In 1920 a music manager in Chicago found himself with a tenor to promote and not enough performances.  Harry P. Harrison added a few other performers and offered them as a series of attractions to music clubs, guaranteeing their appearance when enough subscription funds were raised for his “All - Star Series.”  Local music groups had been assuming the financial risk of promoting concerts - often at a deficit.  Community patrons or fund raisers had to make up the balance.

Twelve cities were organized the first year, called Civic Music Associations. These nonprofit groups collected all funds by selling memberships, before contracting for the performing artists.  

Eight years later the same concept was used on the east coast in forming the Community Concerts Association.  The association sent representatives to communities to assist interested citizens in forming organizations.  The Medford Civic Music Association was established in 1931.  The change to Community Concerts was made in 1966.

An intensive one-week membership campaign (usually in March) is guided by association representatives and local volunteers.  Using a team approach, chairmen, captains and workers sell the memberships.  The “Membership Drive” usually kicks off with a banquet or luncheon where instructions are passed out and speeches made.  The majority of the membership comes through renewals, but new ones must also be sold to meet the planned budget.  Anxious board members track the sales and discuss strategy. Volunteer workers report to “Headquarters,” manned by the chairmen and board members. The location has moved around with the years, from Chamber of Commerce offices, to music stores, and different motels who graciously offered free space for a week. The last twenty eight years it has been at the Horizon Inn.

The process has changed very little over the years. Only the faces of the hundreds of volunteers change, but most return year after year to give service.  Numbers are limited to auditorium space, with Medford's peak years of over 2000 members seated on bleachers at Hedrick Middle School.  Current goals are half that for the North High School Auditorium, with comfortable theater seating.  Annually the process is repeated - the organized audience plan making it possible to guarantee concerts.