Andrew Dawes, who will be in residence at the Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival is known as one of the most distinguished violinists Canada has ever produced. As a founding member and first violinist of Canada’s renowned Orford String Quartet, he has played over 2,000 concerts in more than 25 countries and won three Juno Awards and made more than 50 recordings.

In 1992 he was awarded the Order of Canada in recognition of his contribution to the musical life of Canada. In 1994, he received the prestigious Chalmers National Music Award for creativity and excellence in the arts. He first performed at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival in 1996 as first violinist of the Tokyo Quartet and has performed here in many concerts since then. He now teaches at the University of British Columbia and is a member of the Eden Trio.