Bowdoin International Music Festival Receives $3.7 Million Gift

Brunswick, ME (July 25, 2024) — The Bowdoin International Music Festival announces a $3.7 million bequest from Patricia Crawford Brown, an ardent supporter and Trustee of the organization. The gift, the largest in the Festival’s 60-year history, establishes a fund to support student scholarships. Earnings from the fund will supplement the nearly $600,000 in scholarships awarded annually, further enabling young musicians from around the globe to study at the renowned music institute in Brunswick.

Pat was born in Long  Beach, CA in 1933. After graduating from the University of Southern California, she spent her career in book and magazine publishing, where notably she was a founding editor of Bon Appetit and editor-in-chief of Cuisine. Pat mentored countless food writers and editors until her death in May 2024 at the age of 90.

Pat and her husband retired to Brunswick in 2001. Her love of the arts led her to the Bowdoin International Music Festival where she was honored in 2023 for her tireless work raising scholarship funds for young musicians.

“Bequests provide a unique opportunity to do meaningful and perpetual good for a cherished cause,” said Daniel Nitsch, Executive Director of the Festival. “Pat chose to make arts education her legacy, building opportunities for future generations of young musicians. Her steadfast belief that everyone deserves a quality education, regardless of finances, inspires us all.”

Pat Brown with violinist Becca Kasdan, one of many Festival young musicians that Pat sponsored over the years.

Festival Mission
The mission of the Bowdoin International Music Festival is to prepare gifted young musicians from around the world for a life in music through study with world-class artists, and to present classical music in concerts throughout Midcoast Maine at the highest artistic standards. Over its 60-year history, the Festival has established itself as a vital force throughout the music world. Visit us at bowdoinfestival.org.