McGRATHPR.com – Spring fever inspires the finest arts, entertainment and cultural opportunities in the Greater Boston, South Shore, and Cape Cod regions. Read on for all that’s in store for McGrath PR clients from January through May 31, 2023.
“The object of true art is to charm the imagination . . . ”
~ Henri Frédéric Amiel
S P E C I A L
E V E N T
‘The Ladies Who Brunch” series features
“Yesterday Once More:
A Tribute to the Carpenters”
Sunday, April 30, 11 am
Tickets: $20
Club Cafe’s Sunday brunch cabaret series “The Ladies Who Brunch,” features a special performance of “Yesterday Once More: A Tribute to the Carpenters”, featuring performing artists Katie Connor, Gail Phaneuf and Patti Hathaway, on Sunday, April 30, 11 am at Club Cafe’s Napoleon Room, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston. Tickets are $20. For complete details and tickets, visit clubcafe.com.
The James Library & Center for the Arts
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Donna Byrne and the Marshall Wood Trio
Saturday, January 21, 7:30 pm
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students
Jazz singer Donna Byrne’s powerful voice, energetic personality, and life experiences give her music an almost spiritual feel, a soft and subtle charge which has brought admiration from jazz fans and the top artists in the industry. She’ll perform with the Marshall Wood Trio, who, together, have been honing their craft for over 27 years. Musical selections include a wide range of American Standards in their signature style. Sponsored by Coastal Heritage Bank, Patty Jackson, Your Local Realtor, Bob Melone Team at Radius Financial Group, SHD Marketing, and Kathy and Michael Vitale.
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Harvey Leonard Blizzard of ’78
Sunday, February 5, 1 pm
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 students
Harvey Leonard, celebrity meteorologist emeritus, shares his story as the widely credited first meteorologist to correctly predict the impact and intensity of the infamous Blizzard of ’78. Harvey served as WCVB Channel 5 Boston’s chief meteorologist, starting as co-chief in 2002. After a fifty-year career in meteorology, with more than forty-five of those years forecasting weather in New England and twenty of those at WCVB, Harvey retired in May 2022. In his emeritus role, Harvey continues to serve the community with important information as a periodic contributor to StormTeam 5 coverage and engage in community speaking appearances. Prior to joining WCVB, he served as chief meteorologist for Boston’s WHDH for twenty-five years. He also served as chief meteorologist at WPRI in Providence, RI. Harvey has spoken at educational seminars held by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and is an avid supporter of the Blue Hill Weather Observatory. He has also served as an honored guest speaker at Harvard Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sponsored by Hingham Cultural Council, Norwell Cultural Council and Scituate Cultural Council.
Norwell High School AP Exhibition
Opening Reception: Friday, February 10, 4 to 6 pm
Exhibition Dates: On view from February 10 through March 11
Admission: Free and open to the public during business hours
Visit the James to enjoy the best of Norwell High School’s AP (advanced placement) student art. AP art students’ portfolios are driven by personal research. There is no preferred style, only encouragement to experiment, practice, revisit, and revise as they think about the synthesis between materials, ideas, and how to communicate their story to their intended audience. Student work displayed is always in flux and has the potential for further development prior to the students’ submission for the AP exam in May.
Each student has two pieces of work in this exhibit that convey ideas about their research journey. The James Library & Center for the Arts and Norwell High School are proud to display and showcase work by these accomplished student artists as they continue to find their voice. Sponsored by Norwell Cultural Council.
Mini Golf Vacation Fun at The James Fundraiser
Thursday, February 23, 11 am to 2 pm
Tickets: $15 per person, $45 foursome
Looking for something fun to do during winter break? Visit the James for an indoor round of mini golf! The entire building will be transformed into a 10-hole mini golf course with greens and holes winding through the stacks, around the art gallery, and through the concert hall. Everything is provided, including clubs, balls, scorecards, and fun! This is a perfect winter activity to let loose and support the James. Sponsored by Gordon Atlantic Insurance. Individuals and teams can register for tee times at jameslibrary.org.
