The warm sun of a late afternoon in May beamed through the stained-glass windows of St. Andrew’s in Picton, where some seventy music lovers had gathered to listen to the magical sounds of a violin and cello duo, sip wine, chat, applaud, and most of all, support the PEC Chamber Music Festival’s celebration of a new season.

The performers were not just any fiddlers: violinist Jonathan Crow and cellist Paul Marleyn are the outgoing and incoming Artistic Directors of the festival, respectively. Mr. Crow, along with the other members of the New Orford String Quartet, has designed the offerings for the last seven festivals, and this year will be his last. Mr. Marleyn, an Ottawa-based cellist, is taking over.

Their performance was the beginning of the transition. And if that sings the way the music did, the PEC Chamber Music Festival will continue to be filled with its customary blend of freshness, familiarity — and friendship.

The duo played music by a twelve-year-old Mozart. A sonata by Mozart’s older contemporary, Boccherini was so exciting that the audience broke into applause halfway through. Mr. Marleyn also played a dramatic cello solo written by Canadian composer Chan Ka Nin, who was composer-in-residence here in 2005. Handel and the lesser-known Russian composer Reinhold Glière also featured.

Maureen Dunn, Chair of the Board, announced the September festival lineup, which will include Mr. Crow, the New Orford Quartet and Mr. Marleyn in various combinations, including an arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations for string trio, two concerts featuring Schubert, including the “Trout” quintet and the cello quintet, and more. Special appearances include a chamber group from the internationally renowned period-instrument orchestra, Tafelmusik, and an evening of jazz from crossover violinist Mark Fewer. Back by popular demand is a late-August outdoor “Brass in the Park” kickoff concert from the Hannaford Street Silver Band — this time in its full, twenty-five-brass and three-percussion configuration.

Ms. Dunn acknowledged her Board of Volunteers and the Benefit Committee, and reminded everyone about how much work goes into making the festival a success, repeating an open invitation for new volunteers.

Accent on Youth

The crowd at the fundraiser was of the grey-to-white-haired demographic — including this reporter. Certainly those who are able to support the festival financially and to volunteer may be retired. And, the efforts of Bridgerton aside, classical music has a stuffy reputation.

But the Chamber Festival has always tried to break down this false barrier. It features works by living Canadian composers. This year Ian Cusson debuts a string quartet written for the New Orfords. A young artists-in-residence program this year features the Rilian Trio in two concerts.

Last month, the festival organized school groups to come to a special sessions hosted by the Sultans of String for educational performances. Some 500 students attended.

Another remarkable effort for this year’s festival is free tickets for people under 25.

Related to this youth outreach is a special concert coordinated with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, which takes place at St. Mary Magdalene in Picton on 21 June. Several chamber ensembles from the Orchestra, in residence at Queen’s in Kingston for its summerlong program, perform. Rising star violinist Blake Pouliot plays a varied program culminating in the glorious Mendelssohn Octet.

The NYOC, now in its 64th year, is a major institution that has been the training ground for fully a third of working orchestral musicians in Canada. Young musicians, ranging from 16-28, audition for their places and spend an intensive summer training in all aspects of a musical performance career, first on campus at Queen’s, and then in a national tour.

Christie Grey, CEO of NYOC, said the visit to Picton “is the first time with our Chamber Fest that we’ve branched out a little bit into the community to share this incredible talent.” Part of the outreach is to offer tickets to local children’s music education program, Quintissimo. “Quintissimo and other Sistema programs are so crucial and vital to music education and access to music education. It is a very hard time to be a young person,” said Ms. Grey, “we want to be visible to them, so they can see that being part of community is something that is really possible. They can put down their phones. They can be in person and engage. And really experience the joy of doing something together with their peers.”

The PEC Chamber Festival has for two decades brought top-flight music to the County. The loyalty of its performers attests to the generous spirit of those who billet them when they come, to the warm reception they receive when they perform, and to the beauty of the location. Never mind the wonderful food and wine.

Reflecting on the transition to a new Artistic Director, Ms. Dunn sees the Festival not just as a set of annual concerts, but as a mission to engage and foster community and continuity. “I’m equally committed to the whole thing about this beautiful music. Here’s this group and they’ve been doing their best for all these years to try and present this. And the quality is just out of the ballpark, you know?”

For the full festival lineup from 13-22 September and tickets see the Chamber Music Festival.

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