About the Saco River Festival Association

Co-founded by Frank and Ruth Glazer in 1976, the Saco River Festival Association was created with a mission to present the best in music through performances by major artists, encourage and nurture community appreciation of the arts, and develop the musical interests of school age children through meaningful educational programs in the schools.

The Saco River Festival Association is the first organization in Southwestern Maine to bring professional ensembles of high quality into the schools and the community on a regular basis and in many ways has provided a venue for children and families living in rural Maine communities who have never had an opportunity to listen to live music or have limited means to attend musical performances.

For some, the Festival Association has made it possible for families to hear classical music for the first time in their lives. Not only have we been the proud recipients of grants from the Maine Arts Commission and an award from the New York Times Foundation, but we have attracted national attention as well. Chamber Music, a widely read national arts magazine, published a feature story about our successful school programs, now replicated across the nation.


Who would have known that the Saco River Festival Association, which had such a humble beginning in 1976, would be such a respected presence in southern Maine today – still tirelessly carrying out its mission to enrich the lives of young children and celebrate the performing arts in rural Maine. 

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