Newton Cultural Alliance

FUUSN Presents What the World Needs Now: A Community Gathering for Justice and Peace
2026-03-21 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
First Unitarian Universalist Society presents a song filled interfaith community event, featuring a community folk song sing-along, a performance by an Interfaith choir, and a keynote talk by Tinya Seeger (Pete Seeger’s daughter). While the gathering is free and open to the public, freewill donations will support non-profit Democracy Forward. Co-sponsors for the event include the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, Green Newton, and More Than Words.

Next-Arts presents the Newton Piano Summit
2026-03-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Brazilian Legends: pianist Hélio Alves, bassist Gili Lopes and drummer Rafael Barata. Deep groove, fearless interplay, and that unmistakable Brazilian pulse, delivered at the highest level.
Lee Fish & Friends: An amazing blend of Jazz, Soul and Folk from drummer Lee Fish, pianist Jiří Nedoma, bassist Max Ridley and saxophonist Edmar Colon.

Cappella Clausura presents Blood and Honey; Modern Visions of Hildegard
2026-03-21 16:00 - 18:00 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
Cappella Clausura, an a cappella ensemble of eight to sixteen singers who perform music by Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary composers, present Hildegard’s music for Saint Ursula at Grace Church in Newton. Hildegard von Bingen – the “patron saint” of Cappella – wrote an abundance of vivid music and poetry about Saint Ursula. These chants celebrate womanhood and independence. In this program, Cappella Clausura presents Hildegard’s music for Saint Ursula interspersed with micro-commissions from five emerging composers from the Boston area.

Next-Arts Presents the Newton Piano Summit
2026-03-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Grammy-winning New York jazz pianist David Kikoski is a blazing improviser whose fearless harmonic imagination, deep swing, and lyrical touch have made him a legend among musicians worldwide.
Alexei Tsiganov is a world-class jazz pianist and vibraphonist known for his virtuosic improvisation, genre-blending compositions, and deep impact on New England’s creative music scene. He returns for his third Summit performance, teaming up with Kikoski and playing on his first love, the vibraphone.

The Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library presents Takeshi Nagayasu
2026-03-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Scandinavian Cultural Center, 206 Waltham St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
The Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library and The Leroy Anderson Foundation present an afternoon of piano music with internationally acclaimed pianist Takeshi Nagayasu. Nagayasu has performed in major concert halls across New York, Europe, and Asia, and is the recipient of numerous international honors. Takeshi has degrees from Juilliard, Yale and the University of Michigan. The program will feature works offering a vibrant journey from Scandinavian folk-inspired piano pieces to virtuosic Romantic etudes and compelling modern works.

Curtain Up Hits the Road! at The Allen Center
2026-03-29 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Cherry Street Music at The Allen Center presents an unforgettable afternoon of fresh, original musical theater! Experience brand-new songs written and performed by the talented students of Berklee College of Music, featuring standout pieces from the winners of Berklee’s annual Curtain Up competition. This wonderful showcase will be hosted by Julius P. Williams, III, Berklee professor and featured artist on Britain’s Got Talent. Be among the first to hear the next generation of musical theater come to life in an intimate, up-close performance you won’t want to miss!

All Newton Music School presents Alex Thomas Faculty Recital- Discovering Grieg
2026-04-04 16:00 - 18:00 | All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
All Newton Music School Piano faculty Alex Thomas invites you to an inspiring concert of Edvard Grieg’s most captivating piano works. From tender lyricism to fiery Nordic passion, each performance captures the essence of Grieg’s genius. Immerse yourself in a concert where artistry and imagery blend in perfect harmony.

Lydian String Quartet at The Allen Center
2026-04-10 19:30 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Naumburg Award-winning Lydian String Quartet, Ensemble in Residence at The Allen Center, will present an evening of exceptional chamber music. The program features Schubert’s Quartettsatz (Quartet Movement) in C minor, D. 703, Lembit Beecher (b. 1980) Juniper and Birch (2024, commissioned by the Lydian String Quartet), and Benjamin Britten’s String Quartet No. 2 (1945). We invite you to join us for this intimate and engaging concert, followed by a reception and an opportunity to meet the artists.

