Bowdoin International Music Festival Receives $3.7 Million Donation

The generous donation comes from the estate of food writer Patricia Crawford Brown

The Bowdoin International Music Festival (BIMF) has received a generous bequest of $3.7 million from the estate of the prominent food writer Patricia Crawford Brown. The donation is the largest in the Festival's 60-year history, and BIMF will use it to establish a fund that will supplement its scholarships — which are currently valued at about $600,000 in total.

Crawford Brown, who died in May 2024 at the age of 90, was a supporter of the festival for 20 years, and also served as one of its trustees. A founding editor at Bon Appetit, she also held roles at Cuisine, HarperCollins, and The New York Times.

Each year, about 250 young artists attend BIMF Institute, many of them coming from outside of the United States. The festival runs a generous financial aid program, and about 70% of students receive a scholarship to attend. Crawford Brown's bequest will help to fund private lessons, studio classes, chamber music coachings, and lectures and seminars — as well as myriad performance opportunities for these young musicians.

Founded in 1964, BIMF attracts over 30,000 audience members to its concerts from late June to early August. Its artistic leaders are David and Phillip Ying, and its faculty are selected from top conservatories — including Juilliard, Curtis, Eastman, and the Cleveland Institute.

"Pat chose to make arts education her legacy, building opportunities for future generations of young musicians," said Daniel Nitsch, the festival's Executive Director. "Her steadfast belief that everyone deserves a quality education, regardless of finances, inspires us all."

Tune in to The Violin Channel on July 29 at 7:30 PM (ET) for a concert with the Turtle Island Quartet.