SITKA, ALASKA
Festival operations manager Melissa Marconi-Wentzel told the Sitka Chamber of Commerce today (5-18-11) that the relaxed, Southern California attitude of those early days were an important part of the festival’s enduring success, and allowed the musicians to form bonds with the community that have persisted for four decades.
She said the festival was never just about performing chamber music.
“It was about creating relationships with the community. Great friendships were formed with Sitkans, they continue to this day, and I think that’s the most special aspect of the Sitka Summer Music Festival, at least for me. The art is tremendous, the music is world-renown, world-class, but what’s really powerful is those relationships that are formed between the community and the artists. What we’re trying to do now with the festival is to really take advantage of that, and get out into the community into newer venues, newer niches, create more kinds of relationships with other organizations, kids – just really try and integrate chamber music with the community, so that people feel a sense of being, of excitement.”
Marconi-Wentzel said that this 40th anniversary festival would formally mark the retirement of founder Paul Rosenthal and the beginning of cellist Zuill Bailey’s tenure as artistic director. She said a total of 40 musicians would travel to Sitka in honor of Rosenthal, twice the usual number, with performances and events every single day from Friday, June 3, through the closing concert three weeks later on the 24th.
New venues this season include a “Coffee Series” every Friday at 9 AM at the Highliner Coffee Shop, Monday noontime concerts called “Bach’s Lunch” at Harrigan Centennial Hall, and a summer solstice concert in Sitka National Historical Park.
Festival musicians also perform special concerts for residents of the Pioneer Home, Long-Term Care at Sitka Community Hospital, and the SAFV Shelter, as well as Babies and Books. Marconi-Wentzel said Sitkans should not be surprised to see musicians playing most anywhere at any time, in what the festival calls “Art Attacks.” Complete details about the 40th season of the Sitka Summer Music festival are available online at sitkamusicfestival.org.
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