Music: the Claflin Hill Musicians

The Blackstone Valley Art & Wine Festival is very pleased to feature the Claflin Hill Musicians at this year's event. Celebrating their 10th Anniversary, the region's finest musicians will entertain and delight festival patrons throughout the three day event. Claflin Hill will perform at the Connoisseur's Evening during the reception and from the Asa Waters Grandstand on Saturday and Sunday. We invite you to enjoy their splendid talents as you stroll the grounds searching for that special piece of art and tasting the splendid selection of wines! (View the festival program schedule.)

The Claflin Hill Music Performance Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1997 by clarinetist Paul Surapine to support and promote The Milford Concert Band, the oldest continuing professional wind ensemble in New England. Recently, this venerable ensemble was renamed The Claflin Hill Summer Winds and continues to perform in Milford and throughout MetroWest.

As an offshoot of the Summer Winds, Mr. Surapine was prompted to create other music series provided Milford and the entire region with stellar performances of live music throughout the year. To date, Claflin Hill produces 4 different concert series each year.

The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra presents 4-5 concerts each year. Each season, we strive to present an eclectic blend of popular and familiar classical music alongside lesser-known pieces with equal merit as great orchestral literature. Our "fusion cuisine" for the classical listener's palette educates and elevates the audiences' level of appreciation. Programming has ranged from an all Mozart concert to a Box of Suites including Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto. Each year, we present a Holiday Pops concert to delight the audience with traditional holiday music. Many years, we have performed great works of opera. Carmen, Tosca and highlights from Verdi showcased some of the finest vocal soloists from throughout New England.

The Memorial Hall Chamber Series presents chamber concerts in the intimate setting of newly renovated Memorial Hall. Each concert allows a soloist of ensemble to perform great chamber music literature. The series is the perfect complement to all of our other series rounding out the complete repertoire of fine classical music.

Adventures in Listening is a series of family concerts designed to entertain children and their families. Each 45-minute concert is packed with energy and enthusiasm. A concert may revolve around an instrument family-- such as The Clarinet Choir-- a famous composer, or a unique style of music. We have showcased Beethoven brought to life as a puppet, The Big Bad Wolf as part of The Carnival of the Animals, and music of Bali complete with authentic drums that children could actually play!

Family Night at the Bandstand Concerts run throughout the summer on Tuesday evenings at The Milford Musician's Pavilion at Milford Town Park. Each week, a different ensemble from the region presents a concert before crowds in excess of 1,500! The Claflin Hill Summer Winds are perennial favorites performing classics for wind ensemble as well as current hits adapted for their repertoire. Other groups include The Irish Troubadours, HELP! Beatles Tribute Band, John Burrows and the Cocabanana Band and The Fantasy Big Band. There's something for everyone at Family Night at the Bandstand.

Claflin Hill is not PBS. We do not receive monetary support from national endowments and federal funding. We rely private individuals and families, as well as business sponsors for donations!

For more information, visit www.claflinhill.org