Suzuki School of Newton Presents 40th Anniversary Gala
2026-04-11 18:00 - 21:00 | American Legion Hall, Nonatum, MA
Join the Suzuki School of Newton as they celebrate 40 years of inspiring young musicians, nurturing talent, and sharing the joy of music. An elegant evening of music, fine dining, and celebration awaits commemorating four decades of artistic excellence and dedication. All proceeds benefit SSN’s need-based James Thornblade Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Suzuki School of Newton Grand Ball
2026-04-11 18:00 - 22:00 | Post 440, 295 California St., Newton, M, 02468-1507, United States
We are gearing up for a very exciting event at the Suzuki Grand Ball! Feel free to invite a few friends and alumni! Maybe you can work together with another family and share a table. The more the merrier.
Your invitations should have arrived in your mailboxes yesterday or will arrive today.
We will be honoring Gwendoline Thornblade, our founding director at this event. Please feel free to invite anyone who you think might know her including our former faculty, accompanists, staff, etc.! It will be fun to reconnect. We are also collecting photos which you can share with us at info@suzukinewton.org.
We are also organizing a Bach Double Violin and Vivaldi Double cello–for any alumni who want to brush up on these pieces!
Thank you so much for your support of the Suzuki School of Newton!

Pro Arte presents Signs of Life
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
SIGNS OF LIFE

April 12, 2026

3:00PM

Second Church in Newton

60 Highland St, West Newton, MA 02465, USA

DIRECTIONS

Musical Program

ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Notturno for Strings, Op. 40
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Chamber Symphony, Op.110a.
ADOLFUS HAILSTORK Sonata da Chiesa
EDWARD ELGAR Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47

TICKETS

Conductor Paul Polivnik returns to Pro Arte in April for a powerful program of music for string orchestra. Antonín Dvořák transformed an early Andante religioso for string quartet into the luminous Nocturne. Dmitri Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony was also originally scored for string quartet, but its later orchestration conveys his personal anguish with even greater intensity. Inspired by Latin liturgical texts, Adolphus Hailstork’s Sonata da Chiesa is a contemporary American take on the 17th-century church sonata. Edward Elgar fashioned his rich Introduction and Allegro after another Baroque form, the concerto grosso, which assigns a solo role to a group of players—in this case, a string quartet.

Boston Landmarks Orchestra presents From the Podium: Who Invented Beethoven?
2026-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Join Boston Landmarks Orchestra for the first installment of From The Podium Talks featuring Music Director Christopher Wilkins.

Long before Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony came knocking, the sinfonia was a modest introduction to operas and theatrical evenings. But over time, it grew into a vehicle for the grandest visions of instrumental music. Join the Maestro on a listening tour to hear how this transformation took shape, culminating in Beethoven’s nine symphonies—works that forever altered the symphonic landscape.
The talk will begin at 7:00 with a reception to follow.
Click here for tickets.
For more information about the orchestra, visit www.landmarksorchestra.org or follow @LandmarksOrch on all social media.

Newton Community Chorus presents Mozart's Requiem
2026-04-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
Join the Newton Community Chorus for a powerful performance of Mozart’s Requiem, brought to life with full orchestra and exceptional soloists at Grace Episcopal Church. Composed in the final days of his life, Mozart’s Requiem is a work of profound intensity and mystery—left unfinished at the time of his death at just 35. Don’t miss this moving musical experience that continues to captivate audiences centuries later.
Click here for tickets.

Blue Heron presents Machaut Weekend
2026-05-01 19:30 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Machaut Weekend
May 1-3, 2026
Join us for a three-day festival featuring the poetry and music of 14th-century Europe’s greatest poet and composer, Guillaume de Machaut (d. 1377). We’ll explore the courtly chansons that are the heart of his work, sample his polytextual motets, sing the celebrated Messe de Nostre Dame by candlelight in Emmanuel Church’s gothic Lindsey Chapel, and finish up with a cabaret concert of songs by Machaut and the next generation, the bewitchingly smoky Ars subtilior.
Calendar of Events
Opening Festivities: Keynote, Performance & Sing-Along
Friday, May 1, 2026, 7:30 pm
The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, West Newton, MA 02465
Tickets: $11.50–$32.50
Our celebration of Machaut begins with a keynote talk by one of the world’s leading scholars of 14th-century music, Anne Stone (CUNY Graduate Center), performances of pieces in several of the genres represented in Machaut’s oeuvre, and a sing-along of the Kyrie from the Messe de Nostre Dame.

