Bellingham Music Club

Prepare to be swept away! We are just a week away from the most anticipated highlight of the year, a celebration of talent that defines the BMC musical mission.

Each year, our scholarships have recognized the region’s most formidable and impressive young talent, and next Wednesday, May 6, that legacy will be on full display in the WWU Awards in honor of Virginia Glover.

Join us at 10:30 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church to experience five award-winning virtuosos from WWU. The matinee concert is free to all! This year’s cohort, featuring two pianists, two vocalists, and a marimba player (!), represents the pinnacle of dedication and artistic excellence. They will bring to life a rigorous program of Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Bolcom and more. Come witness the future of music as these young professionals begin their ascent. They will truly “Elevate Your Spirit!”

To truly appreciate this storied legacy which has propelled nearly a century of local talent onto the national stage, we must look back to 1929. That year, under the presidency of Mrs. Hugh Eldridge, the Bellingham Women’s Music Club awarded its very first scholarship to local violinist Sol Thal, who later became a foundational figure in our musical community through his private studio and his work at Western Washington University.

That early connection to WWU blossomed into a century-long partnership. Over the decades, the club has awarded tens of thousands of dollars to scores of young musicians, providing a vital springboard for young artists. Many of our past recipients have ascended to distinguished professional careers as soloists, ensemble musicians, and collaborative pianists. Others have shaped the industry as recording and pit musicians, school and conservatory teachers, coaches, conductors, music directors - and many other music-related professions.

Next Wednesday, you aren't just attending a recital; you are witnessing the next chapter of this 100-year legacy. And experiencing the next generation of professional musicians!

This photograph captures a proud milestone for the Bellingham Music Club, our generous members, and nine exceptionally gifted young musicians. On Wednesday morning, April 1, we were treated to remarkable performances by the recipients of the BMC High School Piano and Voice Awards, as well as the saxophone winner of a Winds/Percussion Award. The audience was captivated by their polished artistry. This matinee program was a truly extraordinary showcase of Whatcom County’s finest young talent.

BMC sends kudos to coordinators Celie Thomas and Jami Templeton, who conducted the piano and voice adjudications in such a masterful way! The whole 2026 high school awards program was a huge success!

You can find biographies for all the winners, along with program details, announcements, and news in the April edition of our Fan Fare newsletter. Click on this link or paste the URL in your browser:https://bellinghammusicclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BMC-News-April-2026.pdf

And now, we turn our attention to our May offering! We will gather at Trinity Lutheran Church, on May 6, 10:30am, to hear the winners of the university-level WWU Awards in honor of Virginia Glover. As always, our Wednesday matinee is free and open to all. We look forward to seeing you there!

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to celebrating our final 2026 student showcase concert with you!

What a whirl-wind way to embark on 2026! Last week, violinist Grant Donnellan and pianist Judith Widrig capped their multi-year, international musical odyssey with a richly varied program of American composers, presented in celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.

Wednesday’s matinee, featuring music by Florence Price, William Grant Still, and Aaron Copland, was so warmly received that many audience members returned for Thursday's expanded program for Night Beat. Grant and Judith’s thoughtful, engaging introductions added depth and descriptive nuance to the music, making the experience especially memorable.

You can find full program details, artist biographies, and the latest BMC news and highlights in our online Fan Fare newsletter at https://bellinghammusicclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/BMC-News-February-2026.pdf.

And now, it's Bellingham's talented music students' turn for deserved attention! Join us at the upcoming piano adjudications for BMC's 2026 Student Awards. You'll hear the best young pianists of Whatcom County as they perform and receive constructive feedback from a professional adjudicator. The High School Piano Awards will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church on Friday, February 13, beginning at 4:00 pm. Come and celebrate our talented rising stars!

Sending warm wishes and musical love to "Elevate Your Spirit!"

The days ahead are filled with opportunities to "Elevate Your Spirit" with music, and we hope you'll join us—whether from home or in person—whenever you can.

From the comfort of home:
BMC on KMRE and online

Learn more about BMC’s history, purpose, mission, and season highlights in a recent interview with BMC President Rollanda O’Connor and H.S. Voice Awards Coordinator Jami Templeton. Bellingham arts and culture reporter Margaret Bikman guides a cheerful and informative conversation that offers a wonderful snapshot of who we are and what we do.
📻 Airs Wednesday, January 28 at 5:30pm on KMRE 88.3 FM, or listen anytime online:
https://kmre.org/podcasts/arts-entertainment-spotlight-with-margaret-bikman/

At Trinity Luthern Church:
High School Student Adjudications

We then launch a full week of live gatherings to enjoy and applaud our community's amazing high school talent:

• Friday, January 30, around 4:00pm | Strings Adjudications
• Monday, February 2, around 4:00pm | Winds & Percussion Adjudications

Both events are at Trinity Lutheran Church. Experience these unique opportunities to hear young musicians perform and receive encouragement and constructive advice from a professional adjudicator—an important part of their growth and pursuit of excellence. Come enjoy a few students or stay for all; your presence and support are deeply appreciated by the performers, parents, and teachers.

