By Emma Barhydt
The Young Artists Philharmonic will present its 2026 Community Excellence in Music Award to the Ashforth Children’s Concert Series at its annual gala on May 18, recognizing more than two decades of sustained contributions to youth music education in Greenwich.
Founded in 2002 by Georgia “Georgie” Ashforth, the concert series has become a longstanding fixture at the Greenwich Library, offering free, professionally curated live performances designed specifically for young audiences. The award will be accepted by Hank Ashforth on behalf of the Ashforth family.
The series was established with a clear objective: to provide children across the community with direct access to high-quality live music. Since its inception, programming has included orchestral, operatic, and chamber music performances, alongside thematic productions such as Peter and the Wolf, Aesop’s Fables, and programs highlighting global musical traditions. Performances regularly incorporate interactive elements, including instrument demonstrations and audience participation.
Presenters have included ensembles such as the American Classical Orchestra, which performs at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, reflecting the series’ emphasis on professional-level musicianship. The concerts are primarily held at the Greenwich Library’s Berkley Theater, with additional programming at the Byram Shubert Library, extending access to western Greenwich.
Rainer Busch, President of the Young Artists Philharmonic, said the recognition reflects the program’s longterm impact on both audiences and aspiring musicians.
“The spark igniting a lifetime passion for music is often lit in childhood—at exactly the kind of program Georgie Ashforth envisioned,” Busch said. The Ashforth Children’s Concert Series has remained free to the public since its founding. Prior to her passing in 2016, Ashforth endowed the program, ensuring its continued operation and stability.
The Ashforth family’s association with the Greenwich Library extends back more than a century, providing ongoing support for the institution’s cultural programming.
The series is administered through the Greenwich Library with support from staff and community partners, including Peterson Music Librarian Dora Salm, who oversees programming, and Hilary Martin Lea of the Friends of Greenwich Library.
For the Young Artists Philharmonic, the award carries particular significance. The organization, which focuses on developing young musicians, identifies early exposure to live performance as a critical factor in musical development. According to the Philharmonic, many of its members first encountered orchestral music through programs like the Ashforth series.
The May 18 gala will formally recognize the series’ role in shaping Greenwich’s cultural landscape through consistent, accessible programming for young audiences.
