Where the music meets the sea.

Rick Schultze
South Lincoln County News
July 2008

The name Yachats, pronounced YAH-hots is derived from the Chinook Indian word, Yahuts, meaning dark water at the foot of the mountain. Another version of the name is “where the mountains meet the sea.” Whichever definition you choose is fine but last weekend Yachats meant “where the music meets the sea” and was home to the spectacular 28^th year of the
Yachats International Music Festival.

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. For a village the size of Yachats it’s a musical blessing that a Festival of this size and quality would be held here annually. There were people in attendance from many cities and states having come to Yachats specifically for the Festival. Some have been visiting Yachats and attending for the Festival since its existence and mixed with the many Yachats patrons made for very diverse and attentive crowds for the three night concerts and the Sunday afternoon concert.

The Festival, a program of Four Seasons Concerts from Berkeley California, ran like clockwork. With the 2008 Yachats Music Festival staff of 20 people, the many musicians, the Festival Committee and local Publicity Committee giving it their best effort it’s fair to say
that everyone who attended walked away very impressed by the professionalism displayed by all. The concerts are organized so that most artists perform in each in concert, either in solo or ensemble pieces. If you’d attended all the concerts you would have seen many of these world class artists in different settings and it is truly a testimony to their
abilities. These Artists-in-Residence hail from the United States and other parts around the world; France, Korea, Brussels, Puerto Rico to name a few places and all has extensive concert and recital experience.

Additionally there were also four daytime seminars which were presented by four or more chosen artists.  While the music was mostly classical there was plenty of music that wasn’t including some highly entertaining Spirituals and Broadway melodies. The beautiful Yachats Community Presbyterian Church is a great concert hall.

Its comfortable setting with superior acoustics made the concerts felt like gatherings of many friends enjoying the music. In fact, speaking with Ms. Joanne Kittel co-chair of the Festival Committee she gave me this impression; “It is my most treasured experience each year to be part of a an intimate collaboration and sweet reunion with Four Seasons staff, Yachatian volunteers and enormously talented artists from all over the world. Together with a large group of people attending the Festival from all over the country, many who have become friends since they return again and again; and against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful areas in
the world; we all revel in the most wondrous experience of seeing, hearing and feeling the most outstanding classical music.”

I couldn’t have said it any better, it is certainly an experience one will never forget, and nothing sounds better than the music wafting from the church towards the sea. Check it out next year!

To reach Rick Schultze email yarick@pioneer.net

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The Yachats Music Festival is dedicated to the memory of its founder, Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams, who began the Festival in Yachats in the summer of 1981.

Individual tickets at $19.00 each can be purchased at the Adobe Resort Motel (541-547-3141) and at the Fireside Motel (541-547-3636), both located in Yachats. For further information, call 510-601-7919, go to www.fourseasonsconcerts.com

or www.yachats.info/ymf.

Publicity Department Contact:

Norm or Joanne Kittel
541-961-8374
Jnkittel@peak.org

 

 

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