The Music Festival is an event created and organized by The Pennsylvania Consort, an all-volunteer organization that began in 1990 when the original summer festival, held from 1982 to 1989 on the grounds of the Bedford Springs Resort, ended when the hotel closed. Last season we revived a summer festival, but were unable to hold it on the grounds of the just-re-opened hotel. As we continue to work with the Resort on a site for next summer, we will hold one concert, on July 19, 2008 at Old Bedford Village.

The Pennsylvania Consort’s fall and spring activity, the six-concert Guest Artist Series, was founded as a follow-on to the original festival. When the festival ended, Ken Carper, an Eastman School graduate and founder of the Pennsylvania Consort Society, expanded the Society’s scope from a local chamber ensemble to a presenting organization.

The first season of the Guest Artist Series was in 1992-93. Since that time, the Pennsylvania Consort has sponsored a wide variety of artists, from as close as Altoona to as far away as Boston. Among the many artists and groups that have appeared are the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, The Carnegie Brass, the Renaissance City Winds, the Coolidge Quartet, jazz guitarist Joe Negri, the Borealis Wind Quintet, the Mendelssohn Piano Trio, soprano Liesl Odenweller, Metropolitan bass-baritone Terry Cook, and the Pittsburgh Camerata. Our most popular event is the Community Chorus Messiah, whose 21st performance will take place on December 6, 2008.

In order to broaden its community appeal, the Pennsylvania Consort has also expanded its activities to include free concerts and workshops in the schools and free outdoor summer concerts in the Square in downtown Bedford. We have sponsored young people’s concerts and workshops by such groups as the Borealis Wind Quintet, the Lyric Consort, the Dave Leonhardt Jazz Group, folksong group Simple Gifts, and the Eaken Piano Trio. This season we sponsored outreach programs by jazz guitarist Joe Negri, the Monumental Brass, and violinist Ann Fontanella. Our popular outdoor Summer Music on the Square series is in its ninth season, with six concerts on Sunday afternoons beginning June 22.

We support our activities through ticket sales and season subscriptions, advertising revenue, grants, and many generous donations. We would like to welcome you to Bedford County and to its many arts activities. Our website is http://www.artsinbedfordpa.org. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list, just send an e-mail to paconsort@artsinbedfordpa.org, give us a call at the Festival phone number 814-733-2301, or drop us a line at PA Consort, P.O. Box 535, Bedford, PA 15522.