The Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival (WWCMF) now presents more than 40 public performances annually in the vibrant agricultural community of Walla Walla, WA. The goal of the Festival is to deepen the understanding and appreciation of classical chamber music while forging connections between musicians, audiences, venues and the greater community. To accomplish this goal, WWCMF emphasizes the process of making music over the product of musical performance. As a result, Festival events appeal to the seasoned chamber-music aficionado and newbie alike.

More than half of WWCMF's programming is presented free of admission. Almost daily Open Rehearsals take place in a variety of public venues like downtown shops, cultural institutions and community centers. Children's concerts under the title, Sounds Like Fun!, are presented in a variety of locations such as the public library or local YMCA. Finally, targeted Outreach performances bring chamber music to parts of the community who might not otherwise have access such as veterans and patients at the Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center.

Schedule of Events

January 12, 2023

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Portrait of an Artist — Orlando Wells, Violin at Foundry Vineyards

New York is the City That Never Sleeps. As it says in the old Sinatra song, "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere." Violinist and violist Orlando Wells has done the former. He's made it in New York as a member of the Harlem Chamber Players, in recordings and performances with the likes of Harry Connick Jr., as concertmaster for Broadway shows, and as violist of the acclaimed Sweet Plantain Quartet.

And tonight, Orlando does the latter. "Anywhere" is Foundry Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington. And he'll make it in works for violin and piano, joined by Brazilian pianist Ronaldo Rolim. This brings to mind the lyric to another Sinatra song: "They put coffee in the coffee in Brazil." If we did that in Walla Walla, we'd never sleep, which would make us a lot like New York. So instead, we put wine in the wine, and that makes us the City That Gets A Solid Eight Hours. Welcome, Orlando! And good luck to WWCMF Founder & Artistic Director Timothy Christie, who negotiates the anagrammatic names Orlando and Ronaldo while moderating the conversation.

All works will be announced from the stage.

Artists: Timothy Christie, moderator; Ronaldo Rolim, piano; Orlando Wells, violin

January 13, 2023

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Tasting Music — Mendelssohn Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66 at Foundry Vineyards

It's Friday the 13th. And you'll feel it in the roiling, anxiety-ridden opening bars of this extraordinary work by Felix Mendelssohn at the height of his powers. But you'll be reassured and uplifted by the song without words, duet really, of the second movement; tickled by the impishly scurrying third; and ultimately transformed by the triumphant Finale. WWCMF Founder and Artistic Director leads an exploration of the music along with the Puget Sound Piano Trio, making their long overdue Walla Walla debut.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66 (1845)
I. Allegro energico e con fuoco
II. Andante espressivo
III. Scherzo: Molto allegro quasi presto
IV. Finale: Allegro appassionato

Artists: Timothy Christie, moderator; Puget Sound Piano Trio: Alistair MacRae, cello; Ronaldo Rolim, piano; Maria Sampen, violin

January 14, 2023

6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Special Event: Vital Quartet at The Walls Winery

Like many arts organizations, WWCMF moved its programming online during the worst of the pandemic. But we didn't want "musicians in boxes." Instead, WWCMF opted for a different strategy. We shipped lights and cameras to the action, capturing performances by WWCMF chamber ensembles in eight different locations around the United States. For the second of these eight performances, Vital Quartet gathered in a vintage clothing shop across the Hudson River from Manhattan. They donned masks, and showed up at the shuttered store with their instruments and a beat-up box containing lights and a couple cameras. They played for the vintage boots and handbags in the room, but also for an audience a couple of thousand miles to the west. All the theaters in New York remained closed, but chamber music, for one night, was alive and well. And so the WWCMF audience was introduced to these musicians, and to the extraordinary music of their core repertoire.

Tonight, Vital Quartet makes its Walla Walla debut, surrounded not by lights, cameras and vintage clothes, but by you, me and vintage wines from the Walls Winery. Welcome to Walla Walla, Vital Quartet! Featuring music by William Grant Still, Trevor Weston, Florence Price and Jesse Montgomery.

Artists: Vital Quartet: William Frampton, viola; Alberto Parrini, cello; Philip Payton, violin; Orlando Wells, violin

January 15, 2023

7:00 PM-9:30 PM: Festival Series — Music of Strauss, Simon, Mendelssohn, and Montgomery at Rôtie Cellars Production Facility

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
String Sextet, Op. 85, TrV 279a, From Capriccio (1941)
Andante con moto

Jessie Montgomery (b. 1980)
Voodoo Dolls (2008) for String Quartet

Jessie Montgomery (b. 1980)
Strum (2006) for String Quartet

Carlos Simon (b. 1986)
Loop (2021) for String Trio

Intermission

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66 (1845)
I. Allegro energico e con fuoco
II. Andante espressivo
III. Scherzo: Molto allegro quasi presto
IV. Finale: Allegro appassionato

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Puget Sound Piano Trio: Alistair MacRae, cello; Ronaldo Rolim, piano; Maria Sampen, violin; Vital Quartet: William Frampton, viola; Alberto Parrini, cello; Philip Payton, violin; Orlando Wells, violin

Date: January 12-15, 2023

Locations:
Foundry Vineyards, 1111 Abadie Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362
The Walls Winery, 1015 West Pine Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Rotie Cellars Production Facility, 510 E Boeing Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362

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