The Bellingham Festival of Music, led by artistic director Michael Palmer, begins with a concert featuring pianist Jeremy Denk at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 6, at Western Washington University's Performing Arts Center.

The festival runs through July 21, with four orchestral concerts held at WWU, an orchestral concert with violin superstar Joshua Bell on Monday, July 9, at Mount Baker Theatre, a chamber music concert in the Bellingham Cruise Terminal atrium, and a guitar recital with Pablo Sainz Villegas at the terminal.

Many of the musicians are principal chairs from leading North American orchestras. Another renowned musician performing is cellist Lynn Harrell, who plays July 14 at WWU.

Two free chamber concerts will be held at Whatcom Museum's Old City Hall. Performance and ticket details: bellinghamfestival.org, 360-201-6621. Tickets are available at Western's box office, 360-650-6146 and tickets.wwu.edu.

Reach Margaret Bikman at margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2273.