QUILCENE — Pianist Julio Elizalde, 30, has been named artistic director of the Olympic Music Festival after serving three years as co-artistic director alongside festival founder Alan Iglitzin.
Iglitzin, a former associate principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and founding member of the Philadelphia String Quartet, will hand over the artistic leadership of the festival to Elizalde while remaining as executive director.
Located south of PT
The Olympic Music Festival is located on a 55-acre farm at 7360 Center Road, 18 miles south of Port Townsend.
Performances take place in a converted dairy barn.
The summer season generally takes place between mid-June and Labor Day.
Youngest director
Elizalde is now the youngest artistic director of a major music festival in the country.
“It is a profound honor to continue the vision that Alan Iglitzin has pursued for over three decades,” Elizalde said.
“I hope that my efforts will serve as a testament to Alan’s inexhaustible energy and musical integrity.”
Elizalde began performing at the festival in 2008 while assisting Iglitzin with artist selection and programming.
“I have chosen Julio to succeed me after observing his skills as a phenomenal pianist, a great collaborator and for his ability to inspire our audiences with his highly sophisticated musical vision,” Iglitzin said.
“I have every confidence that he has all of the qualities necessary to guide us into a stellar future.”
In addition to continuing the general planning for the summer season, Elizalde’s first major act as artistic director will be to inaugurate a new educational program for the 2015 season.
Music fellowship
The Iglitzin Chamber Music Fellowship, named in honor of the festival founder, will offer talented rising artists an opportunity to refine their chamber music skills within the challenging environment that professionals face regularly.
As artistic director, Elizalde will work closely with an expanded board of directors to further donor cultivation and community outreach.
For more information, visit www.olympicmusicfestival.org.