Newton Cultural Alliance

Suzuki School of Newton Honors Concert
2026-02-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
A select group of students from the Suzuki School of Newton will perform solo pieces on violin, piano, and harp. The program includes pieces by Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Bruch, Corelli, and others. Find out more at newtonfreelibrary.net or suzukinewton.org/events.

The Colgate 13
2026-02-06 19:30 - 21:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Get ready to be blown away by the incredible harmonies and vocal talents of Colgate 13 A Cappella at The Allen Center!

The Colgate 13 is Colgate University’s premier all-male a cappella ensemble, renowned for its rich harmonies, dynamic performances, and deep musical tradition. The group is the longest running all-male undergraduate collegiate a cappella group in the United States. Founded in 1942, the group has spent more than seven decades delighting audiences with a signature sound that blends classic vocal jazz, contemporary hits, folk, pop, and timeless standards.
Comprised of 13 undergraduate singers selected through a highly competitive audition process, The Colgate 13 is known not only for vocal excellence, but also for its infectious energy, warmth, and connection with audiences of all ages. Their concerts are engaging, family-friendly, and often infused with humor, storytelling, and heartfelt musical moments that make each performance feel personal and memorable.
Beyond campus, The Colgate 13 tours nationally and internationally, performing at schools, libraries, community venues, retirement communities, hospitals, athletic events, private parties, and alumni gatherings. Whether on a grand stage or in an intimate setting, the group brings professionalism, polish, and joy, making them a favorite among hosts and audiences alike.
A Colgate 13 isn’t just a performance, it’s an experience rooted in tradition, camaraderie, and a genuine love of singing together! We can’t wait for you to experience them at The Allen Center.
The Allen Center has limited seating capacity- a seating reservation is required for this event! Follow the Eventbrite link below.

Spark Newton presents Jazz Concert with George Russell, Jr. and Friends!
2026-02-07 19:30 - 21:00 | War Memorial Auditorium, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, 02459, United States
Please note the venue has changed for this event to Newton City Hall’s war memorial auditorium. Get ready to groove at the George Russell, Jr. and Friends, Free Jazz Concert! This in-person event brings together some amazing jazz talents for a night full of smooth tunes and good vibes. Whether you’re a jazz lover or just looking for a chill evening, come join us and enjoy the rhythms live at The Allen Center. It’s all about music, friends, and a great atmosphere. Beverages available for purchase before and during show. Don’t miss out—see you there!
In the event of a sell out, we will have a waitlist for any unclaimed tickets. Any unclaimed reserved tickets will be released five minutes before showtime.

West Newton presents Behind the Screen: Sinners
2026-02-08 13:00 - 15:30 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
SINNERS is a genre-defying period horror drama written and directed by Ryan Coogler, set in 1932 Mississippi during the Jim Crow era. The story follows twin brothers Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, who return to their hometown to open a juke joint for the local Black community, only to find that an ancient, supernatural evil threatens their celebration and their lives. The film blends Southern Gothic, blues music, historical memory, and supernatural horror, creating a richly layered narrative about community, survival, and cultural expression.
POST SCREENING PANEL DISCUSSION
Our panel will explore the film’s fusion of music, history, and horror, considering how SINNERS engages with African-American cultural traditions, the symbolic role of blues music in confronting evil, and the artistic choices that make the film a singular cinematic experience.
JAKE BLOUNT, A.M.
Musician, Scholar, and Music Consultant on SINNERS;
Specialist in Traditional African-American Music and Afrofuturism
Jake Blount is an award-winning musician and scholar whose work bridges performance, research, and advocacy. He specializes in African-American traditional music and Afrofuturist approaches, and his recordings have appeared on best-of lists from NPR, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone. Blount served as a music consultant on SINNERS and his work often interrogates the cultural and historical roots of American music.
JOEL LARUE SMITH, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor, Tufts, Pianist, Composer, Arranger
Joel LaRue Smith has been the Director of the Tufts Jazz Orchestra (formerly the Big Band) and Jazz Activities at Tufts University since 1996. He is also a pianist and composer known for moving seamlessly between jazz, classical, gospel, and Afro-Cuban repertoire. He has performed globally at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Royal Albert Hall, and has received numerous awards including ASCAP’s distinguished George and Ira Gershwin Award.
BILL LOWE, Ph.D.
Composer, Performer, Educator; Leader of Signifyin’ Natives
Bill Lowe is a distinguished bassist trombonist, tuba player, composer, and educator with decades of experience in creative music. His ensemble Signifyin’ Natives explores African-American musical traditions through improvisation and collaboration, and Lowe has performed and taught extensively throughout the United States and internationally.

