Under the artistic direction of co-founder and noted American conductor Michael Palmer from inception until 2020, the festival orchestra is composed of some of the finest musicians in the United States and Canada, many of them principals in such illustrious orchestras as the New York Philharmonic and the Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta Symphonies. Most of the players have returned year after year to perform together, drawn by the scenic beauty and recreational activities in the Bellingham area and by the home hosts who become longtime friends.
