John once said, “the Methow Music Festival is, in fact, where individual musicians with highly refined skills and talents come together … in the spirit of presenting genuine chamber music amid the serenity and magic of a pristine setting … for the sake of heartfelt music making.”

With just a single corporate sponsorship from a local developer, the Arrowleaf Corporation, John Konigsmark was able to act on an idea whose time had come for Methow Valley listening audiences, as well as to the many tourists and vacationers who stay here.

From the beginning the Festival has been based on a standard of professionalism. The founder was himself a professional musician who drew his players from the roster of one of his famous teachers, Oscar Shumsky. Over the years the backgrounds of the players diversified, but the standards did not waver. The founding Board, comprised mostly of retired professionals with broad business experience, was committed to managing the new festival with their knowledge.

Since its founding the Festival has presented fine classical chamber music to thousands of audience members. In just eleven seasons the Festival has grown from a single weekend three concert event to this year’s two weekend ten concert series which also includes a Free Festival Day and mid-week events. The demographics of the festival audience has also broadened in the past five years. From an audience made up primarily of familiar faces from the Methow Valley, the festival now draws substantial numbers from outside the area.

Over the past ten seasons of presenting classical and chamber music the Methow Music Festival has established itself and is capable of becoming an enduring tradition. Our 24 page 2004 Festival program offered advertising exposure to more than fifty area establishments and was seen by more than 1500 Festival attendees. Posters and rack cards were displayed at almost every choice of overnight accommodation including resort hotels, motels, Bed & Breakfasts, RV parks and campgrounds. Advertising and promotional efforts included all of Okanogan, Douglas & Chelan counties, with radio spots in the Seattle and Spokane metropolitan areas as well. A combination of beautiful location, the best musicians available, a strong food and lodging industry infrastructure, and our steadfast focus on mission and vision creates the prospect of sustainability and long term economic growth for both the Festival and its supporters in the community.

While individual donors remain the backbone of the Festival’s fundraising program, over the course of ten years the Methow Music Festival Association has also benefited from the annual support of foundations as well as local, county, state and national grants. Because of its geographic location and high standards the Festival has been successful in being awarded funds from; the Allen Foundation for the Arts, Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation, Washington State Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Fund, Okanogan County Hotel/Motel tax revenue distributions, and the Town of Winthrop. In 2003 the Community Foundation of North Central Washington also joined that list.

The remainder of the festival’s revenue comes from earned income - ticket sales and concessions. Accessibility is assured by providing free admission to anyone who volunteers and all young people under 14.

The Board of Directors of the Methow Music Festival Association is comprised of five members who share a love of chamber music and a commitment to the Festival’s continued growth and success. We also have an Advisory Board comprised of past Board members and individuals from the community who assist in local outreach and fundraising activities. Through deliberate and well-planned growth the Board has nurtured the mission and integrity of the musical experience. This ensures that the Festival is supported, that the resources are available for its planning and marketing, and that the tradition of music in the Valley in July and August is carried on for years to come.