The Blue Hill Concert Association held its first concert on January 13th, 1979. What began as an organization to promote musical groups throughout Maine and New England has expanded into a solid tradition, a benchmark for fine chamber music performed by nationally and internationally known artists.
Concerts are held at the First Congregational Church on Main Street in Blue Hill. Guest musicians comment on the fine acoustics of the hall, the astuteness of the audience, and the warmth of their reception. Dottie Hayes began the tradition of presenting shows of local artists to accompany the concerts with work displayed downstairs in Jonathan Fisher Hall.
The Blue Hill Concert Association has always encouraged an appreciation of classical music in young people. We welcome children to our concerts, and those twenty-one and under are admitted free of charge. Our Educational Outreach program provides free workshops to local schools.
Many people contributed to the founding of the Blue Hill Concert Association, including musicians Masanobu Ikemiya, Claude Monteux, and Gillian Shaffer; minister of The First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, Curtis Beech; early program directors BG Thorpe and Doug Damrosch; artist Dorothy Hayes; and David Witter who served as BHCA president for over a decade. Also offering critical support for the young organization were Mary Chase, Vernon Gotwals, David Hall, Tom Schroth, Dominic Mercadante, Marjorie Yesley, and Ruth Davis.