In 1981, the 4th year of the festival, Pat Dorian responds to Phil Woods' letter about establishing a jazz band made up of young musicians. Of twenty-six high school band directors queried, he's the only one to do so; and the COTA Cats are born. A big band comprised of local high school students, the Cats come together through the continued efforts of Dorian and Woods, and will become a major feature of each festival. Also, new this year is the juried art show, for work with a musical theme, precursor to the Music Motif Show.

May she become a flourishing hidden tree
That all her thoughts may like the linnet be,
And have no business but dispensing round
Their magnanimities of sound.
...so said William Butler Yeats, in "A Prayer for My Daughter."

Other joyful magnanimities of 1981 include theatre and dance presentations inside the Castle Inn recital hall.