Pro Arte presents Salon Series: Czech Please!
2026-02-08 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Salon Series: Czech Please!
Sunday, February 8, 3:00 pm
Escape the February doldrums for an afternoon at The Allen Center with Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. Take a trip to Prague, with Anton Reicha’s Wind Quintet in D, composed in 1818. Reicha, a friend of Beethoven, was one of the first composers to popularize this ensemble. Enjoy this chamber music concert series, which features the bass clarinet in Janacek’s Mladi (Youth), a charming piece filled with Moravian folk melodies and unbridled joy.

West Newton Cinema presents Mary Pickford's Sparrows: Live Music Accompaniment
2026-02-15 14:00 - 16:30 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Join us for a screening of Mary Pickford’s, SPARROWS (1926) with live musical accompaniment.
ABOUT THE FILM:
Molly, the eldest child at a baby farm hidden deep in a swamp, must rescue the others when their cruel master decides that one of them will be disposed of.
LIVE MUSIC
BRUCE VOGT
Bruce Vogt is a Canadian pianist who has devoted a distinguished career to performing and teaching. He has toured cities and towns of all sizes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a soloist and chamber musician. He has mentored generations of young artists in his role as professor of piano at the University of Victoria, and has lectured widely, leading master classes, workshops, and adjudicating for festivals.
Bruce has sustained an interest in exploring the many conversations to be found between music and film, literature and painting. This has evolved into an unusual side hustle: improvising accompaniments for the great films of the silent era. He has developed a robust career in this multimedia sphere bringing sound to many masterpieces — by Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Griffith, Sjöström, Von Sternberg and many others. In movie theaters across Europe, Asia, and North America, he has provided for audiences a greater intimacy with these films, transforming the silence of the medium into another sphere.

Lydian String Quartet: An Open Rehearsal
2026-02-19 19:30 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Naumburg Award-winning Lydian String Quartet, recently named Ensemble in Residence at The Allen Center, will deliver the third of four interactive open rehearsals taking place throughout the year. Currently rehearsing music from Beethoven String Quartets Opus 59 #3 and Opus 95 (program subject to change), expect the musicians to start and stop, discuss phrase shaping and dynamics, and talk between each other. Enjoy the freedom to move around and get up close to the players for this “behind the scenes” look into their rehearsal process. Presented by Cherry Street Music. Click here to purchase tickets.

Suzuki Preschool of Newton Open House
2026-02-26 16:00 - 17:30 | Suzuki School of Newton, 1615 Beacon St, Waban, MA, 02468, United States
Our classrooms will be open and set up with arts and crafts projects you and your children to engage with. There will also be a violin demo by one of our violin group classes from the Music School, so please be sure to stop by and hear our students play!

Newton Baroque presents Bringing it Home with Brescianello
2026-02-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Nathaniel Topliff Allen House, 35 Webster St., Newton, M, 02465, United States
Newton Baroque presents music of the Stuttgart Court.
Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello (ca. 1690 to 1758) grew up in Bologna and spent much of his career at the courts of Munich and Stuttgart. His Concerti a tre are richly imaginative trio sonatas that combine the intimacy of chamber music with the brilliance of concerto-style violin writing. Each work functions like a concerto for two violins, unfolding without the support of a full orchestra.
Like many Italian musicians who were recruited to German courts in the eighteenth century, Brescianello is not widely known today. In his own time, however, he was highly respected, particularly for his violin concertos. These works offer a vivid glimpse into the cosmopolitan musical life of the German courts and showcase a distinctive voice at the crossroads of Italian virtuosity and German refinement.
More information available at https://www.newtonbaroque.org/

Newton Presbyterian Church presents Planet in Sound: From Antarctica to Home
2026-03-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Newton Presbyterian Church, 75 Vernon St., Newton, MA, United States
About

Admission is free and we welcome donations!
Planet in Sound: From Antarctica to Home invites you on a musical journey across our planet’s most breathtaking landscapes, from the vast, frozen silence of Antarctica to the warmth and intimacy of human expression. Through music inspired by nature, earth, and belonging, this concert transforms the planet into a living soundscape, reminding us that even the most distant places are deeply connected to our inner world.
Praised by Sing Tao Daily for “bringing the audience into a different sound world with her vibrant tones,” pianist Anran Qian is a versatile and compelling artist whose performances have taken her across Asia, Europe, and North America. Joined by guitarist and composer Dr. Alberta Khoury, an Australian-born musician celebrated for her powerful artistry and praised by The New York Times as “a seven-minute tour de force,” the duo brings together two vivid musical voices united by imagination, depth, and storytelling.
Together, they create a concert experience that is both expansive and intimate: where ice meets earth, sound becomes landscape, and music becomes a bridge between the planet we explore and the home we carry within.