Fourth Annual Spring Juried Art Show
Open House Art Gallery Opening: Friday, March 24, 1 to 6 pm
Exhibition Dates: On view from March 24 through April 29
Admission: Free and open to the public during business hours
Welcoming artists of all levels and art of all mediums. Ruthie Holland Tredwell, Juror, is founder and executive director of Emerge Foundation for Contemporary Art. Cash awards to best in show, second place, and third place. Full prospectus can be viewed at jameslibrary.org. Sponsored by The Frame Center, the Cordelia Family Foundation, and in part by grants from Hingham, Scituate and Norwell Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Nina Ott Latin Jazz Quintet
Saturday, March 25,7:30 pm
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $20 students
Join the Nina Ott Quintet for a night of Afro-Cuban styled Latin-jazz at the James! Nina will be joined by Chris Lopes on bass, Eguie Castrillo on percussion, Bertram Lehmann on drums, and Edmar Colon on saxophone. Guests enjoy lively music rooted in jazz, influenced by Afro-Caribbean sounds, with elements of funk and soul. Sponsored by Lynch Marini & Associates Inc., supported in part by grants from Hingham, Scituate and Norwell Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Exhibit: Artist Sarah Hutt – My Mother’s Legacy
Open House Art Gallery Opening: Friday, May 12, 1 to 7 pm
Exhibition Dates: On view from May 12 through June 17
Admission: Free and open to the public during business hours
Nationally-recognized artist Sarah Hutt’s exhibit “My Mother’s Legacy” features a 1,000-line poem wood-burned into the bottom of 1,000 wooden bowls. “On each bowl is written a line from my memory that reflects a mannerism, advice, or a remark I attribute to my mother. The bowls are piled randomly onto tables, where the viewer must pick up each bowl to read it. The act of lifting each bowl reminds me of my mother, because she had the habit of turning things over to see where they were made,” shares Sarah.
When Sarah was 13, her mother died of breast cancer. Over the years, she carried around so many memory fragments that she could not fit together to fully understand who her mother had been as a person. In 1995, she began to write all the things she could remember. Out of that list came these lines that are “My Mother’s Legacy.”
Sarah Hutt is a mixed-media sculptor whose work uses everyday objects to create interactive content to engage the viewer focusing on memory, dreams, and the reality they create. She is a graduate of the Boston Museum School and winner of a 5th year Fellowship. As a working artist, she exhibits her work and serves as a visiting artist and lecturer to numerous museums, galleries, and organizations throughout the country. Sponsored by The Cordelia Family Foundation.
The James Cabaret Weekend Fundraiser
Friday, May 12, 7:30 pm and Saturday, May 13, 7:30 pm
Tickets: VIP front row seats: $50, general admission: $35
The James transforms into an intimate nightclub, complete with Emmy Award-winning pianist, composer, and producer Lenny Williams, and a cast of talented local celebrities. Be entertained with music and storytelling that is sure to leave an impression. Come laugh and lament to tunes you know well and songs and lyrics you’ve never heard before. It is sure to be an incredible evening!
A History of Paragon Park with Chris Haraden
Sunday, May 21, 3 pm
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 students
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Writer Chris Haraden shares his stories of literally growing up in the shadow of Paragon Park’s Giant Coaster. From his home on the hill behind the park, Chris learned the stories of Paragon, and the broader scope of Hull’s history, from his grandfather, a park employee best known for walking the tracks of the roller coaster each morning before the gates opened. Chris’s first job was in the penny arcade, where he might have embellished his age to be hired and where met his future wife, Marilyn – one of the many love stories that began on the shores of Nantasket Beach.
In addition to compiling a history of Paragon Park, he wrote ‘Storm of the Century: New England’s Great Blizzard of 1978” and contributed to “Hull & Nantasket Beach: Then & Now.” He is a writer for The Hull Times and serves on the Advisory Board of the Friends of the Paragon Carousel. Sponsored by Napier Financial and the Hull Cultural Council.
Since 1874, The James Library has served the South Shore community as a warm gathering place. Housed in a landmark Victorian in historical Norwell Center, The James is dedicated to serving the community by providing high-quality programs, resources and materials through a concert hall, art gallery and the operation of a free lending library. As an independent, non-profit arts center we foster a mission for the creation, appreciation, and enjoyment of the arts for residents of all ages on the South Shore, while preserving the historic character of our home. The James Library is located at 24 West Street, Norwell and is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 pm and on Saturday from 11 to 1 pm. For more information, please call 781-659-7100, visit jameslibrary.org or follow The James Library on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jon and Juli Finn
julifinn.com/jon-and-juli-jazzy-bluesy
The Jon Finn Group Live
Thursday, January 19, 8 to 11 pm
The Cave at The Red Lion Inn, 71 South Main Street, Cohasset
Featuring Jon Finn, electric guitar, Juli Finn, electric guitar/vocals, Joe Santerre, bass guitar, Larry Finn, drums, and Rich Cesarini, keys
Opener: Singer/Songwriter Erin Bonnie
Advance tickets: $20 at explorestock.com, limited to venue capacity, full cash bar
For a pre-show meal, visit The Red Lion Inn’s Tavern, details at theredliontavern.com
The Jon Finn Group has been performing “good music people like” as a band since 1988, a nod to their approachable, captivating approach to creating music. Launched as a series of “fun jams” among best friend professional musician, the band has one mission: to play music they love as best they can. For years the four-piece version of the all-instrumental rock band performed the world over at most prestigious concert venues. Multiple album releases have been well-received among critics and fans alike. More recently, Jon’s wife Juli (a well-known guitarist/singer/composer herself) joined the ensemble to add a new innovative layer to the band’s palette.
