Vancouver Arts and Music Festival, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA Featured on BBC Music Magazine

Charlotte Smith, editor of BBC Music Magazine, visited the 2024, Vancouver Arts and Music Festival, the brainchild of Anne McEnerny-Ogle, the mayor of Vancouver, Washington; and Igor Shakhman, the executive director and principal clarinetist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA. The festival is a "combination of small-town charm, community enrichment and ambitions for the future," writes Smith for her "Musical Destinations" feature of the July 2025 issue of the magazine.

At the heart of the celebrations is the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, which during my visit performs three open-air concerts for the community... a delightful local band with a strong commitment to community engagement and education.

Read the full piece here.

The 2025 Vancouver Arts and Music Festival, featuring the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA and guest artist that include Renée Fleming, Mark and Maggie O’Connor, Sharon Isbin, and Gerard Schwarz, takes place July 31-August 3. Visit vancouverartsandmusicfestival.com.