Duane Davis, private music instructor, plays the guitar with his student Miles Weaver during the “In Harmony” Heritage Music Festival, Saturday, at the Harmonist-Ziegler Barn.

John Ruch’s dream has come true.

The late-Ruch dreamed of having old, historic building in Harmony be a site for music. He wanted buildings like the Harmonist-Ziegler Barn and Mennonite Meetinghouse to be a place of song.

A year after his passing, the “In Harmony” Heritage Music Festival was born.

“This was his vision, his dream,” Cheryl Speir, event director, said. “He wanted to have these beautiful venues, which were both built in the early 1800s, to have music come out of them. We’re trying to make that happen for him.”

Running Friday and Saturday this year, the festival is a place where local talent can be showcased. Traveling bands, local bands and student performers took the various stages. Friday’s music featured Scott & Rosanna Sindler, Dearest Home, Echo Valley and the Allegheny Drifters at the barn.

However, Saturday, 15 acts, played from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. at both locations.

Included in Saturday’s performances were 12 student musicians. Taught by Duane Davis, a guitarist, bassist and drummer, the performed rotated with each other during the two-hour opening set at the barn.

Read more about the In Harmony Heritage Music Festival in Monday’s Butler Eagle. To learn more about Historic Harmony, visit their website http://www.harmonymuseum.org.