About Us

Mission and Background

Anchorage Chamber Music Festival seeks to inspire, engage, and enrich the Anchorage community through exceptional live performance and education in the art of chamber music.

Co-founded by violinist Christine Harada Li—who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska—the Festival draws on Christine’s musical experiences both at home and abroad, where she recognized the profound impact of chamber music on her own development as an artist. Seeking to pay forward that inspiration to students and audiences in her hometown, Christine partnered with four fellow musicians—all fresh out of their undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan—and marshaled support from the Anchorage community to launch the first iteration of the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) in 2013.

In the decade since its founding, ACMF has become a center of artistic collaboration every summer. Over the course of two weeks, the Festival convenes professional musicians from all corners of the world to perform exceptional concerts across Anchorage and teach a rigorous week-long Chamber Intensive course for aspiring young musicians. Under the guidance of the Festival’s guest artists and faculty, students develop their artistry, teamwork, and leadership skills through focused musical collaboration and engagement with the art of chamber music. 

Anchorage Chamber Music Festival is made possible thanks to the community support it receives. Key supporters in founding the festival included Beverly and Chris Beheim, Helen Nielson, Rumi and Tim Smith, Margaret David, Hiroko Harada and Tai Wai Li, as well as local music and orchestra teachers. We are grateful to our patrons, students, and community partners for sustaining exceptional chamber music in Anchorage. 

Administration
Artistic Directors: Christine Harada Li, Nathaniel Pierce
Executive Director: Pierre Derycz
Education Director: Zachary Spontak

Board of Directors
President: Christine Harada Li
Vice President: Nathaniel Pierce
Secretary: Danika Watson
Treasurer: Megumi Aisu
Beverly Beheim
Denise Brown-Chythlook
Sharon Davies
Maija Dreimane
Hiroko Harada