Celebrating 75 Years!
Musicfest Northwest encourages, develops and improves the performance of young musicians and dancers through professional adjudication.
History of the Festival

Innovation and Collaboration

Cultural Impact
Musicfest Northwest puts Spokane in the forefront of cultural events for youth. No other city in the United States offers as much opportunity for performance evaluation to so many students over such a wide range of ages. The Festival has launched many successful artistic careers, among them internationally acclaimed baritones Thomas Hampson and Frank Hernandez, Spokane Symphony concertmaster Kelly Farris, pianists Stephen Drury, Greg Presley, Archie Chen and Jody Graves, violinist Jason Moody and soprano Karen Beardsley.
Economic Impact
The Festival brings more than 3,000 people to the Gonzaga University campus and other locations throughout Spokane annually. At least one-half of these guests are out of town visitors who generate more than $500,000 to support the local economy. This figure is a significant portion of the approximately $34 million generated by all Spokane arts organizations.
Success & Accomplishments
More than 69,000 students representing third grade through post-graduate school have participated in the Festival in its 75 years of service.
- In 2019, more than 1,100 students participated in separate performances representing 300 public and private teachers.
- Launched many successful artistic careers, among them internationally acclaimed baritones Thomas Hampson and Frank Hernandez, Spokane Symphony concertmaster Kelly Farris, pianists Stephen Drury, Greg Presley, Archie Chen, and Jody Graves, violinist Jason Moody and soprano Karen Beardsley.
- More than 100 volunteers provide staffing and leadership every year.
- An increase of 35 percent participation in the last nine years.
- Collaboration with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra to present the Young Artist evening concert during Festival week.
- Participants have been recruited to premier conservatories and university around the world and received numerous prestigious awards.
- Participants are prominently showcased in The Spokesman Review, The Inlander, on KPBX-FM, and in publications.
- Top artists are acknowledged through the Young Artist Awards, Margie May Ott Award, and Adjudicator Choice Awards.
Important News!
Registration for Musicfest Northwest 2020 will be open on January 1st, 2020. Please check back here for links to registration.
Online Registration
Syllabus
The complete syllabus is now available for all categories.
Dates
This year's festival takes place May 10th - 15th, 2020
Young Artist Concert: Wednesday May 13th, 2020 at 7:30pm
Festival Highlights Concert: Friday May 15th, 2020 at 7:30pm
Both concerts take place at the Martin Woldson theatre at the FOX and are FREE and open to the public! Come and support the next generation of artists!
Young Artist Concert: Wednesday May 13th, 2020 at 7:30pm
Festival Highlights Concert: Friday May 15th, 2020 at 7:30pm
Both concerts take place at the Martin Woldson theatre at the FOX and are FREE and open to the public! Come and support the next generation of artists!
Location Information
All division adjudications take place on the beautiful campus of Gonzaga University.
Organ division takes place at St. John's Cathedral - 127 E. 12th Avenue
Organ division takes place at St. John's Cathedral - 127 E. 12th Avenue
Donate
As we celebrate our 75th Diamond Anniversary in 2020 we are aiming to make it the best festival yet! We are always in need of sponsors, donors and volunteers. If you have any skills or ideas you would like to present to us please feel free to get in touch!
In the meantime, your donation to the Festival helps immensely in keeping future editions of this wonderful even alive and because as a non-profit organization, we rely on the generous support of our members.
Please send checks/cash to our Festival Office.
To Donate Online
In the meantime, your donation to the Festival helps immensely in keeping future editions of this wonderful even alive and because as a non-profit organization, we rely on the generous support of our members.
Please send checks/cash to our Festival Office.
To Donate Online
Contact
Musicfest Northwest
1305 N Napa
Spokane, WA 99202
Tel: +1 509-327-3455
Email: musicfest@smfnw.org
1305 N Napa
Spokane, WA 99202
Tel: +1 509-327-3455
Email: musicfest@smfnw.org