Beginning with a desire to hear and play beautiful music in a refreshing summer setting away from the city, the Manchester Music Festival was formed in 1974 by Carrolll Glenn, violinist, and her husband Eugene List, pianist. The couple established a concert series at the Southern Vermont Arts Center's Arkell Pavilion and founded a music school. They called their summer adventure the Southern Vermont Music Festival. In 1981, Carroll Glenn was offered a chance to play in China a remarkable opportunity for an equally remarkable musician. She had been a child prodigy at 11 the youngest student ever admitted to Juilliard. Carroll Glenn met pianist Eugene List while both were students at Juilliard. They married and toured the world together playing with major orchestras in the US, Europe, South America and the Far East. List himself was a celebrated musician who was given the honor of performing the American premiere of Shostakovitch's Piano Concerto #1 in 1935. Furthermore, List was a favorite of US presidents, especially Harry Truman. On quite a few occasions, List played at the White House and he was even summoned to perform at the Potsdam Conference for Truman, Stalin and Churchill. Since the early 1960s, the couple had visited Manchester, sometimes performing or giving master classes at the Southern Vermont Arts Center.   Michael Rudiakov came to Manchester through a chance meeting with Glenn and List on the trip to China. Rudiakov, a cellist who had carved out a name for himself as a chamber musician, soloist and impresario, accepted the Lists' offer to join the Southern Vermont Festival in 1983. In 1984, the name was changed to the Manchester Music Festival and it became a not-for-profit corporation.   The untimely deaths of Carroll Glenn and Eugene List led to the appointment of Michael Rudiakov as Director in 1985. The Music Festival flourished under Michael's guidance, expanding its educational and performance programming, and growing from a summer festival to a year-round organization, now nearly as active in the "off " season as in the summer.   Concerts and educational projects take place year round. Concerts outside the region serve to gain new friends for the Festival and enhance its reputation.   The core of the Festival's varied activities is the intensive six-week program for gifted young musicians ­ the Young Artists, who come to study chamber music with the distinguished Music Festival faculty. Concurrently, the Music Festival presents a popular series of weekly concerts at the Arts Center's Arkell Pavilion. The Thursday evening concerts are often sold-out as audiences flock to hear performances by the Music Festival's faculty and special guests. Outstanding guest artists such as Richard Goode, Jaime Laredo, Ruth Laredo, Michael Tree, Bernard Greenhouse, Samuel Rhodes, Sharon Robinson, Andre-Michel Schub, Eugenia Zukerman, and Metropolitan Opera stars Jerome Hines and Mignon Dunn have graced the Music Festival's stage. Some of this year's special guests are pianist Adam Neiman, cellists Nathaniel Rosen and Nicholas Tzavaras, and internationally heard operatic soprano Rachelle Durkin.   In 2000, Robyn Madison was named Managing Director of the Festival. The Board of Directors selected Ariel Rudiakov to be Artistic Director in 2001 following the death of his father, Michael. In 2002, the Manchester Music Festival moved into its new home in Manchester Village and began an exciting new era.   The Manchester Music Festival is supported by ticket sales and fees, which cover approximately one-third of the annual budget. The balance comes from individual donors, foundations and corporate gifts. ©  2008 Manchester Music Festival. All rights reserved.