Upcoming Performances
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 pm
The Allen Center presents a spirited evening of Scottish and American traditional tunes reimagined by Boston's fiddling finest: Kathleen Parks, Jenna Moynihan, and friends. Part of the Cherry Street Music concert series, expect an evening of high-energy music and camaraderie. Curated by Larry Bethune—the irreplaceable Newton resident, former Berklee VP and authority on Scotland and its musical traditions—this program promises fun, excitement, and extraordinary musicianship! For this performance, The Allen Center will transform into a pub setting with appropriate food and beverage available. Click here for tickets.
Sunday, March 8, 3:00 pm
25-year-old piano sensation Yuki Yoshimi takes the stage for an unforgettable afternoon of Mozart, Bartók, and Schumann. Yoshimi captured international attention when he became the youngest-ever winner of the 86th Music Competition of Japan at just 17. Since then, he has earned top prizes in major competitions including a Silver Medal at the Manhattan International Music Competition and semifinalist appearances at the Queen Elisabeth, Naumburg, and Gina Bachauer International Piano Competitions. Yoshimi is a CHANEL Pygmalion Days Artist and was invited to give 6 recitals at CHANEL-NEXUS Hall in Tokyo. A student of acclaimed New England Conservatory professor Alexander Korsantia, Yoshimi brings both dazzling virtuosity and profound musical insight to every performance. Don’t miss this extraordinary young artist as he performs on The Allen Center’s magnificent Steinway concert grand piano, generously on loan from M. Steinert & Sons—an afternoon of brilliance, passion, and breathtaking artistry awaits! Click here for tickets.
Monday March 16, 7:30 pm
Join us for an extraordinary evening with acclaimed pianist Orli Shaham performing in the intimate elegance of The Allen Center’s Great Hall. Celebrated worldwide for her grace, subtlety, and brilliance, Ms. Shaham has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras and appeared in recital on the most prestigious stages—from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. Critics have been unequivocal in their praise: The New York Times hails her as a “brilliant pianist,” Chicago Tribune calls her a “first-rate Mozartean,” and London's Guardian described her performance at the Proms as “perfection.” Don’t miss this special opportunity to experience Ms. Shaham’s remarkable artistry up close in an unforgettable performance. Click here for tickets.
Sunday March 22, 3:00 pm
Steinway pianist Dr. Karen Walwyn returns to The Allen Center for an illuminating lecture-recital celebrating the incredible life and works of Florence Price. A leading expert on Price’s music, Dr. Walwyn recorded the world premiere of Price's Concerto in One Movement with the New Black Music Repertory Ensemble at the Center for Black Music Research in 2011. Her April 9, 2022 release of Price’s complete solo piano works garnered two five-star reviews from Fanfare, with critics praising her as “perfectly attuned” to the composer’s voice and describing the recording as “a marvelous release.” Dr. Walwyn serves as a Mellon Faculty Fellow and Professor of Music at Berklee College of Music. We hope you'll join us for this special opportunity to hear Walwyn's brilliant and exciting interpretations of Florence Price. Click here for tickets.
A Scottish Cèilidh with Summer McCall
Saturday April 4, 7:00 pm
A Scottish Cèilidh is an evening of Gaelic folk music and dance led by caller Summer McCall and her band. Pronounced “KAY-lee,” a cèilidh is a traditional Scottish (and Irish céilí) social gathering centered on lively, inclusive group dancing. Guided by a caller who explains each step, the event welcomes dancers of all ages and experience levels — no prior experience is necessary. Summer McCall has been an active member of Boston’s Celtic music community since 2019 and is a regular session musician on fiddle and cello. She serves as director of the Boston Celtic Music Festival, presented annually by Club Passim. Her band features Elizabeth Anderson (fiddle), Adam Hendey (guitar), Stephen Thomsforde (pipes), and Simon Lace (drums). We hope you'll join us for this upbeat evening of music and dance! Click here for tickets.
