~• Our History •~

Our Festival brings world-class classical artists to the Methow Valley. Sharing the love of  classical music with area residents and visitors, our Festival supports the local economy,  collaborates with other community organizations, educates our audience, and enhances the  appreciation of our cultural heritage. 

Early history

In 1996, violinist John Konigsmark begins producing high-quality classical chamber music  concerts amidst the splendid scenic backdrop of the Methow Valley. His outdoor concerts linked  art and the natural environment in a wonderful way that, on one occasion, included the unique  sound of tree frogs accompanying a Mozart sonata.  View 2013-1997 Festival Posters

~• 2024 •~
Methow Valley Community Center

Another wonderful year at the Methow Valley Community Center with many new people attending. The musicians were really spectacular this year. Our new acoustical shells on the stage and sound done by Kenashton Productions out of Wenatchee created the best acoustics possible in the Center. Our musicians have spent the last two summers at the Methow Valley Inn just a few short blocks from the Center allowing them to walk to and from and be around in the center of Twisp. We were happy to have relatively cool temperatures, so our attendees were comfortable during the music. Our open rehearsals at the gym were well attended and our open rehearsals at Sun Mountain Lodge, the Winthrop Library and the Mazama Public House each had an average of 50 people. This year our Administrative Director, Jenny Beste, left for other opportunities. We will miss her and her focus on details. Liz Johnson, came for a visit from Texas, and attended the Festival. It was so nice to have a prior Executive Director come.

~• 2015 •~
Valentine’s Day Concert 

In this romantic evening of music, one of Canada's finest violinists, Jasper Wood, leads  passionate piano quartets by Brahms and the romantic Spaniard, Joaquin Turina. In addition, Verne Windham provided some gifts as well as some impromptu haiku/limerick writing and  reading, plus a hilarious new work written for this concert by our own wordsmith, Weston  Gaylord. 

Summer Season Smash Success! 

This highly successful year has focused on what makes the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival  great. Consistently amazing artists playing varied programs that appeal to the heart as well as the head, presented in a friendly atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie, marks our unique  festival. Audiences responds and reward us with the best turnout in our history. 

~• 2014 •~
Fire Strikes! 

The massive Carlton Complex wildfire in Okanogan county, the largest fire in state history,  completely disrupts our 2014 Summer season, leaving our area with no power, no communications, and restricted transportation for several weeks. Not to worry, the Festival barn  was untouched; we were back stronger than ever in 2015.

~• 2013 •~
Minimax

Completely off-the-wall, laugh-out-loud excerpts from the 'Minimax' Repertoire for Military  Orchestra by Hindemith delighted the audience, plus a number of more traditional works by  Mozart, Brahms, and Ravel. The biggest surprise of the season was the emotionally satisfying  and harmonically complex String Quartet no. 5 by Phillip Glass. This piece breaks completely  away from the repetitive and minimalist creations written in his youth some twenty years earlier.  It left the audience with a new appreciation for modern classical music—exactly what we are all  about. 

~• 2012 •~
After-Parties

Delicious food and beverages are now available at the newly-completed Ice House. After each  show, the audience gathers there around the outdoor propane fire pit to congratulate the artists  and complete an evening of entertainment and socializing. 

~• 2011 •~
Bachianas 

The festival features an international artist from Brazil along with the spectacular music of Heitor  Villa-Lobos, the Bachianas Brasileiras No 1 and No 5 for eight cellos and one soprano, Gale  Odom. 

~• 2010 •~
Summer Camp

The festival introduces a Chamber Music Camp, with masterclasses, private lessons, ensemble  coaching sessions, and many performance opportunities, all led by seasoned, professional  Festival artists. The Chamber Music Camp is designed for accomplished, professional-track  young string players. 

~• 2022 •~
Change of Venue - Twisp Terrace Lodge

Liz and Howie Johnson sell Signal Hill Ranch and moved to Texas in the winter of 2022. Liz has been Executive Director for 12 years.  Fortunately, the festival is in great financial shape due to Liz’s astute management of the budget and we will be able to afford to come back in summer of 2022.

