As a lifelong music lover, Beth Glendinning of Andorra leads a busy life. Philadelphia Orchestra concerts, recitals, chamber music concerts - her full schedule includes all these. She also helps arrange a concert series at Cathedral Village, where she lives.

At 80, she hasn't slowed down at all. Indeed, for the past three years, she's had an especially rewarding experience with young musicians.

Glendinning is a participant in the Host Family program of the Curtis Institute of Music. The prestigious conservatory on Rittenhouse Square accepts only the most gifted musicians, who come from all over the United States and abroad. Each incoming student is matched with a host - or host family - who welcomes and befriends them, introduces them to Philadelphia, and supports their musical activities.

Glendinning is host to four Curtis students. She invites them to recitals and concerts beyond Curtis, takes them out for pizza or dinner when their busy schedules permit, and attends their recitals and concerts.

"I can't do enough for these kids," said Glendinning, a mother and grandmother who has become an unofficial surrogate mother to her Curtis students.

Her connection with Curtis is longstanding. She's been a member of Friends of Curtis and also served on the Curtis Board of Trustees.

Through these activities, she became well-acquainted with the students. "The minute you walk through the doors of Curtis, you fall in love with the students," she said.

She first fell in love with student Benjamin Beilman even before he came to Curtis. Three summers ago, Glendinning was attending the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont and heard him perform as part of a string trio playing a Mozart piece.

"I was so impressed," she recalled. During intermission, she eagerly went over to talk to him and learned that he would soon be attending Curtis.

She had recently volunteered for the host program, and when she returned from Marlboro, she asked to be Beilman's host.

When they first got together for pizza, "he was somewhat shy," recalled Glendinning. "But gradually, we became friends."

She comes to hear him whenever he plays, whether at Curtis or elsewhere. She even returned to Marlboro to hear him again in that venue.

"I call myself a groupie - and I'm the oldest groupie you'll ever see," she said.

Besides following Beilman wherever he plays, she's arranged for him to play at Cathedral Village, her continuing care retirement community. Many residents are music lovers, and Glendinning co-sponsors a concert series of 14 classical music concerts each season.

Last season, Beilman performed twice. "He blew everyone out of their chairs," said Glendinning, beaming with pride.

She was even more thrilled when he returned to Cathedral Village on June 20 for a very special occasion - Glendinning's 80th birthday celebration for 120 guests.

Of course, music was part of the event, and Beilman was one of three musicians who played one of her favorite piece, a Schubert trio.

"Everyone was just overwhelmed by the quality of the music," said Glendinning. And of course, the guest of honor was thrilled.

Music is undoubtedly a fountain of youth for this octogenarian. Attractive and stylishly dressed, she exudes enthusiasm and energy, especially when she talks about Curtis students.