| Winchendon Music Festival | |
|---|---|
| Genre | classical, folk, jazz, historical performance, and world music |
| Location(s) | Winchendon, Massachusetts, United States |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Founders | Andrew Arceci |
The Winchendon Music Festival (WMF) is a non-profit organization and concert series held in Winchendon, Massachusetts. The Festival showcases performances by international artists from a variety of genres including (but not limited to) classical, folk, jazz, historical performance, and world music. [1] Concerts are free to the public, with support from several local Cultural Councils, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, the Winchendon History & Cultural Center, and the First Congregational Church of Winchendon. [2]
The Winchendon Music Festival was founded in 2016 [3] by multi-instrumentalist, scholar, and composer Andrew Arceci, [4] and dedicated to the memory of his late father, Robert J. Arceci, MD, PhD (1950-2015). Dr. Arceci was a pediatric oncologist from Winchendon, with a passion for the arts. [5]
The Winchendon Music Festival presents solo, small ensemble, and chamber orchestral programs. [6] [7] Noted artists have included Aldo Abreu, Anne Azéma, Arcadia Players, Asako Takeuchi, Colin Davin, Emily Marvosh, Floyds Row, John Arcaro, Joshua Rifkin, Krista River, Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, Randall Scotting, Teresa Wakim, and others. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
Festival founder and Director Andrew Arceci leads several of the Festival's musical programs each year, [18] performing on viola da gamba, violone, and bass. [19] [20]
Performances for the Winchendon Music Festival take place at several venues around Winchendon, including the American Legion-Post 193, Beals Memorial Library, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Murdock-Whitney House (Winchendon History & Cultural Center), Old Centre Church (Old Centre Historic District), and the Robinson Broadhurst Amphitheater. [21] [22] [23] [24] During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2021 Festival pivoted to online offerings for the Winchendon community, resuming a full schedule of live performances in 2022. [25] [26] [27] [28]