SAFFORD — The sound of music will come alive in downtown Safford this April as the Matheson Music Foundation joins the Graham County Chamber of Commerce Safford Spring Festival, Powered by Sun Pumps.
Foundation operators Brianna DeRusha and Joe Baxter will take the stage Saturday, April 26, from 2-3 p.m., delivering a lively set of guitar and fiddle-driven Americana, bluegrass, and country favorites.
The foundation will also host The Matheson Music & Play Zone complete with an ongoing musical jam and instrument petting zoo — a hands-on experience for all ages — Friday, April 25, from 5-9 p.m., and Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Matheson Music & Play Zone promotes music education and sparks community engagement.
Founded by Kevin and Ginny DeRusha, the Matheson Music Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through accessible, high-quality music instruction. The organization provides lessons in voice, piano, fiddle, ukulele, and guitar, with an emphasis on music therapy, theory, and songwriting.
In February 2024, the foundation hosted its first Matheson Music Festival, welcoming more than 1,200 attendees to enjoy an incredible weekend of live music — from classic country and bluegrass to Western swing and Americana — creating tourism and boosting local business in the Gila Valley.
Matheson Music Festival will return Feb. 12-16, 2026.
With a mission to build community through music, the Matheson Music Foundation supports cultural growth not only in the Gila Valley but throughout Arizona, New Mexico, and California. Through youth activities, school-based programs, instrument donation and public performances, the foundation is creating meaningful opportunities for students and families to connect, perform and grow.
Learn more at www.Mathesonmusicfoundation.org.
