The Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 20th season this summer, July 23 to August 1, 2015. Now a local institution, the Festival began in 1996 in a lush, green meadow near the town of Mazama, when violinist John Konigsmark began producing high-quality classical chamber music concerts amidst the splendid scenic backdrop of the Methow Valley. Today the Festival performs in a renovated barn purpose-built for chamber music.

“Last year we dodged a bullet,” says venue owner Howard Johnson. “First, the Carlton complex fire forced cancellation of our summer program. Lacking power or water, nobody could accommodate the out-of-town musicians. Even if we had musicians, there were no lights at the performance facility, or people to attend the shows. Everyone had more important issues on their mind.”

The Rising Eagle fire, which started only days later, burned right up to the Festival property line where firefighters stopped it at the pasture boundary. The fire burned some fencing, but did not damage the Festival barn, grounds, or parking areas. The Festival will be back in full operation in time for this summer’s concerts.

The Festival thanks its regular donors, and especially the ticketholders, many of whom donated the price of their tickets back to the Festival, for keeping the organization financially afloat during this difficult period.

This year, many favorite stars will return along with incredible new artists like Emilie-Anne Gendron, Ayane Kozasa, Elena Urioste. Jasper Wood and Allan Dameron, both very popular in the Valentine Concert, will be here.

You can find a full schedule of events on the chamber’s website: www.methowmusicfestival.org.

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DATES: July 23 – August 1, 2015. CONTACT: For more information, visit www.methowmusicfestival.org