A history of the Henniker Summer Concert Series

It all began modestly 45 years ago when New England College Professor of Music Angela Robinson revived a 19th-century tradition of hosting outdoor community concerts. On Tuesday evenings during July and August, Robinson’s volunteer musicians would present an hour of Souza marches and Patriotic tunes to a crowd of 50-100 families and seniors. Blithe Reed would sing the Star Spangled Banner and the Henniker Peace Community would sell lemonade and brownies. Halfway through the program, Robinson would lead a parade of young children through the crowd to a rousing march.

One spring, only three volunteer musicians showed up. Undaunted, Robinson marched into a Henniker Board of Selectmen meeting and asked the town to provide her a budget to hire local bands to continue providing this community service to residents. The board and the town administrator, Peter Flynn, agreed and the town became the sponsor of the Summer Music Series.

The bands now have a permanent home in Henniker’s Community Park, performing in the aptly named Angela Robinson Bandstand, gifted to the town by her husband, the late Walter Robinson, on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. Retired town administrator and current selectman Flynn opens his backyard adjacent to the park and provides lawn games for the children attending the concerts, adding to the festivities. 15 years ago, Angela Robinson decided it was time to retire and returned to the board to ask them to appoint a committee to carry on her work of bringing music to Henniker in the summer.

Recognizing the value of the summer programming as a community-building event, the board made the Summer Concert Series an official town committee. Although the Robinsons are no longer alive, the tradition and magic of music continues. From those humble beginnings on the lawn of the New England College Administration Building, the series has grown over the years, with support from the town and help from the business community, to engage some of the region’s most exciting performers. The crowds have grown, the talent pool has increased and the crowds have blossomed.

Tuesdays in the summer in Henniker are a destination point for people from 15-20 communities within the central and Monadnock Regions of the state. They are treated to an eclectic range of musicians from folk to roots rock, from swing to fusion, from reggae to country, all of it pure Americana and free. The series is now 13 weeks long, beginning in mid-June and extending through Labor Day. Community Park in Henniker on Tuesday evenings brings art and culture together and continues Angela’s legacy.

Visit hennikerconcerts.com for more information.