New Phil presents Classics III: Traditionally Modern
2026-05-02 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-05-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
Classics III: Traditionally Modern
May 2, 2026 – May 3, 2026

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Music for Cuatro and Orchestra with special guest Carlos Capacho

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Grace Episcopal Church

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$10 – $45

Suzuki School of Newton Graduation Concert
2026-05-03 12:00 - 18:00 | The Shops at Chestnut Hill, 199 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, United States
Suzuki School of Newton harp and violin students performing a variety of music.

Spark Newton Presents Newton Singers Spring Concert
2026-05-03 15:00 - 16:30 | Elevation Chapel, 150 Lowell Avenue, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
Join the Newton Singers at Elevation Chapel in Newtonville for an uplifting Spring Concert, an afternoon of music that celebrates the season and our community. This friendly, intergenerational chorus will share a mix of jazz, show tunes, folk songs, and familiar favorites—perfect for music lovers of all ages. Come hear beautiful live choral music, sing along to songs you know, and enjoy a spring afternoon with neighbors and friends.
Free and open to all!
Newton Singers Spring Concert is fiscally sponsored by Spark Newton.

Suzuki School of Newton presents Pianos Galore Concert
2026-05-03 17:00 - 18:30 | Newton Presbyterian Church, 75 Vernon St., Newton, MA, United States
Suzuki School of Newton piano students present a group concert of classical repertoire.

Blue Heron Presents Cabaret Concert: Machaut & the Ars subtilior
2026-05-03 18:00 - 20:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Wrap up Blue Heron’s Machaut Weekend with a program connecting Machaut to the next generation. Late-14th-century Ars subtilior (the “more subtle art”) composers built on his work, crafting songs about mysterious, smoky speculators known as fumeurs. Enjoy projected texts and illustrations, a taste of French food & drink, and—as an extra treat—learn how to sing and dance a virelai!

Highland Glee Club presents Let Freedom Sing!
2026-05-09 15:00 - 16:30 | Newton Presbyterian Church, 75 Vernon St., Newton, MA, United States
Put on some red, white, and blue and join us for a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of our country! The Highland Gee Club Men’s Chorus, the Apollo Club, and Saengerfest join to form a 100 MAN MEGA CHORUS to serenade you with beloved traditional patriotic songs, as well as a beautiful triptych of Union songs from the Civil War, and Randal Thompson’s Testament of Freedom, set to inspiring words of Thomas Jefferson.

Bay Colony Brass presents Springtime Salmagundi
2026-05-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Founded in 2000, Bay Colony Brass is a vibrant large brass ensemble featuring twenty talented brass and percussion musicians from the Greater Boston area. For their spring concert at Second Church in Newton, they’ll present an exciting and diverse program:
Siyahamba (Traditional, arr. David Marlatt)
Music for Brass and Timpani (James Marks)
Liturgy for Brass (David Uber)
Three Brass Cats (Chris Hazell)
SunCatchers (Carson Cooman) new commission for two French Horns and Brass Ensemble, with Hazel Dean Davis and Nick Auer, horn
Othello (Alfred Reed)

Newton Baroque Presents Music from 17th Century South Germany
2026-05-09 19:30 - 21:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Join Newton Baroque at The Allen Center for a program of 17th Century music from South Germany, including works by Bertali, Schmelzer, Biber, Capricornus. Susanna Ogata – violin, Laura Jeppesen – viola da gamba, Andrus Madsen – harpsichord.
Click here for Tickets!

