Marrowstone Music Festival

The Marrowstone Music Festival is an orchestral training program that takes place in the Pacific Northwest. The program is targeted at high school and college students, around 200 of which play in the program annually.[2]

Marrowstone Music Festival
Background information
LocationsBellingham, Marrowstone
Years active1943–2019, 2021–
DatesJuly – August
Genre(s)Classical music (orchestral,
chamber)
VenuesWestern Washington University, Mount Baker Theatre[1]

The festival features orchestral and chamber music, which is performed both by students and faculty members at various concerts during the two-week-long festival.[2][3]

History

The Marrowstone Music Festival was established by the Music and Art Foundation, which also founded the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras.[4] The festival was first held at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island in 1943, and was called the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Seattle Music Camp.[5] The festival has changed locations numerous times since its founding. It first moved to Benbow Lakes in 1945 for one summer,[6] where it adopted the name Pacific Northwest Music Camp, then was held at Camp Waskowitz near North Bend from 1946 to 1948, and from 1950 to 1954.[7][8][9][10][11][12] [13][14] In 1949, the session was a day camp at Hunts Point.[15] In 1955 and 1956, it was held at the Lazy F Ranch near Ellensburg.[16][17] In 1957, the camp session was held at Pacific Beach, Washington.[18] From 1958 to 1989, the festival was held at Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island, from which it got its current name in 1976.[19] In 1990, it moved to Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. As of 2001, the event has been hosted at Western Washington University.[20]

There was no festival in 2020.

Programs

Orchestral music performance

The festival consists of two large symphony orchestras and a chamber orchestra in which all students participate. In addition participating students are given the option to participate in one or more other programs at their discretion.[21]

Chamber music performance

Students may participate in chamber groups throughout the festival. Some of these are formed by the students, while others are organized by the festival. These chamber groups perform in two concerts, one of which takes place during each week of the camp.

Master classes

Students also have the opportunity to participate in master classes hosted by faculty. Master classes cover miscellaneous topics such as audition preparation, orchestral etiquette, practicing techniques, and instrumental techniques.[2]

Piano

The festival includes a specific program designed for students whose primary instrument is piano. These students are instructed in solo and group performance by faculty members and are occasionally requested by festival groups as accompaniment or to fill a part required by the music.

Repertoire

The repertoire played by the orchestras are generally considered classical music or orchestral music. Selections in the past have included but were not limited to, Classical Symphony by Sergei Prokofiev, Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi, The Planets by Gustav Holst, Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet, and many other classical orchestral works.[22][23]

Notable participants

Faculty[21]

Media

The orchestral concerts each week of this festival are broadcast by Classical KING-FM shortly after the concerts.

See also

References
  1. "Marrowstone Festival Orchestras Concert Two". Mount Baker Theatre. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. Campbell, R.M. (24 July 2003). "Marrowstone Music Festival marks 60 years of music making". Seattle PI. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  3. "8 classical-music festivals across Washington". The Seattle Times. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  4. "Minutes", 11 May 1943, Box 3, Folder 3, Music and Art Foundation Records, Accession 2787, University of Washington Libraries
  5. "Music," Seattle Times, 4 July 1943, p. 23.
  6. "Use of Benbow Lakes Site Given to Youth Orchestra," Seattle Star, 3 May 1945, p. 9.
  7. "Mount Si Boys' Camp Popular," Seattle Times, 18 August 1946.
  8. "Young Seattleites Bring Music to Woodland Camp," Seattle Times, 27 July 1947, Rotogravure Section, p. 9.
  9. "Music is First Love at Camp," Seattle Times, 3 September 1948.
  10. "80 Attending Summer Camp," Seattle Post Intelligencer, 27 July 1950, p. 30.
  11. Richard E. Hays, "Summer Music Camp Will Open Ninth Season Monday," Seattle Post Intelligencer, 22 July 1951.
  12. "Youth Symphony Plans Summer Camp," Capitol Hill Times, 6 June 1952, p. 3.
  13. "Music Camp Program is Planned," Seattle Times, 31 May 1953, p. 39.
  14. "Concert Planned at Music Camp," Snoqualmie Valley Record, 5 August 1954, p. 6.
  15. "Youth Symphony Preparing," Seattle Post Intelligencer, 27 August 1949, 2nd Section.
  16. "13th Music Camp Due," Seattle Post Intelligencer, 14 August 1955, p. 17.
  17. "Youth Symphony Plans Annual Music Camp," Seattle Times, 13 July 1956, p. 16.
  18. "Young Musicians to Attend Annual Music Camp," Seattle Times, 28 July 1957, Section 2, p. 6.
  19. "New Site For Music Camp," Seattle Times, 29 June 1958, Pictorial Section, p. 15.
  20. R.M. Campbell, "Shames Leaving Marrowstone Music Festival in Fine Form," Seattle Post Intelligencer, 27 July 2001, p. 15.
  21. "About Marrowstone". marrowstone.org. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  22. Bargreen, Melinda (6 August 2004). "Bellingham: a hot spot for music this month". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  23. Bikman, Margaret (19 July 2015). "Marrowstone Festival showcases young classical musicians". Bellingham Herald. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  24. von Rhein, John (21 February 2013). "CSO principal horn Dale Clevenger's retirement after 47 years". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
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