White Mountain Musical Arts ~ North Conway, NH
Held annually since 1989 on the weekend before Labor Day     August 23-26, 2007
Floyd Whittier Corson, President, Nancy DuCette Farris, Vice President  more>>

History

The Bach Festival in the Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire had its beginning at Christ Church, Episcopal in North Conway. In 1989 Dr. Clarence Snyder, organist at the Episcopal Church had a vision of establishing an annual musical event in the White Mountains which would feature the great instrumental and vocal works of Johann Sebastian Bach.

When Dr. Snyder retired as organist at Christ Church and moved out of the area in 2000, it became necessary to find a way to continue the Bach Festival as great interest on the part of the participating musicians and the general public was very evident. An ad hoc committee was established for the purpose of adopting a mission statement, writing Articles of Agreement & By Laws and acquiring a certified trade name. Successfully completing these tasks in 2001, the Bach Festival, under the newly certified trade name, White Mountain Musical Arts, applied for and was granted a non-profit (501)(c)(3) status in October 2002. The ad hoc committee became the Administrative Board of the White Mountain Musical Arts.

The following Mission Statement was approved by
the Administrative Board in 2001:

The Corporation is organized exclusively to bring public musical performances, primarily live performances of art music to the greater Mt. Washington Valley; and to provide opportunities for education in music through lectures & lecture recitals/concerts. The corporation shall engage only in activities that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section of any future code.

Professional musicians come from many states to participate in the Festival: New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and New Hampshire; many of whom have performed for several years with Festival. Records over the last three years indicate that persons attending the concerts have come from all the New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana and South Dakota.

At the present time, White Mountain Musical Arts sponsors the Annual Bach Festival and the Chamber Music Concert Series. The Bach Festival always is held the last full weekend in August. Click on Other Events for a listing of WMMA: Chamber Concerts.