Door County, Wis. (December 2, 2025) — This holiday season, the Peninsula Music Festival (PMF) invites the community to give a gift that resonates long after the wrapping paper is gone: the gift of live orchestral music. Gift certificates to the upcoming 2026 performances provide a meaningful way to share the magic of world-class concerts while supporting one of Door County’s most treasured cultural institutions.
Gift certificates are now available for the upcoming 74th season of the Peninsula Music Festival held over nine days in August 2026 as well as the intimate winter Chamber Series (FebFest) held in February 2026. Gift certificates allow the recipient to choose their preferred concerts and dates.
“Every August, I travel from Norway to Door County because there’s nowhere else quite like it,” said Music Director and Conductor Rune Bergmann. “The setting, the musicians, the audiences—it all comes together in a way that feels like magic. What we create here is rare. World-class musicians from across the country come together in this intimate hall, and the result is something you simply can’t experience in a large city venue. Giving a PMF gift certificate means inviting someone into that experience. It’s a gift that resonates long after the concert ends.”
Founded in 1953 by conductor Thor Johnson and Door County residents Lorenz and Ella Mae Heise, the Peninsula Music Festival began as a chamber orchestra performing in a school gymnasium with a budget of $10,000. Over seven decades, it has grown into a world-class symphony featuring 80 musicians performing nine concerts each August at the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek.
But this is no pick-up orchestra. The Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra is made up of top-tier professional musicians from leading orchestras and conservatories across the country who return to Door County each August. These are artists who’ve performed on the world’s greatest stages—and who come together here, year after year, to make something truly magical.
“It’s rare to have a maestro of Rune Bergmann’s caliber and guest artists like James Ehnes, Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Branford Marsalis in such an intimate setting,” said Lisa Harper, Executive Director. “These are musicians who perform in the world’s great concert halls—and yet they choose to come here, to Door County, year after year. That’s something special.”
But presenting orchestral music in a rural community comes with significant costs. Each performance averages over $65,000, and ticket sales cover only about 25% of expenses. Community support makes the difference.
In addition to gift certificate purchases, PMF is accepting donations to the Annual Fund, which directly supports artist fees, music rentals, musician housing, and educational programs including scholarships for emerging conductors. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at https://purchase.musicfestival.com/Donations or by calling 920-854-4060.
“For 74 years, this festival has existed because of the people who love it,” said Harper. “Every gift certificate purchased, every donation made, every seat filled—that’s how we bring world-class musicians to Door County year after year. When you give a PMF gift certificate, you’re not just giving someone a night out. You’re helping ensure this tradition continues for the next generation.”
The 2026 season promises another extraordinary lineup, including the return of celebrated violinist James Ehnes and pianist Stewart Goodyear, the PMF debut of acclaimed pianist Michelle Cann, and a performance of Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3. The full schedule will be announced in early 2026.
Gift certificates can be used for FebFest chamber concerts or August symphony season tickets. They are available online at purchase.musicfestival.com/giftvouchers or by calling 920-854-4060.
For more information about the Peninsula Music Festival, visit www.musicfestival.com.
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