We move the office and venue very quickly in November, as the Signal Hill Barn is the first piece of property to be sold. Festival administration moves to an office  above the Confluence Gallery and Rebecca Lundquist becomes the new Executive Director. After an exhaustive search for a new venue, Twisp Terrace Lodge is chosen as the new location. The Board determines we will have a 2022 Summer Festival following COVID guidelines as necessary. The festival rents the Cascade Room, which boasts a beautiful view of the Cascade Range, and a stage is built by Kyrie Jardin, Eric Blank and Peter Hunsdorfer. 

To allay fears of COVID being spread in a large crowd of people, both an outside concert (Alla Natura) and inside concert are offered.  A tent with a projection screen is set up and headphones are provided so people can sit outside to watch and listen to the concerts.  Beth and Eric Blank, owners of the Lodge, provide meals and drinks and people picnic under the tent before the concert. 

Musicians are booked into the Methow Valley Inn so they can stay in one place and walk to the Community Center, stores and restaurants in Twisp. They love the location and the townspeople love seeing them with their instruments out on the sidewalks! Open rehearsals at the Center are well attended. The festival is suddenly very accessible to many more people. We welcome the public to free open rehearsals at Sun Mountain Lodge and the Mazama Public House. And as in all years that we put on the festival, free tickets are provided to Room One, the Cove and anyone 17 and under who comes with an adult. The Pipestone School of Music SummerCamp is also supported. 

The festival performs six centerstage concerts and is a success overall. We are so thankful for all our wonderful donors, our sponsors and the grants we receive.

At the end of 2022, Beth and Eric Blank sell the lodge to a hotel and ranch investor out of Salt Lake City, who renames it Casia Lodge. The board decides we need to look for a another venue.

~• 2020 - 2021 •~
Pandemic Strikes!

The Summer Festival is canceled due to Covid. Minimal staff is kept on. No fundraising is done.  Grants are not accepted.

~• 2020 •~
Valentine Concert 

The Winter concert is again held at the Merc in Twisp, with a post-concert dinner at the Arrowleaf Bistro for “Golden Ticket” holders.

~• 2019 •~
Thank You Liz & Howie

Jenny Beste comes on as Executive Assistant. All concerts sell out.  We will always be grateful for the years at Signal Hill Ranch. Liz and Howie Johnson gave so much to the community.

~• 2018 •~
Romantic Strings Valentine Concert

The 4th annual Valentine concert held at the Merc features a trio of Misha Shmidt,  violin; Kevin Krentz, cello; and Alexei Eremine, piano. Alexei and Misha grew up together and  Alexei traveled all the way from Lisbon, Portugal to celebrate 40 years of friendship. Despite a  snowstorm, the group plays to a packed house and enjoys a post-concert dinner at Arrowleaf  with 30 supporters.

Smoke Again, New Dates

Spring brings a flurry of activity at Signal Hill Ranch. The venue now proudly displays a  new, permanent, custom-built stage to replace the temporary, collapsible sections that had been  used for years.  The summer brings challenges with record-high temperatures and yet another round of  fires pumping smoke into the Valley. Though the concerts sell out, we start seeing no-shows  during the final week. By the end of the summer, we decide to move Festival dates to June going forward.

~• 2017 •~
Romantic Strings Valentine Concert

The 2017 season started with a bang, selling out the February 18 Valentine Concert for the third  year in a row! The concert featured three angels playing romantic string music: Amber  Archibald, Ingrid Matthews, and Haeyoon Shin. 

Innovation & Diversity

This summer’s Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival was marked by the innovation and  diversity that have become hallmarks of the 22-year-old festival. 

~• 2008 •~
Kevin Krentz

Cellist Kevin Krentz becomes our artistic director in 2008. Kevin brings a high degree of  professionalism to his job, coupled with a deep understanding of the classical music audience.  He structures every program to include something familiar, something new and something  completely flamboyant all together in a pattern that is constantly engaging, constantly  stimulating. 

~• 2003 •~
Lisa Bergman

Pianist Lisa Bergman takes the reins as Artistic Director. The programs under her  direction bring unforgettable performances by world-renowned artists including Jon Kimura  Parker (piano) and Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano). Lisa now hosts the series Explore  Music on KING-FM in Seattle and works with the Icicle Creek Center for Arts in Leavenworth.