GARDINER -- A unique symphony orchestra that plays on an even more unique stage -- a floating barge that transforms itself into a self-contained concert shell -- is expected to perform here on the Kennebec River this summer.

Robert Boudreau, conductor of the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and skipper of the barge Point Counterpoint II, met with the Augusta City Council recently and also has met with performing arts stakeholders in Gardiner.

He's been in Maine lining up potential concerts for this summer, including a mid-July series of performances in central Maine over three days culminating in a free concert on Gardiner's Kennebec River waterfront.

While the symphony itself, composed of 45 young musicians from around the world, is renowned for its performances, their floating performance space is as much part of the spectacle as it is a platform for the arts.

The 190-foot watercraft designed by the late, renowned architect Louis Kahn, converts from a barge to a stage and concert shell, complete with its own sound system, generators, and an art gallery.

For 52 years, Boudreau and his barge have brought contemporary classical music to people, often in places that don't have their own concert facilities. He said he especially wants children to be exposed to the music.

"Children must know they can dream," Boudreau told city councilors in Augusta, explaining symphony musicians work closely with area young musicians for the three or four days the barge is at anchor in a community. "That's what this boat is. It's a dreamboat."

Gardiner Main Street is taking the leadership role in bringing the orchestra to central Maine. However Executive Director Linda Edgerton noted the performance should be seen as a regional event.

The traveling orchestra's price tag to come and perform is $30,000, a total officials hope to raise from contributors and sponsors from throughout the area.

The date is not set but July 10, 11 and 12 are under consideration.

"It's not just for Gardiner, not just for Augusta, it's for the whole region," Edgerton said. "Things like this don't happen all the time. It's going to be something spectacular. It's a big, free public event."

Edgerton said Boudreau will likely meet with the Gardiner City Council in mid-February.

The visit by the Point Counterpoint II and orchestra, which over the last 50 years has traveled throughout much of the world's waterways, is not yet a sure thing. There is not yet a contract in place and Edgerton said Boudreau may be looking to line up additional concerts in Maine to make the most of the barge's trip.

So far, a similar event is also planned in the Biddeford-Saco area, where officials from both those cities have agreed to fund the performance, Edgerton said.

Arts leaders in cities where the floating symphony has performed before speak highly of the show.

"They were fabulous," said Frank Juliano, executive director of the Greenwich Arts Council, of a 2007 series of performances in Greenwich, Conn. "The musicians are good. Very good. But the vessel itself is also quite remarkable. It opens up in this hydraulic origami, and becomes a performance space."

Augusta officials had hoped to bring the barge up to the city's waterfront, but Community Services Director Leif Dahlin said the logistics of getting the large watercraft upriver to Augusta proved too difficult to manage, in part due to concerns of the craft making it up the channel of the river to Augusta.

Boudreau said some or all of the musicians will also perform, off the boat, elsewhere in the region, including a planned performance at Old Fort Western in Augusta. Some of the performances would likely be private events for donors.

Jay Adams, director and curator for Old Fort Western, said the Fort's board of directors has already agreed to contribute $2,500 toward the cost of bringing the symphony to the region.

Gardiner's waterfront, expanded over the last couple of years, would appear to offer a significant amount of space for spectators to sit onshore and take in a concert. Edgerton speculated 3,000 or more people could take in the show there.

While Boudreau and his wife and crew travel on the barge, the musicians travel by land. When in the area they would stay with local families. Boudreau said they try to place musicians in homes with children who play the same instruments as the musician they're hosting, in an effort to provide some mentoring during their stay.

Edgerton said anyone interested in hosting a musician, or contributing to fundraising efforts to bring the orchestra here, may contact Gardiner Main Street at www.gardinermainst@aol.com or 582-3100.

The orchestra recently played in Europe. It has never been to Maine. When not traveling with the Point Counterpoint II, Boudreau, who describes himself as the son of a chicken farmer, lives in the Pittsburgh area.

"I came here because I've never been on the Kennebec River," Boudreau said.

Organization efforts are still in their early stages. Edgerton said the Gardiner Main Street Board of Directors recently agreed the organization should take on the project.

"We see it as a really, really extraordinary opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something like this and showcase our waterfront," Edgerton said. "And an opportunity for all our communities to collaborate regionally. It's still in the talking stage, but it's looking good."

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com