Frequently asked questions

What is the parking situation on site?

Our building has a parking lot available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is also plenty of free street parking nearby.

Will you be hosting more concerts like this in the future?

Yes, we will be hosting more concerts like this in the future. The ArsNova concert series features a total of four concerts in the 2025-2026 season, and we invite you to subscribe to our mailing list at our concert venue to receive further updates.

How can I donate to support the ArsNova concert series?

We offer several convenient methods for donations to support the ArsNova concert series. You can contribute through donation boxes available at each concert venue, scan our Venmo QR code on site, or opt to offer a donation by check. Your donations will support artists and keep the series running!

About ArsNova Concert Series
Welcome to the ArsNova Concert Series, a celebration of music that bridges the gap between renowned classics and underrepresented gems. Our mission is to create a meaningful connection between talented musicians and our vibrant local audiences. We believe in the power of music to inspire, uplift, and bring communities together, and we invite you to be a part of this enriching experience.
Whether you’re a lifelong classical music enthusiast or a curious newcomer, the ArsNova Concert Series offers something for everyone. Come and experience the magic of live music in an intimate and welcoming setting.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Organizer

Newton Presbyterian Church

Bay Colony Brass presents “An Evening of Firsts”
2026-03-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Music director Philip Sanborn leads Newton’s 20-member BAY COLONY BRASS in “An Evening of Firsts.” The free, family-friendly concert features English composer Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-Flat for Military Band” arranged for brass ensemble. The concert also includes Philip Sparke’s “Pantomime” for solo euphonium, Brian Balmages’ “Symphony No.1 for Brass,” and “From Heaven Shall It Come Down Upon Thee Until Thou be Destroyed” for brass ensemble by Boston-based composer Jason Huffman. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local council supported by the Mass Cultural Council and the City of Newton.
FREE ADMISSION
Parking is available adjacent to the building at Second Church in Newton. Parking lots are accessible from either Highland Street or Chestnut Street.
Access for those with limited mobility is available immediately uphill from the sanctuary via the side driveway or drive-up entrance through the main doors to the sanctuary.
Learn more about Bay Colony Brass at www.baycolonybrass.org.

Commonwealth Chorale presents Comfort, Awe, and Hope
2026-03-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Our March program brings Mozart’s Requiem in a new critically acclaimed edition by Howard Arman, paired with two stirring psalm settings by Brazilian composer Nunes Garcia—highlighting themes of mercy, judgment, and eternal rest. We will be joined by a professional orchestra.
Soloists: Maria Whitcomb, soprano, Laura Beth Couch, mezzo-soprano, Mathew McGinnis, tenor, and William Farrell, baritone.
Conducted by Artistic Director Dr. Michael Driscoll.
General Admission: $40; Students: $10
Purchase tickets online at https://commonwealthchorale.com/tickets or at the door.

Commonwealth Chorale Auditions
2026-03-10 17:30 - 18:45, 2026-03-17 17:30 - 18:45 | First Baptist Church in Newton, 848 Beacon St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Commonwealth Chorale seeks singers of all voice types who have strong vocal and sight-reading skills. We are especially looking for altos, tenors and basses. The 2025-2026 season marks Commonwealth Chorale’s 50th Anniversary and has been filled with special performances.
In May, we conclude our celebration with Martín Palmeri’s tango-influenced Misa a Buenos Aires (“Misatango”). The program will also feature tango works with tango orchestra and tango dancers! We conclude with Argentinian Alberto Ginastera’s Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah, written while Ginastera was living in the USA after being targeted by the Perón regime for supporting civil liberties.
Auditions will be held by appointment on March 10th and 17th from 5:30 to 6:45. Auditions are held at our rehearsal location at First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon Street in Newton Center, a few minutes’ walk from the Newton Center stop on the “D” Green Line. There is also free parking behind the church and on adjacent streets.
We have scholarships to reduce costs for singers 30 and under! See website for details: https://commonwealthchorale.com
To apply for an audition, click here: https://commonwealthchorale.com/join-us

Highland Glee Club presents Enchanted
2026-03-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Newton Highland Congregational Church, 54 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands, MA, 02494, United States
The Highland Glee Club Men’s Chorus and Music Director Sarah Robinson Seeber welcome you to our exploration of the mists, mysteries, and mysticism of the medieval and renaissance times, via chant and chant-inspired music- along with special guest artists, Lilium et Rosa women’s vocal quartet.
Saturday, March 14, 2026. 3:00 pm Doors open at 2:30 pm. Newton Highlands Congregational Church, 54 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA.
General admission $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Children free of charge.

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.

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.

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.
