The Elan International Music Festival program was developed by Ronald Neal in 1996, as a result of two and a half decades experience as artistic director of music festivals, collaborating with international concert artists and faculty from the leading musical institutions of the world including faculty of the Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute, Oberlin School, University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music, Yale School of Music, Korean National School of the Arts, Toho School (Japan) and the Beijing Central Conservatory. The mission of Elan International is to develop environments conducive to the study and exchange of musical ideas and techniques for musicians of stature from diverse regions throughout the world. Master Artist Teachers joined by emerging young artists form the basic structure of these cultural exchanges. Elan International Music Festivals have been held in Taos and Angel Fire, New Mexico and in Stowe and Stratton, Vermont. The Elan ideal was expanded in 2003 when Ronald Neal served as artistic director of the first Northern China International Chamber Music Festival held in Shenyang.

Summer of 2008 will mark the first Elan venture in Dallas.

Ronald Neal and Gary Levinson, Directors