our mission

The mission of Mellon Music Festival (MMF) is to promote the awareness of and appreciation for diversity through the medium of classical music performance. Through local community-level partnerships and collaborations between the finest young artists from around the world, MMF strives to bridge cultural divides in our world using the surprising power of classical music. 

origins

"Mellon Music Festival" is derived from Sindarin, a language from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth Universe - popularized by the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The word "mellon" directly translates to "friend." And it is the friendships we nurture while sharing and experiencing music that make this festival possible. 

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Classical music is a polarizing genre. Stereotypes of snobbery and elitism are rampant in this genre. It doesn't help that many classical concerts have tickets priced far higher than an average person can afford. Nor does it help when people new to classical music are alienated when they do not follow the unwritten codes of conduct in a fancy concert venue. 

That's why MMF was born. Cellist Eunghee Cho wanted to challenge traditional notions of classical music performance by creating an inclusive and community-oriented environment while continuing to provide high-quality performances of life-changing repertoire. 

Mellon Music Festival was inaugurated in his beloved hometown of Davis, California because he believes there is huge potential for this festival to have a positive impact on the community. He hopes the festival will continue to grow as the years pass and continue to enrich the lives of those who give classical music a chance.