Composing Community: Tekla Cunningham and the Music That Moves Whidbey

Today, we are diving into a world of music, movement, and... gut strings. Yep, you heard that right. I am beyond excited to introduce you to someone who quite literally makes classical music sing with soul and spark: the incredible Tekla Cunningham.

Tekla is the founder and artistic director of the Whidbey Island Music Festival, where world-class musicians gather to perform jaw-dropping pieces of Baroque and early classical music—often on period instruments, and always with heart.

This isn’t your average “sit quietly in a concert hall and pretend you know what ‘a fugue kind of vibe” is. Tekla’s vision brings classical music to life in warm, intimate spaces—think candlelight, harpsichords, and that undeniable Whidbey magic.

She’s not just curating performances—she’s creating experiences and preserving centuries-old musical traditions while inviting all of us to be part of something real, rich, and totally transcendent.

So, whether you’re a Bach lover, a total classical newbie, or just here for the vibes, this conversation is going to pluck all the right heartstrings.

Check out the TEKLA's WEBSITE, WhidbeyIslandMusicFestival as well as her INSTAGRAM.

Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY is on @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM

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You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com.