Photo of the Bellingham Festival Orchestra in concert.

2026 Festival Orchestra

*Indicates rotation of seating from week to week.

Violin I

Photo Portrait of Justin Bruns, principal violinist and Concertmaster


  • Associate Concertmaster: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Concertmaster: Cabrillo Music Festival
  • Faculty: Emory University
  • Assistant Concertmaster: Oregon Symphony
  • Oregon Symphony
  • Former Concertmaster: Huntsville Symphony
  • Concertmaster: Chattanooga Bach Choir
  • Professor Emeritus: Butler University
  • Concertmaster: Carmel Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Western Washington University
  • Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Kennesaw State University
  • Assistant Principal Second: Atlanta Opera Orchestra
  • Principal: Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • First Violin: Cabrillo Festival
  • Recording Artist: Skywalker Sound
  • Arkansas Symphony
  • Concertmaster: Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
  • Assistant Concertmaster: New Haven Symphony

Violin II

Photo Portrait of Sarah Shellman, principal second violinist


  • Principal Second Violin: The Florida Orchestra
  • First Violin: Cabrillo Festival
  • The Florida Orchestra
  • Montgomery Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor: Western Washington University
  • New York Freelance Concertmaster
  • Professor: University of Georgia
  • Victoria Symphony Orchestra
  • Welcome Home Alumna
  • Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Portrait of Caroline Gilbert, principal viola, holding her viola.


  • Principal Viola: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Associate Principal: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Saint Louis Symphony
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society
  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra (sub)
  • Seattle Opera (sub)
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet (sub)
  • Maryland Symphony (sub)
  • Annapolis Symphony (sub)
  • DC Youth Orchestra Program coach
  • National Philharmonic Youth Mentorship Program

Chair Sponsor–Holly Witte

  • Associate Principal: Kansas City Symphony
  • The Florida Orchestra
  • Section Cello: The Florida Orchestra
  • Section Cello: Sarasota Orchestra
  • Faculty: Florida Southern College
  • Artistic Director and Founder: Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music (B.C., Canada)
  • Principal Cellist (ret.): Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: University of Indianapolis
  • Faculty: Peabody Preparatory
Photo Portrait of Ira Gold, principal bass.


  • National Symphony Orchestra
  • Associate Professor: Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University
  • St Louis Symphony (sub)
  • Opera Theater St. Louis
  • San Diego Symphony (2022)
  • Section Bass: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University
  • Founder: The Artemis Bass Initiative
Photo Portrait of Christina Smith, principal flute.


  • Principal: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Artist Affiliate: Emory University
  • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Assistant Professor: Western Washington University
Photo Portrait of Harrison Linsey, principal oboe.


  • Principal: Oregon Symphony
  • Professor: Kent State University
  • Principal: The Erie Philharmonic
  • Artistic Coordinator: Kent Blossom Music Festival
Portrait of Taylor Marino, clarinet in a blue shirt, holding a clarinet.


  • Principal: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Portrait of Principal Clarinet Erika Block


Chair Sponsors-Kurt & Wilma Schweickhard

  • Executive Director: Bellingham Festival of Music
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society
  • US Army Band
  • Senior Instructor: Western Washington University
  • First call Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Portrait of Julia Paine, Bassoon.


  • Saint Louis Symphony

Chair Sponsors–Garland Richmond & Richard Stattelman

  • Oregon Symphony

  • Principal Bassoon: Pacific Northwest Ballet
Photo Portrait of Jeff Garza, principal horn.


  • Principal: Oregon Symphony
  • Adjunct Professor of Horn: Oregon State University
  • Associate Principal: Kansas City Symphony

  • Houston Grand Opera

  • Virginia Symphony Orchestra

  • Principal Horn: Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Adjunct Faculty: University of Puget Sound and Seattle Pacific University
  • Extra: Seattle Symphony/Seattle Opera
  • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Photo Portrait of Charles Butler, principal trumpet.


  • Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • Portland Opera
  • Oregon Ballet Theater
  • Oregon Symphony

  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Portrait of Ross Holcombe, trombone in a black shirt, leaning against a wall and holding a trombone.


  • Associate Principal: The Florida Orchestra

  • Faculty: University of South Florida
  • Assistant Principal: North Carolina Symphony

  • Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band
  • Substitute: Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Paramount Theater Orchestra
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Auburn Symphony
  • University of Puget Sound
Photo Portrait of Mark Guthrie, principal timpani.


  • Principal: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Western Washington University
  • Principal Harp: Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
  • Principal Harp: Yakima Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor: Western Washington University

Sponsor–Lois Nicholl

  • Tropical Zone Music
Musicians
Artistic Director
2026 Guest Artists
Festival Orchestra
Festival Chorus
Conducting Institute
Laureate Conductor