Coastal Mountains Land Trust will hold a special performance as part of the 2026 Arts on the Hill concert series.

The seven-time Grammy-winning Paul Winter Consort, featuring vocalist Theresa Thomason, is coming to Rockport on Friday, Aug. 28, to present a unique sunset concert on Beech Hill. The concert will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the summit of the Preserve.

The Consort will include cellist Eugene Friesen, pianist Henrique Eisenmann, bassist Peter Slavov, percussionist Tareq Rantisi, along with Theresa Thomason and Winter's soprano sax.

Entitled "This Glorious Earth", the concert will also feature the voices of Whale, Wolf, and Wood Thrush, along with other members of what Winter calls "the greater symphony of the Earth."

This concert is generously sponsored by long-time friends of Paul Winter, Jane and Bill Stetson, and is free and open to all.

Beech Hill Preserve is located at 316 Beech Hill Rd, Rockport, ME. Parking at Beech Hill Preserve is available on site but is limited, so attendees are encouraged to carpool whenever possible, according to CMLT, in a news release.

The walk to the summit is considered easy; approximately a half mile climb with 200ft elevation gain, along a gravel farm road with a few benches available for resting along the way. Please contact the Land Trust at 207-236-7091 if you would like additional information about accessibility needs. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic to enjoy during the performance. Please note that dogs are not permitted at this event.

"Given that this is an outdoor concert, please check our website and social media for updates in the event of inclement weather," said CMLT.

Directions to Beech Hill: From Camden, go south on Rt. 1 and turn right onto Beech Hill Rd. The parking lot is on the left in 1.6 miles. The trailhead and parking lot address is 316 Beech Hill Rd., Rockport, ME 04843.

The 2026 Arts on the Hill concert series is also supported by local business sponsors: Cold Mountain Builders, Bangor Savings Bank, Camden Coast Real Estate, and Eastern Tire & Auto Service.

About Coastal Mountains Land Trust and Beech Hill Preserve

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land and connect people with nature in the western Penobscot Bay region. The Land Trust has protected over 13,500 acres, offering 55+ miles of trails for public recreation. 

Beech Hill Preserve was the Land Trust’s first property and was conserved in partnership with Jane and Bill Stetson and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The Preserve is 299-acres and has an open hilltop at the summit that offers fantastic panoramic views of the Penobscot Bay and mountains – a terrific hiking, picnicking, and birding destination. Highlights include the Beech Nut, a historic sod-roofed stone hut built in 1914. The Preserve is managed for bird habitat and organic blueberries and is home to several community wide events including Arts on the Hill live concerts, community blueberry free picks, and the Land Trust’s annual Kites and Ice Cream event.

Learn more about the Land Trust, preserves, and events at www.coastalmountains.org

Make a gift in honor of the Land Trust’s 40th Anniversary and this special concert: www.coastalmountains.org/give

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About Paul Winter and his Consort

Paul Winter’s musical odyssey has long embraced the traditions of the world’s cultures, as well as the wildlife voices of what he refers to as “the greater symphony of the Earth.” From the early days of his college jazz sextet, which toured 23 countries of Latin America for the State Department and performed the first-ever jazz concert at the White House for the Kennedys in 1962, to his later ensemble, the Paul Winter Consort, his concert tours and recording expeditions have taken him to 52 countries and to wilderness areas on six continents, where he has traveled on rafts, dog sleds, mules, kayaks, tug-boats and Land Rovers. He has recorded 45 albums, of which seven have been honored with Grammy® Awards. 

Since 1980, Paul and his Consort have been artists-in-residence at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where they have presented over 200 unique events, including their famed annual Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice Celebrations, as well as the performance each October of their ecological mass (Missa Gaia/Earth Mass).