The Mendocino Music Festival is a concert series held annually in July. Now in the 34th season, MMF brings musicians from all over the world to the extraordinary edge of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1986, the Mendocino Music Festival was the dream of Allan Pollack, Susan Waterfall and former principal bassoonist of the San Francisco Symphony, Walter Green. Evening concerts feature the Festival Orchestra, the Big Band, Opera, guest singers and bands, chamber music ensembles, dance, blues, jazz, world, folk, and popular contemporary music. Daytime performances include lecture/recitals at the Piano Series, the Festival emerging artists, and chamber concerts. The Festival symphony orchestra is composed of professional musicians from the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera orchestra, San Francisco Ballet orchestra, the Symphony of the Redwoods, and other Bay Area orchestras. Every year after the 4th of July, the Mendocino Music Festival erects a tent containing a concert hall at a site overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Mendocino Headlands State Park. This Symphony-sized tent, seating more than 840, is adjacent to Ford House Museum Visitor Center and across Main Street from the Kelley House Museum. The Music Festival office is in the Old Bank Buildingon the corner of Main and Kasten Streets. MMF has developed a large volunteer network of over 200 people that help during the festival season and at year-round events. MMF is a member of the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce, Mendocino Arts Showcase, and Arts Council of Mendocino County. MMF is a charter member in the Mendocino Coast Performance Art Production Alliance where MMF shares storage space, set pieces, costumes, tools, and technical expertise with other local performing artsnon-profit organizations including Mendocino Theater Company, Gloriana Musical Theater, and the Symphony of the Redwoods. The 2020 season runs from July 11 through July 25. The brochure announcing the performances is usually sent out in March when tickets go on sale. MendocinoMusic.org