For more information about The Red Lion Inn, visit redlioninn1704.com. For more information about The Jon Finn Group, visit JonFinn.com, or follow Jon Finn Group on Facebook.
Jon and Juli Guitar Workshop
Saturday, January 28, 9 am to 9 pm
The Finn’s Studio Barn, Whitman
Fee: $600, limited to 6 students, includes meals
Celebrity performing artists Jon and Juli Finn present their second all-day immersive “Rock Guitar Workshop.” Guitar legend and Grammy® Award nominee Jon Finn together with superstar songwriter and guitar/ukulele expert Juli Finn – both Berklee College of Music educators – present their intensive “Rock Guitar Workshop,” designed to serve intermediate to advanced skill guitar students of any age for personalized, immersive all-day instruction, including meals. Hone in on rock guitar technique with specialized sessions on warm up, tone, fretboard navigations, scales organization, licks and an unforgettable master class where everyone performs and improvises live. Get in on the fast track, experience exclusive hands-on training, topped off with the duo’s legendary jam session, complete with professional rhythm section, featuring the workshop’s students in the rock band – the very best of all rock music worlds!
Amps and sound system are available on site. Video of sessions and performances are available for an additional fee. Email jon@jonfinn.com to register or more information.
Jon Finn performs with The Fat City Band
Saturday, February 11, 8 pm, The Music Room, 541 Main St. (Rte. 28), W. Yarmouth
Tickets: $45-85, available at musicroomcapecodtickets.com
Saturday, February 18, 9 pm, The C Note, 159 Nantasket Ave., Hull
Tickets: TBA, available at cnotehull.com
Saturday, March 18, 8 pm, Chan’s, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, RI
Tickets: $20 advance, $25 at the door, available at chanseggrollsandjazz.com
Saturday, April 22, 9 pm, The C Note, 159 Nantasket Ave., Hull
Tickets: TBA, available at cnotehull.com
Saturday, May 13, 8 pm, Sanctuary, 82 Main St., Maynard
Tickets: TBA, available at sanctuarymaynard.com
Performing/recording artist and Grammy® nominee master guitarist Jon Finn sits in as special guest musician with one of New England’s most enduring music acts, The Fat City Band, a five-to-seven-piece powerhouse ensemble. Committed to their mantra of ‘music should be fun,’ the band approaches legends-of-stage status, now in its 48th year, performing jump swing Blues and New Orleans-style rhythm and blues music. Fat City diversifies its concert stage soundtrack, rich in roots of rock ‘n’ roll, New Orleans gumbo and boogie-woogie – a melting pot mashup of smoky roadhouse tunes. Equipped with a bounty of groupie fans, even first-time listeners appreciate the band’s original music that captures the essence of their legendary predecessors, most recently boasting a horn section, heightening audience experiences to unforgettable status. Learn more at fatcityband.com, or follow The Fat City Band on Facebook.
Jon and Juli Finn Live!
Tuesday, February 14, 5:30 to 8:30 pm
The Red Lion Inn Tavern, 71 South Main Street, Cohasset, theredliontavern.com
Celebrity performing artists Jon and Juli Finn perform the soundtrack to a romantic Valentine’s Day for diners enjoying a night out! Singer/songwriter Juli Finn and Grammy® nominated performing/recording artist Jon Finn often engage in the music they make uniquely together, a captivating take on jazz, blues, pop and classical, covers and originals, in an organic mix of styles, songs and interpretation. Both performing artists have appeared the world over in such prestigious concert venues as Tanglewood, Carnegie Hall, Seattle’s Sky Church, Portland’s Roseland Theater and many more. The duo also performs as part of other ensembles, including The Jon Finn Group (established in 1988), The Experts (70’s cover band), and sit in with other local artists. Both Finns also serve as music educators at Berklee College of Music. Juli also currently serves as Assistant Professor of Songwriting at Shenandoah University. Most recently, The Finns released a cover album plus one debut tune, honoring music legend Bonnie Raitt with “Tribute,” featuring Juli’s original “Dig Deep”, a songwriter publishing premiere.
