YACHATS MUSIC FESTIVAL History

For 29 years, Yachats has been home to the Yachats International Music Festival. This classical music Festival takes place annually in July, the weekend after July 4th . The Festival was first envisioned by its Founder, the late Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams, who directed the Festival from its inception in 1981 until his death in 1999. The Festival continues in his memory, with dedication to his vision and spirit.

This unique event features 22-26 artists in four concerts and daytime seminars. The musicians performing during the weekend may include piano, violin, viola, cello, harp, flute, clarinet, soprano, tenor, baritone, guitar and narration. The concerts are organized so that most artists perform in each concert, either in solo or ensemble pieces. The mostly classical repertoire is often augmented by jazz, Latin, Spirituals, flamenco and Broadway melodies. The four daytime seminars (open to Patrons only) are presented by four or more chosen artists.

From the beginning of the Festival, the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church has been our gracious host. This began in 1981 at the invitation of the then-pastor, the Rev. O'Lin "Mickey" McGuire, Jr. The warmth and generosity of the congregation and the active support of the current pastor, the Rev. Robert J. Perdue have helped make our stay in Yachats a joy and an inspiration. The Church is our home for the concerts and seminars, for rehearsals, lunches and casual visiting.

Artists and Patrons spend the weekend in Yachats, performing, sharing, making friends, reconnecting with colleagues and enjoying the beauty of the area. Evening concerts are open to the general public and tickets are available one month prior to the Festival.

Artists who have performed at the Yachats International Music Festival:

Piano:
Walid Akl, Ronald Anstadt, William Duncan Allen, James Barbagallo, Leon Bates, Carl Blake, Michel Block, Cesar Cancino, Merrill Collins, Bridget Conrad, Richard and John Contiguglia, Thomas Enman, Richard Fields, Eugene Gash, Jacqueline Hairston, Dennis Helmrich, Natalie Hinderas, Grant Johannesen, Antar Jones, Kwock-Kuen Koo, Joseph Kubera, Garah Landes, Sylvia Olden Lee, Marta Bracchi-LeRoux, Clive Lythgoe, Jerzy Marchwinski, Roman Markowicz, Barbara Nissman, David Phillips, Wayne Sanders, Don Shirley, David Sigal, J.Y. Song, Jeanne Stark-Iochmans, Jean-Louis Steuerman, Etsko Tazaki, Jonathan Tsao, Tamás Vásáry, Terry Yee, Cathy Tao Yin, Yin Cheng-Zong, Jeongeun Yom, Pablo Zinger

Soprano:
Sebronette Barnes, Susheel Bibbs, Alison Buchanan, Helen Dilworth, Alpha Floyd, Lorice Stevens French, Ilya Martinez, May Murakami, Donna Roll, Yolanda Tolentino, Veronica Tyler, Linda Thompson-Williams

Mezzo Soprano:
Vanessa Ayers, Elvira Green, Hilda Harris

Contralto:
Gwendolyn Brown, Ewa Podles

Tenor:
Valentin Aguirre, William Brown, Kenn Hicks, Ricardo Ledesma, Samuel McKelton, Hannibal Means, John Patton

Baritone/Bass-Baritone:
Thomas Buckner, Rafael LeBron, Abraham Lind-Oquendo, Benjamin Matthews, Autris Paige, William Pickersgill, Robert Sims, James Sterrett-Bryant, Ivan Thomas, Anthony Turner, William Warfield

Flute:
Marco Granados, Harold Jones, Janet Ketchum

Harp:
Isabelle Courret

Guitar:
Francis Bebey, René Heredia, Charles Rock, Peter Segal, John Stover, David Tanenbaum

Ensembles:
The Burdette Trio, Chestnut Brass Company, The Russian Orchestra, Don Shirley Trio, St. Francis Brass Ensemble, West Village String Quartet

Oboe:
Dennis Harper

Clarinet:
Kenneth Keeling, Deborah Pittman

Violin:
Elwyn Adams, David Burnett, India Cooke, Pierre D'Archambeau, Kelly Hall, Jungeun Kim, Frank Wang, Jue Yao

Viola:
Kenneth Edwards, Mimi Dye, Amadi Hummings

Cello:
Robert Cafaro, Kash Killion, Elaine Kreston, Kermit Moore, Matthew Owens, Kenneth Pearson, Troy Stuart

Composers:
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Dorothy Rudd-Moore

Conductors:
Jean-Louis LeRoux, Alexander Vereshagin, William Warfield

 

 

 

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