LEWISTON – The Maine Music Society recently received a grant of $1,500 from the Helen and George Ladd Charitable Corp. to advance its mission as a professional music-performing organization resident in central-western Maine.

That mission is to serve area communities through a commitment to live, public performances, educational and youth-oriented activities, imaginative programming and artistic excellence.

The corporation is an independent foundation established in 1984 in Massachusetts. The foundation’s fields of interest are community development, education and human services with a geographic focus in Maine.

The music society supports the artistic and educational activities of the professional Maine Chamber Ensemble and the adult, mixed-voice Androscoggin Chorale.

Now in its 15th season, the society’s concert programming stretches performance categories. Under the artistic direction of Peter Frewen, the society has staged opera and dance; orchestral, choral, and chamber music concerts; music-theater hybrids; music from centuries past and music newly composed; styles from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to American theater classics.

The society organizes the annual Lewiston-Auburn Garden Tour and Battle of the Blends, the largest a cappella showcase north of Boston. It has educational concerts for middle school students.

The nonprofit corporation relies on private support from individuals, businesses and foundations.