On the first warm spring day in April, nearly a hundred music lovers gathered at The Andrew for the PEC Chamber Music Festival’s annual fundraiser and program announcement.

The afternoon featured a performance by two past Artistic Directors, pianist Stéphane Lemelin and violinist Andrew Wan, and the current AD, cellist Paul Marleyn. Their lively and virtuosic account of the Mendelssohn Trio in D minor brought applause after each movement. This democratic piece allows each instrument to shine: its often singing melodies are exchanged back and forth, moving into speedy passages that had the players wearing “nailed it!” smiles at their accomplishment.

Chair of the festival board Maureen Dunn was very pleased with the turnout. “We have many loyal patrons who support us year after year. 

“This event brought in close to $5000 in much needed revenue.”

The other focus was the unveiling of this coming fall’s lineup of concerts. “A Celebration of Strings” will offer a variety of ensembles at St. Mary Magdalene Church over two weekends, 18-20 September and 2-4 October.

Mr. Marleyne spoke with excitement about the program, and of Picton itself. “Whenever I come down to Picton it always looks like this very beautiful, gorgeous spring afternoon!”

The Festival will open with one of Canada’s leading chamber ensembles, the Gryphon Trio. The Soloists of Les Violons du Roy, three Baroque string players and a harpsichord, will follow. 

The final concert of the first weekend is The New Orford String Quartet. “I’m really delighted with that,” said Mr. Marleyne. “We couldn’t get them back last year because they were just too busy!”

The second weekend will offer some celebrity appearances. Singer Caity Gyorgy, who has wowed the County Jazz Festival twice in the past three years, will appear with her jazz trio. 

A reprise of last year’s popular “Four Play Cello” concert will feature Mr. Marleyne himself, along with three other cellists, including Festival Young Artist in Residence Jacob MacDonald.

And there is much excitement about the appearance of James Ehnes in recital. “He is perhaps the most famous and successful living Canadian musician,” enthused Mr. Marleyne. “I’d say he’s one of the top five violinists in the world today.

“He’s also a wonderful person, and normally one couldn’t possibly afford getting James Ehnes to a festival like this. Fortunately, I know him, and he’s also somebody who is very generous. He comes from a small town in Manitoba, and I think he believes in giving back to his home country, and also to the smaller communities in Canada and helping festivals and series to thrive.

“I couldn’t believe it when he agreed to come! He’ll be performing in St. Mary Magdalene Church, and I would love to see us show him how much we appreciate his generosity. I’d like to encourage you to buy your tickets early because I think they’ll go pretty fast!”

On Mr. Ehnes’s appearance, violinist Mr. Wan added “he’s a mensch! very generous, a good family man, a huge model for a lot of us. I grew up idolizing him and I still admire him very, very much.”

A regular and important feature of each year’s Chamber Festival is its Composer-in-Residence. This year’s will be Carmen Braden, an Indigenous composer as well as singer-songwriter from Yellowknife. “She’s wonderful,” said Mr. Wan, “a fantastic, composer, a very natural voice.” Speaking for the New Orford Quartet, he noted, “we’ve actually played two of her works. In fact, we commissioned a work by her last year!”

Ehnes has been travelling the country on his “50th Birthday Tour,” and his program includes the World Premiere of Braden’s “Imaginal.”

The festival will repeat last year’s successful “Yoga and Cello” session at The Andrew, and the traditional preliminary concert at Macaulay Heritage Park, on 29 August, this time featuring The Sultans of String. 

All are welcome! For details and tickets, visit the Chamber Festival.