Photo by Eric Feliciano

The Redfish Music Festival (named after the Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve) was founded in 2021 with its week long music festival based in Port Orford, Oregon, the last week of  July on the beautiful southern coast. The Festival was designed by musician Fritz Gearhart to include public concerts and an intensive week of classical music training for students studying violin, viola and cello. In residence for the week, a faculty of internationally renowned artists will work with our students and perform in festival concerts. The Redfish Music Festival also presents concerts through the winter and spring bringing quality classical music to the southern Oregon and northern California coast.

THE STUDENTS 

The summer festival hosts chamber ensembles comprised of both high school and college students (age 14 and up). Students will be housed at the oceanfront Castaway Motel. Ensembles will receive daily coaching in small ensembles, attend all of our festival concerts, take part in private lessons and additional workshops with our artist-faculty, and finally, combine together to form a string orchestra at the final concert. One of the unique things about our festival: students perform multiple times in multiple venues, making for a great experience.

THE VENUES

Concerts and open teaching events will be held in various locations within the charming coastal towns of Port Orford, Bandon, Langlois, North Bend, Gold Beach and Crescent City, CA. Venues include Zion Lutheran Church in Port Orford, the Port Orford Public Library, the Bandon Sprague Theater, the Crescent City Cultural Center and the unique Langlois Cheese Factory event space. The festival also features some outdoor events including a concert at the oceanfront Castaway Motel.

THE MUSIC

The festival features classical music performed by small ensembles of two to five players. Within the genre of classical music, this is commonly referred to as Chamber Music. We subscribe to the belief that classical music is not a narrow genre, but a living art that encompasses many styles of music. Our goal is to feature wonderful masterworks from the past, but also showcase the current artistic pursuits of talented, dedicated and inspired performing artists from around the globe.

THE CITY

Port Orford Oregon is the oldest town on the Oregon coast, and the westernmost city in the continental United States. It can be reached by driving one hour south from Coos Bay, or driving one and a half hours north of Crescent City, California. Nearby airports are Coos Bay (North Bend, airport code OTH - one hour north) and Eugene (3 hours).

The Town of Port Orford, Oregon

Final Concert at the Langlois Cheese Factory

Walking back to rehearsal on a foggy day!

Group shot in the Redwoods.

In the Redwoods

Port Orford head in the wind!

Piano quartet rehearses at the Lutheran Church

Lunch in the Redwoods.

Redwoods California, crossing the river.

Flash mob performance in the Redwoods