Familiar Face Named OICMF Executive Director

— from Joyce Stone —

Anita Orne, new Executive Director of Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, with Aloysia Friedmann, founder and artistic director, and Sam Coleman, Board President of the Festival

You know her as a musician, teacher, program director, Board member, emcee, artist and more. Now you’ll know Anita Orne as Executive Director of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. Beginning March 8th, Anita will work with OICMF Board members, Artistic Director Aloysia Friedmann, staff, volunteers, donors and patrons to maintain the Festival’s strong tradition of musical excellence, music education and Anita knows the Orcas Island Chamber Festival from the inside out.

She has served on the Festival’s Board of Trustees for six years. Since 2000, Anita has also videotaped every concert during the Summer Festival to ensure a magnificent archival history. And she’s been one of the dedicated Pied Pipers at Orcas preschools, a program developed by the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival to introduce young ones to the wondrous world of music.

“We are extraordinarily pleased that one of our own OICMF family members will be assuming such an important role with such complementary skills and knowledge,” said Board President Sam Coleman. “Anita comes to us with leadership experience and a multitude of innumerable talents that will blend well with both her personal passions and OICMF’s desire to maintain our organization at the highest level.”

Anita’s impact is felt on Shaw Island, too, where she is Music Director of the Shaw Island School District. She works with their community to promote music and music education, and her role there will continue, in addition to her Executive Director responsibilities.

Since her move to Orcas in the late 1980s, Anita has served on many boards and committees. You’ll find her singing and playing everything from the guitar, bass and banjo – to mandolin, ukulele and saw – as a member of three music groups: JP and the OK Rhythm Boys, The Olga Symphony, and Mandy Troxel and the Bitter Ends. But not to worry. Anita’s new role as Executive Director won’t stop her from entertaining the community in her spare time!