Suzuki School of Newton Presents ¡Cantemos Juntos! - Student Workshop
2026-05-15 17:00 - 19:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
This workshop is designed for children ages 8-12 of any instrument and any level of musical training. In this workshop Lydia will teach a variety of singing games in Spanish, as well as folk songs from the Andean region of South America. The children will learn the basic dance steps and accompaniment to the songs from the Andes, adding percussion and flutes traditional to the highlands. The songs and some of the singing games will be performed the following day at the Multicultural Festival!

Suzuki School of Newton Presents The Singing Voice: the Heart where Music Begins - Teacher Workshop
2026-05-15 17:00 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
With Lydia Mills, Kodály Teacher Trainer and Director of Instituto Kodály at Fundación Ibáñez Atkinson.
This workshop is designed for instrumental and vocal music teachers. Teachers will participate in the first workshop with the children and stay for a session dedicated specifically to teachers. Lydia will share her insight on teaching with the Kodály approach. Together we will explore how the folk-art tradition of singing games develops self-esteem, connection with peers, and a keen musical intuition, leading ultimately to successful musical literacy training.

Suzuki School of Newton Presents Multicultural Festival 2026
2026-05-16 14:00 - 18:00 | Suzuki School of Newton, 1615 Beacon St, Waban, MA, 02468, United States
Celebrate community and creativity at the Suzuki School of Newton’s Multicultural Festival 2026, featuring international music, an intergenerational art show, and a delicious global potluck. Join us on Saturday, May 16 from 2–6 PM in Waban for an afternoon of performances, connection, and cultural celebration for all ages.

Cappella Clausura Presents Worthy of the Highest Praise: Bembo and Vivaldi
2026-05-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
“Worthy of the Highest Praise: Bembo and Vivaldi”
May 16th at 4 PM – Grace Episcopal Church on Newton
Are you familiar with the name “Antonia Bembo”? How about “Antonio Vivaldi”? I’d wager that you’re familiar with the latter but not the former – which is exactly the point.
Antonia Bembo was an Italian composer and singer of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The reason you haven’t heard of her isn’t because her music is underwhelming: Bembo’s talent actually took her from Italy to France, where she was employed by King Louis XIV as a composer and singer. Her music has been unduly neglected because of her gender; she is every bit as good as her male contemporaries, and we’re proving it by putting her music side-by-side with the Vivaldi Gloria – one of the classics of the choral repertoire – and letting you draw your own conclusions.
According to one etymology, the name “Antonia/o means “worthy of praise”. In this little-heard work by Antonia Bembo, you’ll hear that she’s just as praiseworthy as any Antonio.
Featuring music by: Antonia Bembo, Antonio Vivaldi, and others

Commonwealth Chorale presents Spirit, Passion, Defiance – Let’s Tango!
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | MA
Spirit, Passion, Defiance – Let’s Tango!
Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7 PM
Alberto Ginastera: Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah
Various: Tango works with tango orchestra and dancers
Martín Palmeri: Misa a Buenos Aires (“Misatango”)
with strings, piano, bandoneon, and tango dancers!
Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano
Alex Roitman, bandoneon

Cherry Street Music Presents Ari & Mia
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Sister duo Ari Friedman (cello & voice) and Mia Friedman (fiddle & voice) bring their chamber-folk magic to the stage in a special CD release celebration! Hailed as “strikingly beautiful, distinctive and exhilarating” (No Depression), Ari & Mia weave original compositions with Southern and Northeastern fiddle traditions and the early American songbook into something entirely their own. Don’t miss this wonderful Cherry Street Music performance at The Allen Center!
Click here for tickets.

Commonwealth Chorale presents Spirit, Passion, Defiance – Let’s Tango!
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Michael Driscoll School Auditorium, 725 Washington Street, Brookline, M, 02446, United States
We end our 50th season with a bold Latin American program: Palmeri’s electrifying Misatango pulses with tango rhythms and passion, while Ginastera’s Lamentations evokes spiritual exile and sorrow. Dancers and a tango ensemble add visual and musical fire, concluding a season rich in reflection, intensity, and jubilant expression. Featuring soloists Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano and Alex Roitman, bandoneonist.
Conducted by Artistic Director Dr. Michael Driscoll
General Admission $40; Students $10; EBT/WIC Cards – Free at Door
