm is reflected in a new cadre of volunteer OIMCF Pied Pipers, who individually visit our preschools to “show and tell” how their instruments look, work, sound, and bring joy.

Master Classes and Tune-Ups
Musicians-in-Residence are the perfect “master” instructors for focused technique and Tune-Up Sessions with community musicians, ensembles, and music students. During the academic year and the Summer Festival, the opportunity to work directly with selected OICMF guest artists is just too good to miss. Individual guest artists as well as visiting trios and quartets find that the musical life of Orcas Island is populated with highly motivated individuals. The renowned Gryphon Trio and the Miró Quartet, for example, were delighted to integrate Master Classes for both young and community musicians into their schedule of concert performances and rehearsals. For our preschoolers, teaching artists host Tune-Up Sessions during the year and are involved in the Children’s Concert during the Summer Festival.

Young Musician’s Award
Each year, OICMF recognizes the importance of music in our lives, from youth through maturity. Named for a founding Board member’s work on behalf of music in our island schools, the Marilyn Anderson Young Musician’s Award honors a graduating high school senior who has demonstrated this value.

Program Notes
If you’ve attended any OICMF Summer Festival concert in recent years, you know that the printed program is an expertly researched and carefully written guide to the music being performed. Music Annotator Jeff O’Kelly’s knowledge and sense of humor are a highly anticipated feature. Executive Director Aloysia Friedmann and Artistic Advisor Jon Kimura Parker personally oversee every entry. As Juilliard graduates, teachers themselves and professional performers, they share their deep respect for the history of the music they love with OICMF’s community of music lovers.

Scherzo e-Newsletter
Executive Director Anita Orne lets the OICMF community in on news and upcoming events for Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in “Scherzo,” our monthly e-newsletter. If OICMF has your e-mail address, we will make sure that you’re included in the monthly news.