A violin sold at auction recently for $11.25M. It wasn’t even a record price. That distinction belongs to a violin sold back in 2011 for $15.9M. Those are some impressive numbers. But I am more impressed by the fact that the violins in question were made in 1714 and 1721 respectively. They were made more than 300 years ago and they work as well today as they did back then— some say better! Those two fiddles, and about 950 like them, were made by the same guy. You know his name: Stradivari.

What is it about these little machines that makes them so resilient? Very few pieces of equipment that worked 300 years ago still work today, and though Strads can take up a lot of oxygen courtesy of dizzying auction prices, there are actually quite a number of Old Italians (as they are called) still in use today. In fact, you’ve already heard a couple on the Festival this season, and dozens of them over the years!

To unpack all the fuss and guide us in a deep dive into all things fiddle, we welcome violin-maker Jackson Maberry. No stranger to Walla Walla or WWCMF audiences, Jackson graduated from Whitman College and supported himself, at least seasonally, working for WWCMF along the way. He went from Whitman to Cambridge University and from Cambridge to Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he completed the prestigious String Instrument Technology program. He hung out his shingle as a violin maker in 2021. Tonight, we’ll hear performances of music for strings, violin in particular, while also exploring the technology behind the music. What makes these things tick? And how do you make one? Jackson has the answers.

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Jackson Maberry, violin-maker; Maria Sampen, violin, ; Other Artists TBD

An All-Star Cast of WWCMF musicians return to the idyllic setting of Abeja Winery for our annual Collage performances. The performance unfolds in two Acts set astride our beloved Sunset Intermission. The grounds of Abeja open at 5:30 PM. Come early, enjoy the scenery and have dinner before enjoying the performance.

Collage is a style of performing where the end of one piece dovetails with the beginning of the next to create a continuous flow of musical experiences. The musicians are in front of you, beside you, behind you, above you and even… among you. The experience is so immersive, you’ll think you’re dreaming.

Note: There is no late seating for either Act 1 or Act 2. Once the doors close, there is no entry.

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Mara Gearman, viola; Cara Kizer, horn; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Paul Rafanelli, bassoon; David Requiro, cello; Ronaldo Rolim, piano; Svend Rønning, violin; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Joshua Skinner, double bass; Meta Weiss, cello; Dan Williams, oboe; Xiaohui Yang, piano

An All-Star Cast of WWCMF musicians return to the idyllic setting of Abeja Winery for our annual Collage performances. The performance unfolds in two Acts set astride our beloved Sunset Intermission. The grounds of Abeja open at 5:30 PM. Come early, enjoy the scenery and have dinner before enjoying the performance.

Collage is a style of performing where the end of one piece dovetails with the beginning of the next to create a continuous flow of musical experiences. The musicians are in front of you, beside you, behind you, above you and even… among you. The experience is so immersive, you’ll think you’re dreaming.

Note: There is no late seating for either Act 1 or Act 2. Once the doors close, there is no entry.

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Mara Gearman, viola; Cara Kizer, horn; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Paul Rafanelli, bassoon; David Requiro, cello; Ronaldo Rolim, piano; Svend Rønning, violin; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Joshua Skinner, double bass; Meta Weiss, cello; Dan Williams, oboe; Xiaohui Yang, piano

PROJECT Trio makes a triumphant return to WWCMF, and a maiden voyage into the acoustically magnificent barrel room at Echolands Winery.

Boasting a new look since their last visit to Walla Walla, we welcome saxophonist Daniel Berkley to the group. The barrel room will be rocking with a staggering array of hard-to-categorize music from many genres from hip-hop to jazz to classical, always with style and panache.

Actually, it’s easy to categorize their music: it all falls under the category of Awesome.

Artists: PROJECT Trio: Daniel Berkley, saxophone; Greg Patillo, flute; Peter Seymour, double bass