Bellingham Festival of Music begins July 5

The Bellingham Festival of Music brings together classical instrumentalists and vocalists from major North American orchestras and other ensembles Friday, July 5, through July 21 in five concerts, with artistic director Michael Palmer conducting the Festival Orchestra.

All orchestral concerts are at Western Washington University's Performing Arts Center except the July 21 concert, which is at Mount Baker Theatre. Free pre-concert lectures at 6:30 p.m. precede each orchestral concert.