Olympic Music Festival
The Olympic Music Festival, now preparing for its 40th season in the summer of 2023, is based in the historic, Victorian-era seaport of Port Townsend, Washington, and is considered one of the Northwest’s premier chamber music events. The Olympic Music Festival’s mission is to present world-class chamber music artists in performances of a diverse repertoire for the enjoyment, enrichment, and education of our community. The Olympic Music Festival (OMF) cultivates an appreciation of music with programs curated by OMF Artistic Director Julio Elizalde, who provides a long term vision for the organization. His working relationships with world-renowned musicians enable him to craft varied and exciting programs. The OMF brings musicians from across the globe to collaborate during weeklong artist residencies, culminating in public performances during the summer series. Preconcert open rehearsals and post-concert Q&As with resident artists promote connections between the audience members and the musicians. Musicians share educational insights, including nuances of composition, biographical details of composers, and the historical contexts in which the works were written. The Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship—an educational program spearheaded by Elizalde in 2015—provides exceptional young musicians invaluable experience through professional level rehearsals and performances. Fellows are chosen through a highly competitive audition process to collaborate with world-class artists during the two-week program. Private mentoring sessions and group discussions further reinforce the skills necessary to embark on a professional career in chamber music. The Olympic Music Festival has been voted "Best Classical Music Festival" by readers of The Seattle Weekly.
