There is nothing more magical in the summer than listening to great music on the beautiful grounds of the Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough or at Anderson Hall on the campus of Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro. As the new Chairman of the Board of the Great Waters Music Festival, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the businesses, individual donors, area partners, and, most importantly, our ticket buyers for helping us fulfill our mission of presenting outstanding musical performances to those of you who live in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire or spend time here as visitors.

I am truly excited about working with Joan Myers, Executive Director, her staff, all board members, our summer interns, and our outstanding corps of volunteers as we honor all that has been built in the past and continue to build a bright and exciting music-filled future. As we set our sights on our 30th anniversary in 2026, I reflect upon how we have grown so much since 1996. We started with one performance at Kingswood High School, moved on to two performances at the Wright Museum, and our partnership with Brewster Academy started at Anderson Hall. We eventually moved into our acoustic tent on the campus. In 2011, we moved to the new Kingswood Arts Center. When Covid shut down the world, people no longer wanted to be inside. As a result, we entered into a strong partnership with the Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough. With so much support, we could erect a state-of-the-art acoustic tent overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee.

As our organization matured, we added a new component to our overarching mission of giving back to the greater community. We now have a substantial scholarship program where students from around the Lakes Region interested in pursuing a career as a music educator, music
performer, or music producer can apply. In 2024, we awarded seven scholarships to Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Gilford, and Alton students. We have built a strong internship program where candidates receive experience in live music venues’ day-to-day (and night!) hands-on operations. And who doesn’t like listening to a five-year-old making their first attempt at hitting the keys or experienced pianists displaying their talents as they perform a piece by one of the Masters on our Street Pianos? In addition, we are advancing our mission by presenting musical experiences for students, not only at Kingswood Regional High School and Brewster Academy but also in school systems throughout the Lakes Region.

This summer, we will present five performances at the Castle and three at Brewster. Broadway star Abby Mueller, piano phenom Peter Cincotti, and Ted Vigil will perform John Denver’s songs. Performances at the Castle will include tributes to Chicago, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Motown, and Tina Turner, plus an entire evening dedicated to the music of the 1980s and 1990s. Our website, www.greatwaters.org, has a calendar of our events and the opportunity to purchase tickets.

As we approach our 30th anniversary, we are constantly working to improve and enhance the experience for our patrons, and we welcome any and all feedback. If you are unfamiliar with Great Waters, would like to volunteer, or support us in any way, please call our office at 603-569-7710 or email us at [email protected] to learn more. Please note that our winter hours are by appointment only.

Whether you are a returning patron or attending Great Waters for the first time, I look forward to welcoming you to one of the most extraordinary evenings you will experience.

See you this summer,
Chris Coulter
Chair of Great Waters