The Festival at Sandpoint has presented music under the stars, on the lake in Sandpoint, Idaho since 1983.  The 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization was founded in 1982 by a group of local volunteers who wanted to introduce symphonic music to the area and provide an economic boost for their community.  The first Festival at Sandpoint took place during the summer of 1983. From 1985-1998 Maestro Gunther Schuller served as Artistic Director of the organization.  The Festival’s Principal Conductor from 1999-present is Gary Sheldon.  Since its first season featuring three concerts with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, The Festival has grown and diversified.  The two-week series now includes an eclectic range of country, jazz, blues, folk, world, rock & pop concerts.

In addition to an annual concert series, The Festival at Sandpoint has offered educational opportunities of the highest caliber to the most promising students of jazz, composition, conducting and chamber music in the world through the Schweitzer Institute of Learning.  In 1999, The Festival’s educational mission took on a community focus with the launch of the 5th Grade Music Outreach Program, which now takes place in all Bonner and Boundry County Schools.  The Festival at Sandpoint’s Instrument Assistance Program was founded in 2004 with a goal to assist students with rental instruments and to repair and provide new instruments throughout the school district.  The Festival’s Youth String Orchestra provides instrument and instruction for the beginning and intermediate string ensembles and a summer cello camp.  Selected concert tickets are distributed to music students, as well as to those for whom the cost of a ticket is prohibitive.  The Festival also supports and works collaboratively with other local organizations to achieve mutual goals through arts scholarships.

The Festival at Sandpoint has had a significant positive impact over the past 33 years on the quality of life of those who live here and also on the local economy through cultural tourism.  A series of the caliber and scope of the Festival at Sandpoint is rare in cities of comparable size, location and economic demographic.  Sandpoint, Idaho has been featured as the region’s most significant arts event in three editions of the book, “The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America,” by John Villani.  The Festival was recognized as Sandpoint’s Business of the year at the 2008 Chamber Choice Awards for the greater Sandpoint area.  The Festival has also been recognized for its success in providing significant economic impact to the area, receiving the 2008 Take Pride in Idaho Award for the Outstanding Cultural Tourism at The Annual Governor’s Conference on Recreation and Tourism.   The University of Idaho conducted an economic impact study this year to determine a direct impact of nearly two million dollars to the local economy.