Circus of Wire Dolls Performance Tour
Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18, 7 to 11 pm
Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green, Fletching TN22 3RB, East Sussex, England, UK
Tickets: £70 standing, £95 dining, available at tradingboundaries.com
The intimate world premiere live performance of the Rocking Horse Music Club’s critically acclaimed and genre-defying rock opera, “Circus of Wire Dolls” (Prog Radio’s Album of the Year, 2022). The band also perform a selection of music from the solo careers of founding Genesis members Anthony Phillips and Mike Rutherford, featured from the band’s sold-out performances in England, 2019. Featuring special guests include Amy Birks, Caroline Carter, John Hackett, and Noel McCalla.
The Rocking Horse Music Club, comprised of professional musicians helming from illustrious individual careers, is a songwriting and performing collaboration between producer/songwriter Brian Coombes, singer/songwriters Justin Cohn and Patrik Gochez, and Rocking Horse Studio musicians Brenden Harisiades, Mike McAdam, Myron Kibbee, and Eric Wagley. The band’s eclectic style blends progressive rock with elements of baroque and chamber pop, gospel, fusion, indie folk, and art rock. The core bands performing artists include Justin Cohn, acoustic guitar/vocals, Brian Coombes, keys/bass/vocals, Patrik Gochez, vocals/guitar/keys, Brenden Harisiades, bass; Myron Kibbee, guitar, Mike McAdam, guitar, and Eric Wagley, drums. Performing contributors include Juli Finn, guitar, Jon Finn, guitar, Bobby Rice, drums, Jeremy Harman, cello, Wesley Thurber, trumpet, Richard Gardzina, saxophone, Jenna Yagjian, violin, Kate St John, oboe/English horn, Brittany Laine, vocals, Michelle Coombes, vocals, Eric Smith, percussion, and co-producer Josh Kimball, guitar/programming.
The band has recorded two albums, “Every Change of Seasons” (2018) and a tribute album to original Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips, “Which Way the Wind Blows” (2019), which features guest appearances from Steve Hackett (Genesis), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Noel McCalla, and others. The band’s debut single, “Everywhere is Home,” received an Independent Music Award and a Best Supergroup Award from New Hampshire Magazine in 2019. The band toured the UK in 2018, including a performance for the British Prime Minister. The band’s third record, rock opera concept album “Circus of Wire Dolls,” (2022) features guest appearances by Chris Difford (Squeeze), Greg Hawkes (The Cars), David Cross (King Crimson), Noel McCalla, and others. Learn more about Rocking Horse Music Club at rockinghorsemusicclub.com.
For more information about The Finns and their collaborative projects, visit julifinn.com/jon-and-juli-jazzy-bluesy.
To learn more about each artist’s individual events or initiatives, visit julifinn.com or jonfinn.com.
Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra
Sandbar Chamber Series: Music for Winds
Sunday, January 29, 3 pm
Yarmouth New Church, Thacher Hall, 266 Main Street, Yarmouth Port
Tickets: $35 general admission, students and children are admitted for free
**Please note there is currently no wheelchair access to Thacher Hall
CCCO’s second chamber concert of the season, featuring its wind and string players and the music of José Elizondo, Ibert, Beethoven, and Mozart’s charming Oboe Quartet. Performing artists include Mary O’Keefe, oboe,
Karen Luttik, clarinet, Michael Mechanic, bassoon, Kiyoshi Hayashi, violin, Josh Wareham, viola, and Tim Paek, cello.
Program:
Ernst Dohnanyi: Serenade Op. 10, Finale for String Trio
Jacques Ibert: Trio for Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon
José Elizondo: Danzas Latinoamericanas
L.V. Beethoven: Duo for Clarinet & Bassoon
W.A. Mozart: Oboe Quartet
image by Brittany Florenz Photography
Aurora
Sunday, February 19, 3 pm
Pilgrim Congregational Church, 533 Rt. 28, Harwich Port
Tickets: $35 general admission, students and children are admitted for free
Award-winning concert pianist Ana Glig joins CCCO in Bach’s Concerto in D minor, and the orchestra’s string section take a trip to outer space with music by Xenakis, George Walker, and Dmitri Shostakovich.
