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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   June 17, 2008

SACO RIVER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 610 
Parsonsfield, Maine 04047

FRANK GLAZER will play a Benefit Concert for the Saco River Festival Association on Sunday, August 10,2008 at 4 pm in Corthell Hall at University of Southern Maine in Gorham, Maine. The concert will be in memory of Ruth Gevelt Glazer-Frank’s late wife-who with Frank established the Saco River Festival Association over thirty years ago.

Frank Glazer is one of the most compelling musical personalities of our day. His qualities as a superlative artist have been attested to by critics the world over. For fifteen years Mr. Glazer was Professor of Piano at Eastman School of Music and is beginning  his twenty-ninth year as Artist in Residence at Bates College in
Lewiston, Maine. 

Currently he maintains a busy schedule performing concerts, presenting lectures, conducting master classes and teaching -most recently at Tanglewood and in Vienna. 

Selections will include music by Joseph Hayden, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and Frederic Chopin. For more information please call 207 625 3397.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   June 18, 2007

SACO RIVER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 610 
Parsonsfield, Maine 04047

For Further Information Contact: 
Janet Wade, Saco River Festival Association
Email: janbwade@adelphia.net

Youth Music Awards - Outstanding Musical Performances

Music and the Performing Arts have been scientifically proven to be as important as the three R’s: reading, writing and ‘ rithmetic. Fine Arts programs build critical thinking skills, math skills and discipline. Music prevents gang and criminal involvement, builds self -respect and self-esteem and leads to academic achievement.

On June 1, 2007, seven of southern Maine’s most talented student musicians were proof of the benefits of music education, as they came together to compete in the Saco River Festival Association’s 6th annual Youth Music Award competition.

Three of the competitors came directly to the competition from taking S.A.T. College exams that morning. The prestigious music competition was held in the Porter Town Hall, as part of Kezar Falls’ Lilac Festival.

Of the seven finalists, two are students at Deering High School: Jennifer Rothbart (piano), and Jiyeon Kim (piano). Andrew Korda (viola) is a student at Thorton Academy, in Saco, Alexander Hollenbeck (viola) is a student at Waterville High School, Laura Ingram (piano) is a student at Brunswick High School, Luke Fredette (piano) is home educated in Cornish, and Casey Jones (violin) is a student at Yarmouth High School. 

The students were required to play two pieces of contrasting style. All seven musicians performed intricate music extremely well. The audience was dazzled with the beautiful classical music performances and the professionalism of the young musicians.

The distinguished judges, Christina Astrachan, Duncan Cumming, Hilary Cumming and S.R.F.A. were impressed with the high caliber of talent and they commented on how difficult it was to choose the top three winners.

All the finalists received a certificate. The top three musicians each won a framed certificate and a cash award and the 1st place winner will perform at a Saco River Festival Association concert that will be held this summer.

The three competitors chosen as winners are:
1st place: Casey Jones, Yarmouth, Maine (violin)
2nd place: Jiyeon Kim, Portland, Maine (piano)
3rd place: Laura Ingram, Brunswick, Maine (piano)

    Sharon Beever
    Education Chairperson, Saco River Festival Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 25, 2006

SACO RIVER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 610 
Parsonsfield, Maine 04047

For Further Information Contact: 
Janet Tobkin, Board Member
Saco River Festival Association

On Saturday, May 20^th, 2006 at 7:00 p.m., Frank Glazer, internationally-renown pianist and co-founder of the Saco River Festival Association, will be performing a benefit concert at Corthell Hall on USM’s Gorham campus to raise funds for the Festival Association’s educational programs.  The program, entitled, “A 70^th Anniversary” will feature Glazer’s identical program which he performed at his Town Hall debut program in New York City on October 20, 1936.  Music lovers will experience a unique opportunity and be treated to an exquisite program of English suites, sonatas, and ballades written by Bach, Brahms, Schubert, and Chopin. 

Glazer is a well respected pianist and recording artist who has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and around the globe as recitalist, chamber music player, and soloist with orchestra.  He has appeared on NBC and CBS TV networks and has recorded for Vox, Candide, Everest, Concert Disc, and Musical Heritage.  Throughout a distinguished performing career, Glazer has played with most of the major orchestras including the Boston and Chicago Symphonies, the New York Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and the Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris.  He has lectured at universities in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the United States, conducted seminars and master classes where he has concertized, and given free concerts for school-age children throughout the United States and Europe.

In 1976, Frank and his wife, Ruth, founded the Saco River Festival Association which recently celebrated its 30^th anniversary.  The Festival Association has earned a respected reputation in Southern Maine with its mission to present the best in music through performances by major artists, encourage and nurture community participation of the arts, and develop the musical interests of school-age children through meaningful educational programs.

A limited number of tickets are available for $30 each and can be purchased through email at srfa@psouth.net.  Tickets will be held at the door unless purchased in advance by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope with check made payable to SRFA, P.O. Box 610, Parsonsfield, ME  04047. 

Visit the Saco River Festival’s website at www.sacoriverfestival.org to stay current with upcoming concerts and music programming activities.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   February 27, 2006

SACO RIVER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 610 
Parsonsfield, Maine 04047

For Further Information Contact: 
Janet Tobkin, Board Member
Saco River Festival Association
Email jtobkin@dwmlaw.com

On Friday, March 17th, 2006 at 7:30 p.m., Maine’s own internationally-known duo, Castlebay, will perform at a St. Patrick’s Day Celtic benefit concert at Pike Hall in Cornish, Maine to help raise funds to support Saco River Festival Association’s children music programming activities for local schools.

Fred Gosbee and Julia Lane, both natives of Maine, are known for their intelligent arrangements of traditional music and have received critical praise for their evocative original compositions. In concert, Castlebay treats the audience to a musical journey which weaves together the timeless traditions of Maine’s nautical legacy and its poignant Scottish and Irish heritage with Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle and whistles. Their work is reminiscent of music of their Celtic ancestors. Julia Lane, also an exceptional vocalist, is “one of the Maine coast’s foremost voices”, whose voice has been called “lovely, vibrant”, reminiscent of Jean Redpath”, and compared favorably with Loreena McKennitt, Triona ni Dhonaill, and Judy Collins. Gosbee’s finely crafted narrative ballads have since been recorded by other artists and have garnered him invitations to international festivals including the International Festival of the Sea in England. Castlebay has toured extensively throughout the Eastern U.S., Ireland, England, and Scotland and has been featured on radio and television. The duo is scheduled to be featured on Channel 6’s “207” show to help promote awareness of this community benefit concert. This is an evening that shouldn’t be missed – music lovers will be treated to Celtic music by two of the finest performing artists in North America. Tickets are expected to sell out fast and will be sold at the door the evening of the concert. In the event of severe inclement weather, the concert will be rescheduled to play on Sunday, March 19th at 2:00 p.m. 

Founded in 1976 by Frank and Ruth Glazer, the Saco River Festival Association has earned a respected reputation in Southern Maine with its mission to present the best in music through performances by major artists, encourage and nurture community participation of the arts, and develop the musical interests of school-age children through meaningful educational programs.

To enable as many families as possible to attend this festive evening event, tickets are being offered at a significantly reduced price of $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for 18 years and under. For more information, email Janet Tobkin at jtobkin@dwmlaw.com. Visit the Saco River Festival’s website at www.sacoriverfestival.org to stay current with upcoming concerts and children’s music programming activities.

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