FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOZEMAN, Mont. — October 12, 2026 — Violinist, educator, and Baroque Music Montana founder and Artistic Director Carrie Krause has been named a recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Arts Award, Montana’s highest artistic honor.
Krause is one of six Montanans receiving the award this year in recognition of exceptional achievement in the arts and significant contributions to the cultural life of the state. The awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Montana State Capitol in Helena on December 3rd, 2026 at 2:00 pm.
Krause founded Baroque Music Montana (BaMM) in 2015 with a vision of making historically informed performance accessible throughout the state—particularly in rural communities and unexpected spaces. Now in its ninth season, BaMM presents more than 40 performances annually, featuring period instruments, local and visiting professional musicians, educational workshops, and collaborations with arts organizations and communities throughout Montana.
Krause’s work with BaMM grows out of an international performing career. She has appeared at major early-music festivals and venues including the BBC Proms, Leipzig Bach Festival, and Utrecht Early Music Festival, while performing and collaborating with ensembles and artists throughout Europe and North America. She is concertmaster of the Bozeman Symphony and other local ensembles.
As an educator, Krause maintains a studio of 25 students in the Bozeman area, helping cultivate the next generation of string players while introducing young musicians to the sound, technique, and performance practices of early music.
The Governor’s Arts Award recognizes not simply Krause’s accomplishments as a performer, but the broader cultural impact of her work. Through BaMM, she has helped establish early music as a vibrant part of Montana’s cultural landscape—bringing the intimacy of historically informed performance to audiences across the state.
Media Contact:
Cristin Stokes
Operations Manager
Baroque Music Montana
(406) 579-6825
cristin.forbes@gmail.com