Program:
J.S. Bach – Concerto in D minor BMV 1052
Ana Glig, piano
Iannis Xenakis – Aurora
George Walker – Lyric for Strings
Dmitri Shostakovich – Chamber Symphony
Sandbar Chamber Series: CCCO @ the Cultural Center
Sunday, March 26, 3 pm
Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main St, South Yarmouth
Tickets: $35 general admission, students and children are admitted for free
The final chamber program of the CCCO’s 2022-23 season features music for strings by Enesco, Bruch, and Julian Loida, percussionist and composer.
Toward the Sea
Sunday, April 30, 3 pm
Pilgrim Congregational Church, 533 Rt. 28, Harwich Port
Tickets: $35 general admission, students and children are admitted for free
Originally scheduled for the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage in 2020, CCCO shares the story of the Pilgrim voyage and indigenous people. The orchestra welcomes the return of CCCO composer-in-residence Cody Forrest for a world premiere, “They Were Pilgrims.”
Toru Takemitsu’s “Toward the Sea” (1981) for alto flute, harp, and strings was commissioned by Green Peace for the “Save the Whales” campaign, and features a movement dedicated to Cape Cod. The CCCO concludes this stormy journey with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor.
Program:
Takemitsu: Toward the Sea
Zach Sheets, Principal Flute, Cape Symphony, and Charles Overton, harp
Cody Forrest: They Were Pilgrims
W.A. Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G minor
Committed to artistic integrity and excellence, Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra’s mission is to connect the diverse arts communities and individuals of Cape Cod inclusively. By collaborating with other disciplines of art and culture, the Orchestra aims to create unique concert experiences while providing exciting, enriching, and memorable orchestral music. Featuring living composers is at the forefront of the orchestra’s mission; bringing audiences closer to the music of modern time, positioned as an essential and educational element to each performance program. Other repertoire champions the works of living composers, as well as the music of the classical canon. For more information visit capecodchamberorchestra.org, email info@capecodchamberorchestra.org, or follow Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra on Facebook and Instagram.
Wood Harbor Music
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Spring Concert
Saturday, April 22, 3 pm
Boynton Yards, 101 South Street, Somerville
Tickets: TBA
Wood Harbor Music, in association with SA6 Productions and Boynton Yards, presents “A Spring Concert,” featuring the Wood Harbor Chamber Ensemble, The Pandora Consort, and other guest performing artists, offering a program of works by Hildegard von Bingen, Javier Marquez and Rachel Burckardt, among others.
SELA: The International Private School
SELA’s 19th Birthday and Norwell Grand Opening
Friday, February 3, 4 pm
SELA’s Norwell campus, 137 Washington Street, Norwell
Join SELA at a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Norwell location, while celebrating SELA’s 19th birthday! Meet and greet the SELA administration, tour the facility, enjoy family-friendly children’s activities, and more!
SELA Student Art Exhibit
On display from Wednesday, April 12 through Wednesday, May 10, during business hours
Norwell Public Library, 64 South Street, Norwell, norwellpubliclibrary.org
SELA’s School of Early Global Education and Elementary School showcase their exhibition artwork at Norwell Public Library. Stop in to enjoy the diverse collection of projects and artwork students created throughout the school year.
The Lion King (El Rey León)
Thursday, May 25, 6 pm
Scituate Center for the Performing Arts, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy. (Rte. 3A), Scituate
Tickets for “El Rey León” are $8, available at showtix4u.com/event-details/73869 and at the door
SELA students present “El Rey León,” (The Lion King) for their end of year performance. The musical offers performers and audience alike to experience both Spanish and Mandarin languages, incorporated into the performance – languages learned and spoken SELA! All ages welcome.
Founded in 2004 in Cohasset as Su Escuela Language Academy, its private school launched with the goal of preparing English-speaking children to excel linguistically, academically, and socially in global society through instruction in a second and third language. In July of 2011, the academy expanded and opened the doors at its flagship campus in Hingham. Now established as SELA: The International Private School, its educational model has continued to expand, now offering programs for infants through age 5, in addition to the Private Elementary and Middle School programs for Kindergarten through grade 8. Today, with locations in Hingham and Norwell, SELA is the first and only Spanish full immersion school in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Currently, SELA serves nearly 300 students residing in 26 of the region’s communities. Nearly 70 highly-educated faculty members teach in full immersion programs, which includes three spoken languages at its school campuses. SELA’s flagship campus, offering programs serving children from infancy through grade 8, is located at 75 Sgt. William B. Terry Drive, Hingham. Its recently opened second campus, currently enrolling programs for children up to age 5, is located at 137 Washington Street, Norwell.
