All of us at the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who made our 27th Season a truly glorious event! From opening night’s Gryphon Trio Returns concert on August 2 to the sizzling fiddling that wrapped up our closing Teenage Genius concert on August 17, every word spoken and note played was a treat. Core to this year’s Festival were our 10 Main Stage concerts available at Orcas Center and via livestream, as well as a splendid performance on Lopez Island plus myriad free events – concerts at the community clubs of Olga, West Sound, and Deer Harbor, pre-concert talks and mini-concerts, an Open Rehearsal for Seniors, and our fun outdoor Children’s Concert. Parties, receptions, and other festive gatherings only added to the musical experience, resulting in an amazing two-plus weeks of fantastic music and fun.

We are so grateful to our artists who traveled from across the country and around the globe to bring this season’s unique programming to life. We are truly thankful to the Orcas community for the warm welcome these artists received in the concert hall and around the island. So many individuals made this possible – our Board of Directors led by President Lisa Bergman, our sponsors, home hosts, crew, our many dedicated and talented volunteers (we wish we could list you all), and of course our enthusiastic audiences, both in person and online.

In addition to those amazing individuals, various local groups and businesses also made the music possible. We sincerely thank The Lions Club, The Office Cupboard, Islands’ Sounder, The Orcasonian, Orcas Hub, Kenmore Air, Orcas Hotel, and Island Market.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone at Orcas Center – they provide the perfect venue for our main stage performances and create world-class livestreamed concerts along with so much more! We are so grateful for their dedication in helping us elevate every aspect of our season.

And finally, congratulations to our Founder and Artistic Director, Aloysia Friedmann. How wonderful that, all those years ago, she thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to start a chamber music festival on Orcas Island?” The Festival has enriched many lives and created such beautiful relationships of giving and receiving on Orcas and in so many other places. We look forward to our 28th Season, August 1 – 16, 2025. See you there!

Anita Orne

Executive Director, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival