McGRATHPR.com – As the days grow shorter and New England’s treescapes burst into brilliant color, a remarkable season of arts, entertainment, education and cultural experiences unfold across Greater Boston, the South Shore, New England and beyond. Discover performances, festivals, exhibitions and programs that capture the rich spectrum of autumn. Enjoy all that’s ahead:
South Shore Conservatory
‘Arts Open House’
Saturday, September 12, 12 to 2 pm
SSC Hingham – One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
SSC Duxbury – 64 St. George Street, Duxbury
Admission is free, registration is recommended at https://forms.gle/A4i656dDaXts7zW4A
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) invites families to explore everything SSC has to offer, discover its wide range of creative programs, and see how music, dance, and the arts can enrich their family’s life. Attendees will meet SSC’s outstanding teaching artists and staff, ask questions about lessons and programs, tour one of their campuses, and get personalized guidance on which instruments, classes, or ensembles might be the best fit for them or their child. Whether a new family or returning for another year of arts education, it’s a great opportunity to prepare for an exciting arts-filled year ahead.
SSC Youth Orchestra’s ‘2026 Fall Auditions’
Wednesday, September 9, 6 to 8 pm, SSC’s Hingham campus, in person
Wednesday, September 16, 6 to 8 pm, SSC’s Duxbury campus, in person
Wednesday, September 23, 6 to 8 pm, SSC’s Duxbury campus, in person
Learn more or register at https://sscmusic.org/sscyo/.
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) is holding auditions for its SSC Youth Orchestra program this fall, welcoming young musicians from across the South Shore. In-person auditions are held at both SSC’s Hingham and Duxbury campuses. Video auditions are also available upon request for students unable to attend in person.
‘Hollywood in Hingham’
Saturday, October 3, 3 pm
South Shore Conservatory’s Carr Amphitheater, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Learn more at sscmusic.org.
Firebird Pops Orchestra brings the full power of live music and synchronized multi-media design to the Carr Amphitheater in Hingham. The first performance of South Shore Conservatory’s 26/27 season of Premier Concert Series, Hollywood in Hingham promises an afternoon of movie-music magic, featuring John Williams classics, including unforgettable music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and E.T.. This concert invites families, film lovers, and orchestra fans to experience iconic scores the way they were meant to be heard — big, bold, and performed live. Sit under the pavilion, or bring a lawn chair and let the kids move around, play lawn games, and enjoy a relaxed outdoor concert imagined for the whole family.
‘An Acoustic Affair’
Sunday, November 8, 12 noon
South Shore Conservatory, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham
Learn more at sscmusic.org.
“An Acoustic Affair” is a fun, hands-on event for students who love pop, rock, and folk music in an acoustic setting. The event kicks off with a live performance featuring SSC faculty alongside student musicians, highlighting the creativity, musicianship, and connections that make acoustic music so engaging.
Participants then dive into interactive faculty-led masterclasses to explore a variety of topics designed to help them grow as performers and collaborators. The event wraps up with an open jam session where students play together, try out new ideas, and make music in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Whether you sing or play guitar, piano, bass, percussion, or another acoustic instrument, “An Acoustic Affair” is a great opportunity to learn something new, connect with other musicians, and enjoy a day of making music together.
South Shore Conservatory Presents: ‘New York Voices Farewell Tour’
Sunday, November 15, 3 pm
Scituate Center for the Performing Arts, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy, Scituate
Learn more at sscmusic.org
This special South Shore Conservatory Premier Concert Series performance delivers the last chance to experience New York Voices live, as the internationally-celebrated vocal jazz ensemble brings its farewell tour to Scituate Center for the Performing Arts. Known for dazzling close harmony, swing, and sophisticated jazz-pop arrangements, New York Voices has set the standard for vocal ensemble artistry for decades.
This special concert is both a celebration and a farewell — a rare opportunity to hear their signature sound, impeccable musicianship, and warm stage presence one final time on the South Shore.
SSC Youth Orchestra’s ‘Fall Concert’
Sunday, November 22, 3 pm
Duxbury Performing Arts Center, 73 Alden Street, Duxbury
Tickets are $15 for adults, ages 18 and under attend for free
Learn more at sscmusic.org/sscyo/
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) presents its SSC Youth Orchestra’s annual fall concert. This performance showcases the exceptional musical talents of young musicians from across the South Shore.
About South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) is a community school for the arts on Boston’s South Shore, welcoming individuals of all ages and abilities. With campuses in Hingham and Duxbury, SSC’s programs provide creative opportunities for lifelong learning through outstanding faculty and nationally recognized offerings in music instruction, ensembles, dance, early childhood education, creative arts therapy, performance, and community and school partnerships. Learn more at sscmusic.org.
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
bostonplaywrights.org
Fall Rep Festival: ‘White Phoenix’ and ‘Jessica of Venice’
Two new plays running in repertory, November 7 through 22
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Single tickets: Available now exclusively at bostonplaywrights.org
$40 adults, $25 BU faculty/staff, veterans and seniors (62+), $15 students with valid ID,
free student rush (available day-of at the Box Office with valid student ID)
Each production also offers Pay-What-You-Want preview performances, including $0
For group rates, email newplays@bu.edu
‘White Phoenix’
By Yide Cai, directed by Dmitry Troyanovsky
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Performances: Select dates from November 7 through 22, times TBA
Pay-What-You-Want Previews: Thursday, November 5, 7 pm, and Friday, November 6, 8 pm
Post-show Conversation after the Saturday, November 21, 2 pm performance
Told by just two actors, “White Phoenix” is a sweeping family drama that unfolds across decades and continents. The play follows a Chinese orphan who vows to find the sister he lost, tracing his path to adulthood in China alongside a dangerous entanglement with the daughter of a powerful political family. Meanwhile, his sister comes of age an ocean away, adopted into a prominent American senatorial family and drawn into a secret romance of her own. As their two stories finally converge, the siblings’ long-awaited reunion becomes a mirror for the fraught, complicated relationship between their two countries.
‘Jessica of Venice’
By Rachel Beth Greene, directed by Josh Glenn-Kayden
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Performances: Select dates from November 14 through 22, times TBA
Pay-What-You-Want Previews: Thursday, November 12, 7 pm, and Friday, November 13, 8 pm
Post-show Conversation after the Thursday, November 19, 7 pm performance
Set in the present day but steeped in Early Modern echoes, “Jessica of Venice” follows a group of Orthodox Jewish schoolgirls who discover a banned copy of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” and become fascinated by its rebellious runaway daughter. For one restless teen caught between her tight-knit community and a budding crush outside it, the discovery starts to blur the line between the story on the page and the life she’s beginning to imagine for herself.
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, founded in 1981 by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, is an award-winning professional theatre dedicated to new work for the stage. Located on the campus of Boston University and led by Artistic Director Megan Sandberg-Zakian, BPT is home to the Boston University MFA in Playwriting Program and produces a full season of new plays each year, along with the annual Boston Theater Marathon and a festival for teenage writers.
For tickets, the complete performance schedule, and more information about the Fall Rep Festival, visit bostonplaywrights.org, or follow Boston Playwrights’ Theatre on Facebook and Instagram. Boston Playwrights’ Theatre is the only authorized seller of tickets for its productions; tickets are available exclusively at bostonplaywrights.org.
Metropolitan Wind Symphony (MetWinds)
metwinds.org
Fall Concert: ‘There’s a First Time for Everything’
Sunday, November 1, 3 pm, pre-concert lecture at 2:30 pm
Scottish Rite Museum, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington
Gabe Sanborn, Debuting Music Director
Tickets: $20 adults, $15 seniors, $5 students, free for children under age 5, available in mid-August at eventbrite.com
Free parking is available on site, the Scottish Rite Museum is barrier-free for easy access
MetWinds opens its 56th season of Greater Boston region concerts with a program built entirely around beginnings. “There’s a First Time for Everything” celebrates the debut works of some of the concert band repertoire’s most significant voices, including John Mackey, Frank Ticheli, and Dana Wilson, each represented by the very first piece they wrote or arranged for band. The program also resounds to Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-flat,” the piece widely credited with establishing symphonic bands as a serious concert ensemble, marking their place alongside orchestras. Fittingly, the afternoon also marks a first of its own — the inaugural performance led by MetWinds’ new music director, Gabe Southard.
“There’s a First Time for Everything” features repertoire including Adam Gorb’s “Awayday,” Holst’s “First Suite in E-flat for Military Band” (edited by Colin Matthews), John Mackey’s “Strange Humors,” Dana Wilson’s “Piece of Mind,” John Stevens’ “Benediction,” and Frank Ticheli’s “Postcard.”
Dr. Robert “Gabe” Southard joined the faculty of Gordon College in 2022 as Associate Teaching Professor of Music, where he conducts the Gordon Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band. He previously served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Hope College in Michigan, leading the Winds and Brass area and the Instrumental Music Education area, and earlier held posts as Wind Symphony conductor and flute instructor at the University of Michigan-Flint. Southard holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from Michigan State University, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Ithaca College. An active orchestrator, his projects include a wind ensemble arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Symphony No. 2, “Antar.” As a flutist, Southard has performed as principal flute of the Holland Symphony Orchestra and with several other orchestras, and in 2020 was named a Pearl Flute Artist. Southard was selected as MetWinds’ new music director after six finalists led the ensemble through a season of guest-conducted concerts. He takes the podium full time this season.
MetWinds, formally known as the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, was founded in 1971 by Jerry Gardner, and was honored with the Sudler Silver Scroll Award for Community Concert Bands from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The all-volunteer ensemble draws more than 60 auditioned woodwind, brass and percussion musicians from over 30 communities across Massachusetts and neighboring states, and has called the town of Lexington home for 20 years. MetWinds is a longtime contributor to the region’s wind band literature through its Commissioning Fund and has helped shape the local music education landscape through programs including the Boston Festival of Bands and the Continuum series.
MetWinds’ concerts are funded in whole or in part by local cultural councils, chapters of Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. MetWinds also participates in the Card to Culture Program, which offers reduced admission to EBT, WIC and Health Connector cardholders.
For tickets and more information, visit metwinds.org, and follow MetWinds on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts
Denise Fennell’s ‘Lessons Learned: The Time of my Life!’
Friday, September 11, 7:30 pm; Saturday, September 12, 4:00 and 7:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets: $46, available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35067/production/1256342
Comedian and storyteller Denise Fennell is bringing her brand-new one-woman show to The Company Theatre! Having garnered rave reviews for her previous works, including the wildly successful The Bride and the hit series Late Nite Catechism, Denise is ready to captivate audiences once again with her unique blend of comedy and storytelling.
Known for her ability to connect with audiences, Lessons Learned promises to be an unforgettable experience, filled with laughter, wit and heartwarming anecdotes. Drawing from personal experiences and observations, Fennell effortlessly weaves together hilarious tales of everyday life, showcasing her talent for finding humor in the ordinary. This highly anticipated show is a must-see event for comedy enthusiasts and fans of Denise Fennell.
‘The Rocky Horror Show’
October 2 through 18, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 pm; Sundays 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 17, special late show at 9:30 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets: $63 Standard, $67 Premium, available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35067/production/1255532
“Come up to the lab, and see what’s on the slab!” The maniacally popular cult musical returns to TCT to shock and delight audiences. Inspired by the 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, this raunchy and uproarious rock journey is led by that “Sweet Transvestite” and a motley crew of wild characters. Just in time for spooky season, this deliberately kitschy rock ’n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical is more fun than ever! For mature audiences.
‘Beetlejuice Jr.’
Friday, November 6, 7:30 pm; Saturday, November 7, 4:00 and 7:30 pm; Sunday, November 8, 1:00 and 4:00 pm
The Company Theatre Center for the Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell
Tickets: $37 Standard, $44 Premium, available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35067/production/1256984
“It’s showtime!” The ghost-with-the-most, a wacky crew of mortals and immortals, and a (Nether)world of pandemonium are coming to haunt A.C.T. this November. With unabashed humor and emotional honesty, this frightfully funny musical based on the beloved motion picture turned Broadway phenomenon is a wacky theatrical party for all! Say it with us (if you dare) – “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, …”
About The Company Theatre
Founded in 1979 by Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman, The Company Theatre (TCT) is an award-winning regional theatre, a true treasure of Boston’s South Shore. The destination center for the arts produces 4 musicals, 1 play, 5 youth productions, and a concert and special event series annually, attracting more than 35,000 patrons. The Academy of Company Theatre (ACT) offers year-round technical training in voice, acting, dance, film and more to both youth and adults, and the heart of ACT – its renowned summer workshop.
The Company Theatre’s widely acclaimed integrity is rooted in presenting highly trained and dedicated actors, live music performances, lavish costuming, elaborate set work, as well as its outstanding educational programs. Its staff and artistic team are on a continuous quest for excellence by producing passionate, energetic, and professional quality performances. TCT attributes its success to its long-time dedicated staff and artisans who are proud to bring their craft to loyal patrons.
The Company Theatre’s box office is open on Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursdays from 11 am to 6 pm, and two hours before each performance. For more information, visit companytheatre.com, email boxoffice@companytheatre.com, call 781-871-2787, or follow The Company Theatre on social media.
In its dedication to sustaining the intrinsic value of music education, A Swingin’ Affair supports middle and high school instrumental students through an education collaboration and fundraiser program, offering world-class masterclasses led by top artists, preserving the living history of swing and jazz culture with today’s aspiring musicians.
To learn more about A Swingin’ Affair big band, its concerts or leadership, or to explore opportunities for education and fundraiser collaboration programs, visit aswinginaffair.com, email aswinginaffairband@gmail.com, or visit A Swingin’ Affair on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.
Tutti Music Collective
‘Journey through Latin Music’
Saturday, November 7 or 14, (date and time TBA)
Venue TBA
The Tutti Music Collective (TMC) presents its fall concert “Journey through Latin Music,” exploring a number of Latin music genres from the Caribbean Islands to the Andean Mountains in a mix of choral and instrumental repertoire. On stage, the TMC Chorus collaborates with the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, performing Latin jazz and other Latin instrumentals.
The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble is a funk/street beat improvisational brass band performing a unique blend of original and traditional music. Leader Ken Field is a longtime member of the modern music ensemble Birdsongs of the Mesozoic.
Tutti Music Collective is committed to showcasing the music of local minority, LGBTQIA+, and living composers. It believes that concert music should reflect the diversity of the world in which we live. The Collective strives to create spaces where all musicians’ voices are heard and celebrated. Through its performances, it aspires to engage audiences while championing inclusivity and equity in the arts. Learn more at thetuttimusiccollective.org.
Americana Theatre Company
americanatheatre.org
‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’
Thursday, October 22 through Monday, October 26, 7 pm
Historic Union Church, 29 South Main Street, Carver
Tickets are $25 general admission, subject to capacity, at the door or americanatheatre.org/tickets
Americana Theatre Company presents an original, one-actor adaptation of story classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” bringing Washington Irving’s haunting tale to life just in time for Halloween weekend. Created by Artistic Directors Derek Martin and Jesse Sullivan, this original production has been performed nationally, delivering Ichabod Crane’s eerie encounter with the Headless Horseman in a bold, imaginative staging. Set at Carver’s historic Union Church—surrounded by old burial grounds—it’s the perfect place for a ghostly visit…you might even catch a glimpse of the Horseman himself!
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” features audience favorite actor Nick Hancock, most recently featured as Uncle Fester in Americana’s production of “The Addams Family”. Hancock is a Sacramento-based performer, choreographer, writer, director, and teaching artist with a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre from Jessup University. Other performance credits include Long John Silver in “Treasure Island,” Lee in “True West,” Edward in “Big Fish,” and Bob Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol.” Choreography credits include “Oklahoma!,” “Big Fish,” “Carrie: The Musical,” “ Peter Pan,” and “Footloose.” When not acting or choreographing, he can be found teaching music, dance, and performance classes at various studios, schools, and programs on both coasts, or singing in orchestral concerts and solo acts across the state of California.
To purchase tickets, or for more information about Americana Theatre Company, visit americanatheatre.org/tickets, or call 508-591-0282. For the latest updates, follow Americana Theatre Company on Facebook and Instagram.
About Americana Theatre Company
Americana Theatre Company (ATC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional theatre company serving the Greater Plymouth region. Founder and Executive Director Derek Martin, Managing Director David Friday, Artistic Director Jesse Sullivan, and Director of Education Erin Friday are the leadership team charged with continuing the founding vision of opening a professional theatre in America’s Hometown, a dream fulfilled in 2011. ATC’s audiences find that story is paramount. Stories entertain, teach, and thrill us … they can inspire us toward the betterment of mankind and help reveal the hidden mysteries of life. ATC is committed to hiring directors, actors, and designers of the highest caliber, with an aim to enliven the cultural atmosphere of the Plymouth community by offering excellent, entertaining theatre and theatre education to residents and visitors alike. For more information, visit americanatheatre.org, or call 508-591-0282.
Pilgrim Festival Chorus
Open Rehearsals – Seeking Tenor and Bass voices
Mondays, September 14 and 21, 7 to 9 pm
Faith Community Church, 29 Carver Road, Plymouth
Vocal Placement Session
Mondays, September 21 and 28, 6 to 7 pm, by appointment
Faith Community Church, 29 Carver Road, Plymouth
Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC), a 90-member premier, welcoming, community choral ensemble, comprised of experienced vocalists from over 20 South Shore communities, seeks new singers, particularly tenor and bass voices, for its winter concert “Seven Joys of Christmas, Music to Celebrate the Season” on December 5th, and 6th at Church of the Pilgrimage. Newcomers with skill levels from amateur to professional are invited to learn about PFC by attending an open rehearsal without commitment and, if wishing to join, completing a Vocal Placement Session the following week by appointment. Rehearsals continue weekly throughout the winter concert cycle.
Celebrating its 27th anniversary beginning this fall, PFC is under the artistic direction of William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly. The chorus is dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and its audiences. A typical season begins with a festive holiday concert in early December. In mid-December, PFC hosts an annual Messiah and carol sing where the audience is invited to become the chorus in one of the most famous choral pieces ever written. The spring concert often features a larger work with orchestra and soloists. In June, Pilgrim Festival Singers, a division of PFC, performs concerts with repertoire drawn from Broadway and American traditions. Smaller volunteer groups serve the community by engaging in appearances at various local events.
New members of all voices are invited to join in September for our winter concert, in January for our spring concert, and in May for our summer concert, after attending an open rehearsal and completing a Vocal Placement Session (VPS). If you’d like to join Pilgrim Festival Chorus, please contact our Artistic Directors Elizabeth Chapman Reilly or William B. Richter to confirm attending an open rehearsal or just join us at Faith Community Church in Plymouth. Open rehearsal and Vocal Placement Session dates and times are listed on our events calendar. For more information about joining PFC, email membership@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
About Pilgrim Festival Chorus
Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC) is a 90-member premier, welcoming community choral ensemble, comprised of experienced vocalists from 20 South Shore communities. Marking its 26th season, the chorus is led by artistic directors William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly. Pilgrim Festival Chorus is dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and its audiences.
PFC is pleased to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program. Reserve tickets on our website. Pilgrim Festival Chorus is supported, in part, by grants from Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and its local cultural councils in Middleborough, Plymouth, and Scituate.
For more information visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org. Follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
American Ancestors
americanancestors.org
Exhibit: ‘Patriots of Color’
On view: Through December 31, 2026, during business hours
The Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, 97 Newbury Street, Boston
Admission: $10 for adults (including the Family Heritage Experience). Free admission for children under 12. American Ancestors members receive free admission.
Learn more at fhe.americanancestors.org
As Boston commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, “Patriots of Color” shines a light on the overlooked stories of Black, Native, and multiracial individuals who shaped the fight for independence.
Through original documents, interactive displays, and contemporary artistic interpretation, the exhibition highlights 26 Patriots from across the 13 colonies and connects their stories to living descendants today. Discover how genealogy and archival research help bring these powerful histories back into view.
The Family Heritage Experience and the gift shop on the first floor of American Ancestors at 97 Newbury Street, Boston, is open weekly Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm. The facility is located near Copley Square and the Arlington and Copley Green line T stations. For more information, including accessibility and amenities, visit fhe.americanancestors.org.
‘For Those Who Served: Military Research From Colonial Conflicts to World War II’
Presented by David Allen Lambert, Melanie McComb, and Elizabeth Peay
This on-demand course includes five 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation
Available through November 6, 2026
Fee: $125 for 5-class course
Class 1: Soldiers of Colonial Conflicts – Presented by David Allen Lambert
This first class discusses how to research ancestors who served in the Pequot War, King Philip’s War, King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War, King George’s War, and French and Indian War.
Class 2: Revolutionary War Patriots – Presented by Elizabeth Peay
Learn how to trace your patriot ancestors using muster rolls, quartermaster rolls, pension files, the 1840 census, journals and diaries, and more.
Class 3: War of 1812 Veterans – Presented by David Allen Lambert
The National Archives holds important records for War of 1812 veterans including compiled service and pension records. Learn how to access and use these important resources, plus muster rolls, correspondence from officers, town histories, and more.
Class 4: Soldiers of the Civil War – Presented by David Allen Lambert
There are a number of sources that can help you trace your Civil War soldier ancestors. From special questions and schedules in select US censuses to GAR member lists to detailed pension files to published regiment histories, you can find the story of your ancestor’s service. Learn how to determine what regiment your ancestor served in, what battles they fought in, and what happened to them and their families after the war. We focus our discussion on Union records, but also discuss resources for Confederate soldiers.
Class 5: World War I & World War II Veterans – Presented by Melanie McComb
Researching World War I and World War II veterans present unique challenges. In 1973 a fire destroyed 16 to 18 million personnel records for the U.S. Army between (service years 1912 to 1960) and the U.S. Air Force (service years 1947 to 1964). Learn how you can start to reconstruct your ancestor’s service using draft registration cards and enlistments, the US census, discharge papers, unit histories, and more.
Book Launch: “Finding Cornerstone Stories: Uncovering Inspiration in Your Family’s History”
Friday, October 16, 5:00 to 6:30 pm
American Ancestors’ Family Heritage Experience, 97 Newbury Street, Boston, and online (hybrid event)
Admission is free; registration will be posted soon at AmericanAncestors.org/events
American Ancestors® celebrates the Boston launch of “Finding Cornerstone Stories: Uncovering Inspiration in Your Family’s History,” a new book by genealogist, entrepreneur and speaker André Kearns, with an author talk, book sale and signing at its Family Heritage Experience on Newbury Street. The hybrid event, open to attend in person or online, marks the local debut of a book published in conjunction with American Ancestors as the nation marks its 250th anniversary.
In “Finding Cornerstone Stories,” Kearns traces his family’s 250-year American story, from some of the earliest Africans brought to colonial Virginia through the American South to present-day Washington, DC.
Drawing on more than two decades of research, the richly illustrated collection of essays introduces readers to the entrepreneurs, educators, soldiers and community leaders in Kearns’s own lineage, widening the lens on America’s founding era to include voices often left out of the traditional narrative. More than a memoir, each chapter closes with genealogy tips and research strategies, drawing on American Ancestors’ 10 Million Names initiative, the national effort to recover the names of the estimated 10 million men, women and children of African descent enslaved in what is now the United States. Kearns’s own research has contributed to that initiative, including the Cedar Grove Plantation Database documenting individuals enslaved in North Carolina.
Of his work, Kearns says family history is a source of inspiration and connection, and that recovering the people left out of the record means “we give the next generation something to stand on.”
André Kearns is the founder and CEO of Black Ancestries, a company that helps families of African descent uncover, celebrate and preserve their family histories. A nationally recognized voice in African American genealogy, he serves as Vice President of the National Genealogical Society’s Board of Directors and chairs its Development Committee, and holds memberships in the District of Columbia Society, Sons of the American Revolution; the Society of the First African Families of English America; and the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage. A sought-after speaker, Kearns has presented at RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference and the African American Historical and Genealogical Society Conference, and his work has been featured by The Washington Post, USA Today, National Geographic, Fox 5 DC and WTOP News. He previously held senior business and marketing roles at Amazon Web Services and other global technology companies, holds a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and lives in the Washington, DC, area with his wife and their two sons.
About American Ancestors
American Ancestors® is a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage & culture based in Boston, Massachusetts, that has been setting the gold standard for genealogical research since its founding in 1845. Today, American Ancestors serves 400K+ members and subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of family history resources. In 2025, American Ancestors launched the Family Heritage Experience, an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joy of family history research, located at 97 Newbury Street at our headquarters in Boston. American Ancestors is also home to the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, which preserves New England’s Jewish history, and 10 Million Names, a project dedicated to finding the names of the enslaved men, women, and children in pre- and post-colonial America before emancipation. For more information, visit americanancestors.org.
About The Family Heritage Experience
The Family Heritage Experience—an interactive, state-of-the-art exhibition that introduces visitors to the joy of family history research—was launched in 2025 by American Ancestors®, a national center for family history, heritage, and culture. The Family Heritage Experience is located on the first floor of American Ancestors’ headquarters at 97 Newbury Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit fhe.americanancestors.org.
About 10 Million Names
10 Million Names is dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated ten million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America (specifically, the territory that would become the United States) between the 1500s and 1865. 10 Million Names is engaging a collaborative network of expert genealogists, cultural organizations, and community-based family historians. Together we will amplify the voices of people who have been telling their family stories for centuries, connect researchers and data partners with people seeking answers to family history questions, and expand access to data, resources, and information about enslaved African Americans. For more information, visit 10millionnames.org.
Concord Women’s Chorus
concordwomenschorus.org
Open Rehearsals & Singer Auditions
Open Rehearsals: Tuesday, September 15, and Tuesday, September 22, 9:30 am
Singer Auditions: Tuesdays, September 22 or 29, immediately following rehearsal
Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord
Admission to audition is free, membership information is available on site
Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC), fostering the power of women’s voices in song, invites new singers to join its ensemble at “Open Rehearsals and Singer Auditions.” Artistic Director and Conductor Jane Ring Frank welcomes newcomers.
CWC welcomes singers with prior choral experience including good sight-reading skills, solid intonation and vocal quality, responsiveness to direction and the ability to blend within an ensemble. For auditions, prospective members may be asked to sight-read a short passage and/or sing a familiar tune, arriving with a prepared solo is not necessary. An information form is available to be printed in advance and brought to the audition at concordwomenschorus.org/wp/sing-with-us. Chorus members are expected to attend rehearsals and to participate in performing scheduled concerts. The ensemble holds weekly rehearsals in preparation for its concert celebrating the holidays on December 5, and other 2027 performances. Date for this season’s remaining concerts are TBA.
Concord Women’s Chorus is a 45-singer ensemble draws singers from Concord and the greater Boston area. The ensemble performs a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women’s voices. CWC will soon to be release a professional recording of its commissioned works, produced by Grammy Award-winning studio SoundMirror.
For more information, performance details or to join Concord Women’s Chorus, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, or follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
About Concord Women’s Chorus
Concord Women’s Chorus (CWC), based in Concord, Massachusetts, is a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power in women’s voices through song. Singers hail from Concord and the greater Boston area. Artistic Director Jane Ring Frank conducts the chorus performing a wide variety of choral music, ranging from early music to contemporary repertoire, with an emphasis on works written for women’s voices.
The chorus began in 1960 as the Concord Madrigals, a small group of women who expressed, through song, the strength of female community. Over the years the group has increased in size and capacity and greatly expanded its repertoire. In 2005, the Concord Madrigals became Concord Women’s Chorus, a name that reflects not only the evolution of the chorus but the abiding power of women’s voices.
In addition to concerts, CWC often engages in other performances and projects. The ensemble has engaged in several concert tours in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. For more information or to join CWC, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, or follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
Michelle McGrath PR | Media Relations has provided visibility for the arts and culture, nonprofit, and small business sectors, spanning the traditional, digital, and social media landscape, since 2009. mcgrathpr.com