For more information about SELA: The International Private School, its programs, tuition, and more, visit selaprivateschool.com, call 781-741-5454, and follow SELA on social media.
Pilgrim Festival Chorus
Israel in Egypt
Saturday, April 29, 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 30, 4 pm
St. Bonaventure Parish, 803 State Road, Plymouth
Tickets: $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens and $15 for students over 14
Children ages 14 and under are admitted free
Chorus, soloists, and orchestra co-directed by William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly
George Frideric Handel, one of the great composers of the Baroque period, composed “Israel in Egypt” in 1738. After his “Messiah,” it is considered his most popular oratorio. With his extraordinary penchant for storytelling, Handel unfolds “Israel in Egypt” as the heroic, biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites as they escaped from captivity in Egypt. With dramatic artistry, Handel depicts the ten plagues visited upon the Egyptians and the crossing of the Red Sea. Notable for its use of its thunderous choruses, the work also includes several arias, performed in these concerts by PFC singer soloists.
Tickets for “Israel in Egypt” are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens, and $15 for students over 14. Children ages 14 and under are admitted for free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or from PFC members. Tickets are also available at the door, limited to venue capacity. Pilgrim Festival Chorus considers the safety of its members and audience a highest priority. Masks are currently optional. Any changes to this policy will be posted on PFC’s website prior to performances.
Pilgrim Festival Chorus is a volunteer, not-for-profit choral ensemble dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and its audiences. PFC is funded in part by grants from a number of the region’s Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. PFC performances are produced in part by cooperation with See Plymouth and Plymouth County Commissioners. For more information, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
Cape Cod Chorale & Choral Art Society of the South Shore
capecodchorale.org choralartsociety.org
Cape Cod Chorale (CCC) and Choral Art Society of the South Shore (CAS), two of Eastern Massachusetts’ community choral ensembles, join forces this spring in honor of CCC’s 40th anniversary season in concert, performing “Mozart and Two Mendelssohns,” on Saturday, May 6, 4 pm at Scituate Center for the Performing Arts, 606 Chief Justice Cushing Hwy. (Rte. 3A), Scituate, and on Sunday, May 7, 4 pm at Mashpee High School, 500 Old Barnstable Road, Mashpee. The combined choral ensemble is conducted by CCC and CAS Artistic Director Danica A. Buckley, with rehearsal accompaniment by pianists Ana Glig (CCC) and Mijin Choi (CAS). The concerts feature professional vocal soloists Susan Consoli, soprano, Alexandra Dietrich, mezzo-soprano, Ethan Depuy, tenor, and Dana Whiteside, baritone, in addition to a full orchestra.
The performances of “Mozart and Two Mendelssohns,” in a concise description, are noted as a 40th anniversary commemoration featuring “Four Soloists. Three Composers. Two Choruses. One Orchestra.” The program features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famed sacred masterwork “Requiem”, a frequent program highlight for milestone performances, “Hiob” (Job), a short, exciting, not often performed-cantata by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, composed in 1831, performed as a regional premiere, and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Verleih Uns Frieden” – selections from the vast repertoire in the Mendelssohn dynasty, spearheaded by these musically prolific siblings. Though the two choral ensembles are both under Buckley’s leadership and direction, it is rare for them to perform together, fitting for such a celebratory occasion.
German composer and pianist Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847) composed more than 460 pieces of music attributed mostly to her brother, Felix, as imposed by the prevailing attitude toward working women in that era. A number of her compositions, primarily songs for piano, were originally published in Felix’s name in his opus 8 and 9 collections. However, her works are now increasingly performed.
Throughout this concert performance, the 110 performers on stage strive to entertain, educate, and engage in community with those in the audience. Building community is a strong mission of both choruses, and welcoming everyone, from Mozart and Mendelssohn aficionados to first time classical music concert goers, is a goal. They want audiences to be carried away by the beauty of the music, sometimes tinged with sadness, sometimes cheerful, sometimes dramatic, or sometimes peaceful and calming. Spending an hour and a half at one of these performances will inspire all who attend. As Buckley notes, “it’s not a stuffy, dusty old performance. Two polished community choruses, four professional soloists, and twenty six instrumentalists will sing and play their hearts out to bring musical joy and inspiration to all. Feel free to come in jeans.”
