NH Music Festival

[VitaBene]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2010/01/11/orchestrating_a_victory_in_nh/

I saw this story in the Globe this AM regarding the NH Music Festival in Wolfeboro.

[C Tucker]

Great to hear that the board of directors is finally getting some sense. As our family have been long time season ticketholders and donors, I was appalled at some of the actions of the past year. I am not against change, and believe some is needed for the NHMF. But change in secret with no explanations, no dialogue, and obvious disdain of the donors, concertgoers and orchestra musicians was no plan for success.

For those of you who have not attended, the NHMF has been six weeks of concerts including Tuesday chamber concerts, Thursday and Friday full orchestra concerts and Saturday Pop and Jazz orchestra concerts held at Plymouth State University. Last year Saturday concerts were at the Gilford High School (smart idea) and Friday concerts were omitted (unfortunate), as was the chorus which in the past sang one concert with the orchestra. The NH Music Festival's current headquarters are located at the former Red Hill Inn (formerly Belknap College) in Center Harbor.

[ghfromaltonbay]

More than 30 years ago, the NHMF held Thurs. evening concerts in the gym at Interlakes High School and Friday night at Silver Hall at Plymouth State. The lack of AC at Interlakes made for some steamy evenings, but for those of us in the Alton/Gilford area this beat driving to Plymouth and back late at night. I believe in 1982 or 83 the Thurs. night concert moved to Moultonborough Academy since they were doing work on Interlakes over the summer. After that year, some wise person(s) decided to hold the Thurs. night concerts in the air-conditioned auditorium in Gilford Middle High School. Those of us from Alton & Wolfeboro were thrilled, but for some reason about 10 years ago they dropped Gilford as a venue. I don't know why the NHMF thought we would all be thrilled to schlep to Plymouth, especially since many around me were obviously seniors. They did provide a shuttle bus to Plymouth, but then you still had to drive home to wherever. I believe that really hurt attendance, but the changes that were introduced were not helpful. I'm hoping that attendance will rise now that things have settled down. The concerts were always a special treat during the summer.

[DickR]

"The NH Music Festival's current headquarters are located at the former Red Hill Inn (formerly Belknap College) in Center Harbor."

Aren't they planning to construct a music hall there? That would be a nice place if they do it. Any schedule on that?

[BroadHopper]

"The NH Music Festival's current headquarters are located at the former Red Hill Inn (formerly Belknap College) in Center Harbor."

Aren't they planning to construct a music hall there? That would be a nice place if they do it. Any schedule on that?

I went by the property last fall. I notice the Inn is no longer standing. Or the barns and other buildings. Makes me think the BOD are not keen into preserving fine buildings or the past.

[C Tucker]

See today's report in the Laconia Daily Sun, www.laconiadailysun.com .
Three board members resign, chairman transitioning from position, president Graham gone in May, Henry Fogel out.

Probably, of more general interest, the Red Hill property will be put on the market.

[BroadHopper]

Had a long historical past. Was once the Dame family estate, a diary farm, a college and an Inn. The property at one time spread to the shores of Squam lake with a boathouse and nice sandy beach. The property also went up to the top of the hill in back of the house.

Now, there is not much left. The buildings are gone and most of the land been sold off.

[fatlazyless]

Is there any chance the New Hampshire Music Festival could move its' home over to the nearby Silver Center for the Arts at Plymouth State University and use the proceeds from selling their large former Red Hill Inn property in Center Harbor to further NHMF long-term music goals?