About the Three Rivers Performing Arts Institute

In the spring of 2010, a chance encounter between violin virtuoso Danielle Belen and Bill Haxton initiated a chain of events that forever changed the little town of Three Rivers: a few short weeks later, the Center Stage Strings summer music camp was born. To make the camp possible, residents of Three Rivers volunteered hundreds of hours of time and contributed generously to support the music camp, including opening their homes as lodging for the camp’s faculty and students.

Held in June of 2010, the first camp was a resounding success.  Faculty came from the highest altitudes of the music world; students hailed from Bulgaria, China, Korea and from all over the United States; and the concerts presented during the camp played to enthusiastic full houses every night.

 Shortly after that first camp, Bill created the nonprofit Three Rivers Performing Arts Institute, which would continue to support Danielle’s annual music camp, but which would also host events of its own.

Believing high quality performances should be available to everyone, local businesses, citizens and service organizations have eagerly supported the endeavor. Because of their generous sponsorships, the Performing Arts Institute’s concerts can be attended at the very low price of $12, and students, children and the adults who bring them attend free.

The Present

Three Rivers Performing Arts Institute now hosts two main events: the Winter Concert Series and Concert on the Grass, whose origins date back thirty years. Supporting these events and also the summer music camp, a small army of volunteers serve as ushers, greeters, piano movers, lodging hosts and much more.