At a meeting of the Beverly-Salem [Massachusetts] Civic Music Association and the Danvers Community Concert Association executive boards on Tuesday, January 15, 1963, the consolidation of the two organizations was ratified. The result of this merger was the Essex County Community Concert Association, which was affiliated with the national Community Concert Association, an arm of Columbia Artists.

Dr. Charles J. Mekelatos of Salem was the first president of the newly-formed association. The concerts of the 1963-64 season were held at Salem State College. The Essex County Community Concert Association opened its membership roll to any residents of any community in the county. Members of the association were also invited to attend concerts of reciprocal music organizations as close as Lynn and as far as Nashua, New Hampshire, at no extra cost. According to the bylaws, at least three concerts or recitals would be presented annually by the Essex County Community Concert Association. Funds for the association were raised by an annual membership campaign for the collection of dues and such other fund-raising projects as determined by the board of directors. Admission to concerts was by membership card issued by the secretary. No single admissions were sold for individual events. In 1976, the concerts were moved to the new Salem High School.

Because the Essex County Community Concert Association was unable to obtain enough members to sustain the programs for the 1989-90 season, it was decided to disband the organization at the end of the 1988-89 season.