This weekend is last chance to catch Music on the Strait

After last weekend’s festival kickoff, just two concerts remain for Music on the Strait 2024.

“If you’ve been meaning to check out the festival but haven’t made it out yet, now’s the chance to see and hear something truly special right here in Port Angeles,” festival co-artistic director James Garlick said.

The festival, which was founded in 2018 by Richard O’Neill and James Garlick, brings classical musicians from all over the world to perform against the singularly beautiful backdrop of the Olympic Peninsula.

After opening the festival last week with concerts from pianist Jeremy Denk and violinist Stefan Jackiw, the music continues this upcoming weekend, Friday-Saturday, Aug. 9-10.

Friday’s sold-out show at Maier Hall will feature Sequim-native and Co-Artistic Director Richard O’Neill performing American Haiku, a new duo for viola and cello by the festival’s 2024 composer-in-residence and Kronos Quartet cellist Paul Wiancko.

This performance also features Richard O’Neill in works by Dohnanyi and Bach.Though this show is sold out, a free live-stream will be available at musiconthestrait.com and on Facebook.

There are still tickets available for Saturday’s Festival Finale at Field Arts & Events Hall, which features world-famous pianist Joyce Yang playing solo preludes by Rachmaninov and Dvorak’s “Dumky” Piano Trio. Efe Baltacıgil returns for 2024 composer-in-residence Paul Wiancko’s inventive new work for solo cello, piano quartet, and glockenspiel: Closed Universe.

“Closed Universe is a piece of mine based on escapist fantasy and a debilitating addiction to the news cycle,” shares Wiancko.

“That duality can be heard in the music as these chaotic, almost demonic textures that melt away to reveal more temporal, shimmering moments of comfort. The piece as a whole is a search for optimism in distressing times. Do we find it? Come find out!”

Winacko describes being selected as this year’s Composer-In-Residence as “an honor.” He added, “Not only does the title signify that folks will be rehearsing and performing my music — it is also an invitation … to share my own musical hopes, dreams, and philosophies with the festival’s incredible artists. I’m thrilled to get to perform in the festival as a cellist as well — to be firing on all artistic cylinders is a truly wonderful feeling.”

This will be Wiancko’s first year participating in Music on the Strait, and though rehearsals and performances will surely keep him busy, he plans to enjoy as much of the Olympic Peninsula as time allows.

“My current plan is to try to squeeze in a fly-fishing session between rehearsals,” he said.

Photo by Eric Neurath / Music on the Strait enters its final weekend, with shows on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10. Pictured is a performance from the opening weekend.

Tickets for Saturday’s finale are available at musiconthestrait.com, where the concert will also be live-streamed for free. Discounted tickets are just $10 for students and $5 for children attending alongside adults.

Pay-what-you-can tickets for most of the available seats are also now available, starting at just $5.

Saturday’s Finale starts at 7 p.m., but there will be plenty of entertainment available before the show. A full menu of food and drinks will be available and served in the Sunset Lounge at Field Hall starting at 5 p.m. The Port Angeles Symphony Brass Quintet will be performing at 5:45 p.m. before the pre-concert talk with Classic KING FM 98.1’s Lisa Bergman at 6:15 p.m.

“It’s a really exciting end to our 2024 season,” says Garlick.

“If you came out last week and experienced the fun and excitement, come back for more! And if it’s your first time, please come and check it out. We’d especially love to see families experience the magic of world-class chamber music right here in Port Angeles.”