48th Oregon Coast Music Festival Opens July 11, Highlights 50th Anniversary of Bay Area Concert Band and 250th U.S. Anniversary
The 48th annual Oregon Coast Music Festival kicked off Saturday, July 11, and will run through Sunday, July 25, in the Coos Bay area. Over two weeks, more than 80 musicians will fill venues with a spectrum of styles, guided by a fresh theme that marries myth, legend, and science.
The festival opened with a performance by the Bay Area Concert Band, celebrating its 50th anniversary. That milestone fits into a broader tapestry of anniversaries the festival is marking this year: the United States' 250th anniversary, Highway 101’s centennial, and the 90th anniversaries of both the Conde B. McCoullough Memorial Bridge and the art‑deco post office that now houses the Coos Art Museum and the Oregon Coast Music Association (OCMA) office.
OCMA, under Board President Christine Moffitt, devised the 15‑day schedule. Moffitt noted that the post office and Marshfield Auditorium are both Works Progress Administration (WPA) buildings, which explains their similar architecture and superb acoustics. She also mentioned that the pioneer cemetery rock wall was another WPA project.
At the heart of the event is an 80‑person Festival Orchestra that takes the stage at ten venues across Coos Bay, North Bend, Bandon, and Charleston. Dr. Martin Majkut, in his second year as conductor after James Paul’s 35‑year tenure, leads the ensemble. Orchestra Personnel Coordinator Nancy Johnson—also a violinist in the group—manages travel, per diem, and host‑family logistics. Musicians stay with local families, a setup Moffitt calls a “music camp without chaperones.”
The festival’s theme, Myths, Legends & Science in the Musical Arts, is embodied in the official poster, The Long Song of Survival, crafted by Susan Chambers. The artwork shows two whales—the ancient Livyatan melvillei and the contemporary sperm whale. Chambers explained that the image “bridges prehistoric and modern oceans through the story of the sperm whale lineage and the changing climate of Earth across millions of years,” and that it echoes the themes of Adam Shoenberg’s percussion‑driven concerto Losing Earth.
Beyond classical repertoire, the program offers jazz, folk‑rock, and Celtic concerts. The Pops Concert “The Stuff of Legends” on July 23 will feature selections from Wicked, the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, and modern acts Horse Feathers and Ian George and the Knee Pockets.
The festival partners with the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Oregon, SWOCC, and Bandon High School to produce a series of paintings, ceramics, and sculptures that echo its themes. The pieces will be on display at SWOCC’s Umpqua Hall from July 20 to 24 and will be silently auctioned at Marshfield on July 25, with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club.
Two orchestra concerts—Our Solar System and Our Blue Home—feature classics by Brahms, Beethoven, and Haydn alongside contemporary works. OCMA offers free interactive previews at SWOCC’s Umpqua Hall, where visitors can ask questions and hear stories from the concert’s soloists.
The festival’s official website, oregoncoastmusic.org, lists the full lineup, ticket information, and venue details. The event continues to draw musicians and audiences from across the country, cementing its status as the longest‑running music festival on the Oregon Coast.
The 48th edition of the Oregon Coast Music Festival underscores the region’s cultural vitality and the enduring appeal of live music. With its blend of tradition and contemporary themes, the festival remains a key event for musicians, families, and visitors alike.