Tickets to “Mozart and Two Mendelssohns” are $25 for adults and students over 18; students ages 18 and under are admitted for free. CAS and CCC are proud to participate in the Card to Culture Program, a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, and Massachusetts Health Connector, broadening accessibility to cultural programming. EBT, WIC, and Connector Care cardholder tickets are $12.50 each at the door only when card is presented, limited to two per card holder; 18 and under free. Scituate performance tickets are available at the door and at choralartsociety.org, and Mashpee performance tickets are available at capecodchorale.org.
Concord Women’s Chorus
Come Day, Come Night
Saturday, May 13, 4 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord
Tickets: $25 adults, $20 seniors and students, $5 children ages 12 and under
Concord Women’s Chorus performs a spring concert program of stirring works that reflect the textures and rhythms, joys, and challenges of each new day. These ‘love songs to boat songs,’ explore the joys of a life well-lived. Emma Lou Diemer’s “When You Wake,” Gwyneth Walker’s “Love Shall Live Forever,” Z. Randall Stroope’s “Lux Aeterna,” Dan Forrest’s “Ubi Caritas,” Kevin Siegfried’s “Boat Song,” and Stephen Chatman’s “Love Songs.”
Concord Women’s Chorus is a 45-singer ensemble fostering the power of 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.
CWC’s commitment to the mastery and performance of a dynamic repertoire for women transforms the act of choral singing into an instrument for collaboration, education, and connection. The ensemble features confident singers who care deeply about creating, through women’s voices, a source of strength and inspiration for themselves, the audience, and the world around us.
For tickets or more information, email manager@concordwomenschorus.org, visit concordwomenschorus.org, or follow Concord Women’s Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
Halalisa Singers
Concert for the Earth featuring “Missa Gaia” Earth Mass
Saturday, April 29, 8 pm
First Unitarian Church of Worcester, 90 Main St., Worcester
Sunday, April 30, 4 pm
First Parish of Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington
Tickets: $25, available at halalisa.org
Artistic Director Mary Cunningham, conductor, Accompanist Trevor Berens, piano, Jim Scott, guitar, Stan Strickland, saxophone, Bertram Lehmann and Fabio Pirozzolo, percussion
The Halalisa Singers present “Concert for the Earth,” an uplifting program that both celebrates the beauty of the earth and calls for action to stem the destructive tide of climate change. Jim Scott, co-composer of the “Missa Gaia” Earth Mass, joins the performance of this environmental world music liturgy for choir along with acclaimed saxophonist Stan Strickland. The work weaves lyrical melodic sections with international gospel traditions, the calls of birds and animals, and the songs of whales and is a joyful tribute to the planet, reminding us of the incomparable beauty, preciousness, and precariousness of nature.
The program also includes Kim Andre Arnesen’s “Song for Justice,” from his “Beatitudes for a Wounded World,” Gwyneth Walker’s call for resilience in “Tree of Peace”, Moses Hogan’s soulful arrangement of the spiritual “Wade in the Water,” and the Diana Saez’s flowing “Yemaya”, as well as Climate movement staples “The Tide Is Rising,” by Rabbi Shoshana Friedman and husband Yotam Schachter, and “Do It Now: Sing for the Climate,” calling us to build a better future right now.
A talented ensemble of thirty men and women, the Halalisa Singers are inspired by the belief that music is a universal language with the power to uplift and unite us all. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mary Cunningham, this Lexington-based vocal ensemble is now in its twenty-third year offering unique performances in the Boston area.
For more information, email info@halalisa.org, visit halalisa.org, or follow Halalisa Singers on Facebook.
South Shore Ballet Theatre
Youth America Grand Prix
February 9 through 12
Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester
Tickets: TBA, available at the door, viewable on YouTube Live
Fourteen SSBT students compete with solo performances as well as ensembles in all age categories.
Summer Intensive Dancer Auditions
Saturday, February 11, 10:30 am to 12 noon for dancers ages 9 through 18; 12 noon to 1 pm for dancers ages 7 and 8
South Shore Ballet Theatre, 45 Industrial Park Road, Hingham
Audition Fee: $20, payable in advance when registering at southshoreballettheatre.com, with signed waiver
Come one come all to auditions for South Shore Ballet Theatre’s popular Summer Intensive programs. Registration is available weekly or for the full program, from July 10 through August 4, 9 am to 3 pm weekdays. The final week of Summer intensive is Nutcracker-themed, allowing community or SSBT dancers to get a head start preparing for any new secured role for SSBT’s annual holiday season tradition production of “The Nutcracker”. A program finale performance will be held for students that attend at least three weeks of the program.
