A Legacy that Plays On: Discover the Encore Society
The New Hampshire Music Festival and its exceptional concerts hold a special place in the hearts of many. As the Music Festival nears its 75th Anniversary, we are looking ahead to the next 75 years. Our goal is to ensure that the Festival continues to provide quality music that you and future generations will love. We’re happy to share a way to do so: The Encore Society! The Encore Society is a group of Festival lovers who plan to leave a gift to NHMF because it has been important in their lives. A planned gift could be a bequest in your will, naming NHMF as a beneficiary on an IRA, or some other future gift. When received, your gift will help sustain the Festival into the future. If you already have planned a gift for the Festival, please let us know. Planned gifts can always be anonymous, but we’d love to thank and recognize you as an Encore Society member in our Season Program. To join this very special group, please fill out the confidential membership enrollment form. Completed forms can be mailed directly to our office at PO Box 64, Plymouth, NH 03246 or email it in confidence to encoresociety@nhmf.org. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call Erin Brooker-Miller, our Executive Director, at 603-238-9007 ext 1002.
Erin Brooker-Miller named Executive Director of New Hampshire Music Festival
The New Hampshire Music Festival is thrilled to announce the appointment of Erin Brooker-Miller as Executive Director effective October 20, 2024. After an extensive national search, Erin was brought on as Festival Director in March 2024 to assist volunteer Co-Executive Directors and festival musicians Joe Higgins and Tido Janssen with the planning and execution of the 2024 summer season. Erin quickly demonstrated an ability to manage a massive amount of new information and her excellent organizational skills were essential to the successful 2024 NHMF season. Both Joe and Tido believed she would be an excellent choice to lead the NHMF, building on the contributions of many volunteer musicians and community members. They recommended her promotion to the Board of Directors, and she was unanimously offered the position. Joe and Tido will both remain involved in the artistic leadership of the festival and maintain their positions on the Board of Directors. Artistic decision making will stay within the realm of the Musicians of the New Hampshire Music Festival. Erin’s work ethic, experience, knowledge, and education make her a perfect fit to lead the NHMF into an exciting new chapter. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from the University of Illinois, a Master of Music in Harp Performance from Indiana University with a concentration in Arts Administration, and an MBA from Marquette University. Erin was the Executive Director of the USA International Harp Competition from 2015 to 2020. In addition to her administrative career, she has experience onstage and as a member of negotiating and orchestra committees as the Principal Harpist of the Des Moines Symphony. Erin has performed throughout the United States including with the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Nashville Opera, Kansas City Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic, and others. Erin and her husband Andy quickly became members of the NHMF “family” this summer and we look forward to having them both around for many years to come. The musicians, Board of Directors, and staff look forward to working alongside her to foster a bright and successful future for the NHMF.
Music Without Stoplights
Not only is it easy to attend concerts of the New Hampshire Music Festival, concerts without traffic, expensive parking and added cost. But the music, as a metaphor, is without stoplights. These are full on professional, talented and dedicated musical craftspeople. In many cases they are first chairs in their home orchestras. So why have these musicians come to Plymouth New Hampshire for the past 71 years? Because there are no stoplights. No stoplights to slow down the amazing artistic experience. No stoplights to spoil the view of the beautiful lakes and mountains. And no stoplights to their musical expression. So there is nothing stopping you, the concert audience, from experiencing the 72nd year of the New Hampshire Music Festival. No stoplights.