[1][2] The inaugural edition in 1858 was a four-day music convention organized by Edward Hamilton and Benjamin F.
[2] The Worcester County Musical Convention was formed in 1863, and Carl Zerrahn became its director in 1866.
It changed its name to Worcester County Musical Association in 1877, and decided to call the events festivals instead of conventions.
[2] Victor Herbert was affiliated with the festival as assistant conductor and soloist for three years starting in 1889.
Arthur Fiedler, Peter Nero, Birgit Nilsson, Itzhak Perlman, Beverly Sills, Roberta Peters, Isaac Stern, Leontyne Price, Anna Moffo, Joan Sutherland, André Watts, Duke Ellington, and André Previn also performed at the festival.