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Keep the Concert Going

Sometimes it takes disappointment to rediscover what you care about.

When Bill Brown and I helped create Madison Cultural Arts and jumped in to save Madison’s Concert on the Green 23 years ago, we found the event had lost leadership and had no money and no way of connecting with those who’d loved it for the last decade. With the help of a great group, we managed to keep the concert going, fundraise, and work with the town and sponsors to create an event we’ve all come to expect on the July 4 weekend.

It’s been a hit—and hadn’t been rained out since the 1990s. Well, the weather didn’t cooperate this year. A scary forecast got worse; it became so bad that we canceled the outdoor event before noon on the day of the concert, following the wishes of the town officials and the performers. The timing saved some expense and gave time for attendees to make alternate plans.

It did sprinkle at 6 p.m., and there was a concert with the Wallingford Symphony that night at the Brown School, but it was tough not to make it the 24th annual night of great music under the stars on the Madison Green (and we lost the opportunity to collect the necessary monetary support from non-patrons during the concert’s normal intermission).

But I wanted to thank residents: Their trust in us has enabled this event to be held and we’re working to ensure the concert goes on with new volunteers and a revived committee. I no longer chair the group or lead the event, but I’m a member of Madison Cultural Arts and we send residents our fondest hopes that they’ll continue to support us.

Fair weather or foul, we hope to see everyone on Saturday, June 30, 2018!

Duo Dickinson

Madison