Mission and History

In 1999, Northwestern University String Department Chair, Peter Slowik, established the first Credo Chamber Music summer festival. His vision was to create a program that addressed musicians in a complex manner, giving them a broader perspective on their musical gifts, engaging them with their communities, and adding a spiritual dimension to their experience. With the help of committed supporters, Slowik founded the Credo Chamber Music Association in Illinois that year upon the mission statement:

Develop the Gift.

Acknowledge the Source.

Respond with Service.

In the summer of 2002, after Slowik joined Oberlin Conservatory, the Credo festival moved to Oberlin. Two years later, he established Slowik Music Institute (dba Credo, SMI-Credo) as the new legal entity for the festival.

In its eleven season history, the Credo summer festival has transformed itself into an international program of considerable repute, attracting talented musicians from across the country and around the world. Bolstered by the success of the festival, and confident about its future prospects, SMI developed new programming to meet the growing demand for SMI's unique brand of music education.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy - think about
such things.
-Philippians 4:8