Meet Our Artistic Director
Allison Eldredge, Artistic Director and cellist
Heralded that, “Eldredge ‘plays like a dream’” (News and Record) and acclaimed for her “soaring sound” (American Record Guide), Allison Eldredge has been connecting with audiences around the globe with her deep love for beautiful music and people. Following her debut at the Concertgebouw, Het Leidsch Dagblad (Amsterdam) wrote, “Eldredge plays with the agility of a Puma. One could hear singing voices come from within her instrument." Allison gained international attention when Daniel Barenboim invited her to play the Elgar Cello Concerto with him and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Orchestra Hall. As soloist, she has performed with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields from Queen Elizabeth Hall in London to New York’s Carnegie Hall, with orchestras with such distinguished conductors as Zubin Mehta, Andre Previn, Jaap van Sweden, Charles Dutoit, Leonard Slatkin, Krzysztof Penderecki and Joseph Silverstein. "Eldredge, who has already wowed Chicago Symphony audiences with her unique artistry, was even more dazzling in her rendition of this one-movement concerto (Penderecki).
Following the release of her Faure - Chopin Album (Denon), critics said, “Her nuances are sensuous and enticing, her tone - deep and silky...her sotto voce is so beautiful” (Ongaku no Tomo, Japan). She has released 6 solo albums on labels Pony Canyon, Denon, Arizona Records and RCA Red Label. She has partnered in chamber music with friends and esteemed artists Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham, Andre Previn, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Max Levinson, Barry Shiffman and more. In addition to serving as Cherry Street Music Artistic Director, Allison, a Newton resident, is the Allen Center’s Artist in Residence. She has visited over 100 schools to support music education in communities with greater needs. A recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant at 19 and Musical America’s “Young Artist of the Year” award, Allison has served on the Faculties of New England Conservatory, Boston String Academy and Harvard University.
Instagram @allison.eldredge.1740
Facebook @allisoneldredgecellist
About Cherry Street Music
Cherry Street Music, The Allen Center's signature music series, has a simple mission: to create a space to meet new people, develop friendships, and find togetherness, passion, and hope through afternoons and evenings of music. Our concerts are less formal with conversation between artists, special guests, and audience members. Attendees will also have an opportunity to experience the visionary educational history and beauty of the 1840 Nathaniel Allen Homestead, now The Allen Center, as our artistic home!
Cellist Allison Eldredge is Founder and Artistic Director of Cherry Street Music.
Past Concerts
9.30.24 *Oded Tzúr
10.6.24 *Classical with a Twist: Champions for Change
10.26.24 *440- The Gypsy Jazz Quartet: Toe-Tapping Snappy Hot Jazz
11.17.24 *Classical with a Twist: West Newton Pops
12.15.24 *Classical with a Twist: I've Got Rhythm
2.2.25 *Classical with a Twist: Love Is All Around
3.8.25 *Classical with a Twist: Musical Kaleidoscope
4.6.25 *Classical with a Twist: Postcards
4.15.25 *A Pop-up Open Rehearsal with Lydian String Quartet
6.19.25 *Lift Every Voice: A Juneteenth Musical Celebration with Howard University Gospel Choir
7.9.25 *Summer at The Allen Center: Outrageous Fortune with Paul Rishell & Annie Raines
7.15.25 *Summer at The Allen Center: Hidden Gems
7.22.25 *Summer at The Allen Center: Summer Lite
7.29.25 *Summer at The Allen Center: Community Chest
8.5.25 *Summer at The Allen Center: Full Bloom
8.12.25 *Summer at The Allen Center: Sentimental Breeze
10.04.25 *Explorations in Sound
10.05.25 *Steinway Alive
10.19.25 *Phil Lima/Schubert- Winterreise
11.7.25 *Casey Scheuerell Quintet
11.13.25 *Lydian String Quartet Open Rehearsal
11.22.25 *The Gingersnap Band
11.23.25 *Boston's Brilliance
12.18.25 *Stefan Jackiw & Friends
1.15.26 *Lydian String Quartet Open Rehearsal
2.6.26 *The Colgate 13 A Capella Ensemble
2.19.26 *Lydian String Quartet An Open Rehearsal
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