History
The Woodstock Mozart Festival had its origins in the 1987 as part of a summer festival at the Woodstock Opera House entitled "Woodfest". Additional performances were scheduled for the following year, and the 3 week festival has continued to be held annually. Internationally recognized guest artists have been a mainstay of the festival since the beginning.
The festival's original conductor/artistic director was Charles Bornstein. Since 1983, guest conductors have been an integral part of the festival format. Performances have also included a chamber music series and concerts in the Woodstock square gazebo (as part of the City of Woodstock's concert in the parks series).
John von Rhein, classical music critic for the Chicago Tribune, writes "The Woodstock Mozart Festival has long been a means for local classical buffs to catch rising young musicians and established artists who seldom get to crack the sacred precincts of downtown Chicago."
In 1995, the Festival Orchestra was named "Chamber Orchestra of the Year" by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.
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