At First Congregational Church:
American Music—Past and Present

Also next week, we continue our professional concert series with another highly anticipated musical travelogue featuring violinist Grant Donnellan and pianist Judith Widrig. A Tradition of Diversity: American Music—Past and Present combines rich commentary with thoughtfully curated repertoire for violin and piano by Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, Frank Perkins, Florence Price, William Grant Still, and more, exploring how diverse cultural influences have shaped the American soundscape.

• Matinee Preview: Wednesday, February 4, 10:30am
• Night Beat: Thursday, February 5, 7:30pm

Both programs take place at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. The matinee preview is free and open to all. No ticket purchase is required for Night Beat; a $20 donation is suggested. Students are always free, and all are welcome.
As always, thank you for your continued interest and generous support. We are here to help "Elevate Your Spirit" by sharing the healing and transformative power of music.

Let's celebrate the musical season we have enjoyed so far!

🎼 Our September concert featured Bellissima Brass, a dynamic ensemble of five multi-talented wind-performing women who are solo artists, educators, and symphony members -- Emma Eliason, Michelle Rockwood, Amy Kavanagh, Karolyn Labes and Shelly Devlin. All of their rousing and inspiring concert selections were composed by women over the past 225 years.

🎼 Echoes and Departures followed in October, with two pianos brought splendidly to life by Rebecca and Gabriel Mañalac. Members raved over their virtuosity and playful interweaving of parts featuring Rachmaninov, Ravel, and more.

🎼 November brought the Vocal Extravaganza performed and organized by Heather Dudenbostel in honor of Clyde Hiss, featuring Mark Davies, Ibidunni Ojikutu, Celeste Fraser, and Elizabeth Feeney (three of whom are former BMC Voice Award winners!), with accompaniment by Emily Gantt and Erica Block.

🎼 December’s Romantic Cello introduced Samantha Sinai in duet with Michelle Huang on piano, performing works by Clara Schumann and Sergei Rachmaninoff that melded mellow cello tones with the dancing treble of the piano.

Coming in January: High School Student Awards

Just after the holidays, we begin my favorite Music Club time of year in January, with the start of the High School Student Awards adjudications. All four adjudicated events are open for you to enjoy—students truly appreciate your support and applause! Attending the Awards proceedings offers a chance to hear many gifted students and gain understanding of the selection process. Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church at 4 PM for these adjudication performances:

• Strings: Friday, January 30
• Winds and Percussion: Monday, February 2
• Piano: Friday, February 13
• Voice: Friday, March 13

Award winners from these events will perform at our Wednesday morning matinees at Trinity Lutheran Church on March 4 and April 1. We are clearly succeeding in our mission to support the future of music in Bellingham and beyond.

More Concerts to Come!

We still have more exciting concerts ahead! Grant Donnellan and Judith Widrig return for BMC’s Musical Travelogue on February 4 and 5, Western Washington University’s Student Award winners perform May 6, and we close the season with a bang on June 3 and 4 with Patrick Roulet’s Global Dimension Ensemble, which highlights the percussion program at Western.

A Note of Deep Gratitude

As we take a break for the holidays, please know how grateful we are for your support through your membership, donations, and presence at our concerts. The quality of our concerts and depth of student support are entirely due to your generosity.

BMC is an all-volunteer organization, and this is our 110th year bringing music to Bellingham. I am thankful for the continual and tireless work of the Program Committee (led by Chair Isabelle Cormier), our Student Awards Coordinators (Celie Thomas, Mark Schlichting, Jami Templeton, and Lisa McCarthy), and our dedicated Board members (Isabelle Cormier, Joan Youngquist, Darlene Mathias, Carol Reppun, Celie Thomas, Jamie Templeton, and Anne Hendrickson). They cheerfully work hours every month to ensure the concerts and awards programs run smoothly.

We thank our hosts Trinity Lutheran and First Congregational churches, and are exceedingly grateful for the additional talents and contributions of volunteers Scott Henderson, Judy Corliss, Lee Cole and Donna H. Moore..

We are able to give these musical gifts to our community because of the gifts you give to BMC. If you are able, please consider an additional year-end, tax-deductible contribution. You can send your gift to BMC, P.O. Box 193, Bellingham, WA 98227, or give online at https://bellinghammusicclub.org/. BMC will put it to good use!

We wish you joy and many occasions to "Elevate Your Spirit" throughout this holiday season!

Rollanda O'Connor
BMC President