Girl dancers arrive wearing black leotard, tights, ballet shoes, pointe shoes (if en pointe), hair in a bun. Boy dancers arrive wearing a white shirt, black bike shorts or black tights and ballet shoes.
Youth America Grand Prix NYC
March 3 through 5
PepsiCo Theatre, SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY
Tickets: TBA, available at the door, viewable on YouTube Live
Fourteen SSBT students compete with solo performances as well as ensembles in all age categories.
The Connecticut Classic
March 25 and 26
Instagram Live
SSBT students compete with solo performances as well as ensembles in all age categories.
Young Dancers Graduation Performance
Saturday, April 8, 11 am
South Shore Ballet Theatre, 45 Industrial Park Road, Hingham
Tickets: $5 general admission, available at the door, cash only
Pre-Ballet and Primary A dancers will perform choreographed versions of their classwork celebrating the end of their school year. Classical and Intensive ballet program dancers present performances, as well as a short graduation ceremony for young dancers moving to the next level.
South Shore Ballet Theatre Gala
Saturday, May 13, 2 pm
Thayer Academy’s Center for the Arts, 745 Washington Street, Braintree
Tickets: $20, available 4/1 online through Dance Recital Ticketing at 29965.danceticketing.com
Peter and the Wolf, courtesy image
South Shore Ballet Theatre’s Gala features an ensemble performance along with a showcase of solo and ensemble performances by SSBT dancers that competed in the Youth America Grand Prix.
Founded in 2008, South Shore Ballet Theatre (SSBT) is the South Shore region’s pre-professional ballet school featuring world class faculty, training tomorrow’s dancers today! SSBT’s mission is to provide students and their families with the opportunity to develop an appreciation of ballet and related dance disciplines in a safe and nurturing environment, encouraging students to strive to achieve their fullest potential, regardless of course of study.
SSBT students frequently take the performance stage including the beloved full-length production of “The Nutcracker”, their annual Spring Gala and throughout the year collaboratively with local schools and arts programs, sharing the appreciation of dance with the local community.
SSBT staff are committed to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. All students are welcome regardless of appearance, gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or disability. SSBT maintains an open-door policy so that all individuals may join the SSBT community and share this art form.
SSBT’s programs include American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT®) National Training Curriculum, a breakthrough nine-level program that combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health and child development. The National Training Curriculum consists of a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels.
For more information about South Shore Ballet Theatre, its programs, tuition, scholarships, and performances, visit SouthShoreBalletTheatre.com, call 781-312-7224, or follow South Shore Ballet Theatre on social media.
The Kerry Jon Walker Fund
Art Auction Fundraiser
Saturday, May 20, 4 to 8 pm, rain or shine
Sunset Point Camp, 138 Edgewater Road, Hull
Tickets: $45, children under 12 attend for free, includes catered buffet with cash bar available
The Kerry Jon Walker Fund (KJWF), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping humanity and supporting those affected by poverty, presents its annual benefit evening Art Auction. All proceeds support the fund’s mission, including mission service trips for teens supporting sustainable programs to improve health, education, and economic opportunity for those in need.
A family friendly evening of delights awaits where art and handmade crafts from local and international fine artists are on display in a festive atmosphere. Children’s activities, live entertainment by “World Music Award” winners Kalifa & Koliba, catering by “Best of the South Shore” winner Clandestine Kitchen and a cash bar are highlights. A Rwandan market table features one-of-a-kind African treasures, fine art selections and a local services auction. Purchases make wonderful gifts, support a great cause and may be taken home the same night.
KJWF provides financially challenged urban teen students the opportunity to create global objectivity and travel abroad in charitable service. KJWF provides student service trips to Rwanda, where they have assisted 500 orphaned teens at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. While providing service to this community abroad, the Boston teens, most never having never traveled out of the country, gain a new understanding of the developing world.
Admission and auction purchases may be paid for by cash, check and credit card on site. To learn more or support the Kerry Jon Walker Fund, visit thekerryfund.org.
Michelle McGrath PR | Media Relations provides visibility for arts and culture, non-profit, and small business sectors. mcgrathpr.com
