Newton Cultural Alliance

Cappella Clausura presents All About Love
2025-02-16 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
All About Love
“Sappho begins with a sweet apple and ends in infinite hunger.” (From “Eros the Bittersweet”, by Anne Carson)
Too often throughout history, we’ve seen women’s love and desire depicted through a male gaze, while authentic expressions of love and desire by women in art have been considered taboo. Cappella Clausura challenges this by centering the voices of women and gender non-binary composers in this program on the topic of love in all its forms.
Featuring music by Evelin Seppar, Modesta Bor, Rafaella Aleotti, Laura Nevitt, and others.
​
February 15th, 2025 @ 4PM​
Grace Church
February 16th, 2025 @ 4PMEmmanuel Church

AEM presents Practical Musicianship and Music Theory for Early Musicians
2025-02-17 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-02-24 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-03-03 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-03-10 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-03-17 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-03-24 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-03-31 17:30 - 19:00 | MA
with Shira Kammen – vielle, voice, harp

5:30 – 6:45 pm, 11 November 2024

Shira
Kammen **
Violin & Vielle

4 Monday sessions, November 11, 18, 25 & December 2, from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. ET

Class Description

The Allen Center presents Interiors: Between Refuge and Restraint
2025-02-20 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-27 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-27 18:30 - 20:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Photographer Tira Khan presents an exhibition in The Allen Center’s gallery space through March 4th. Interiors: Between Refuge and Restraint is the second exhibit in the “Women Seeing Women” series, curated by NCA Board member, Peter Vanderwarker.
Tira Khan is a documentary and montage photographer who explores the meaning of family, portraiture, and place.
On view: January 23 – March 4, 2025
Opening reception: Wednesday, January 29, 6:30-8:30pm
Artist Talk: February 27th, 6:30 pm refreshments, 7:00 lecture. Register for the talk HERE.
Gallery open hours: Thursdays, 12-2pm
Meet some friends over at Nate’s Cafe in the main corridor for some sweet treats & coffee while you peruse this fascinating exhibit!
“Women Seeing Women” is curated by Peter Vanderwarker and sponsored in part by the Newton Cultural Council.

POSTPONED Ari & Mia: Glimmer of Warmth
2025-02-22 19:00 - 20:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
This event has been POSTPONED. Check back soon for new date. All tickets will either be refunded or honored at the future event.
Ari and Mia Friedman, New England’s Americana Sister Act, perform live on stage at The Allen Center. This folk duo will sing for you and with you, sharing some Glimmers of Warmth that can perhaps sustain us until springtime.

Newton Community Pride presents Mark Copeland and Friends Concert
2025-02-28 19:30 - 20:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Friday, February 28, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Mark Copeland and Friends Concert
Allen Center for the Arts, 35 Webster St, Newton
Register Here
Join us for an evening with Mark Copeland, talented pianist, organist, composer, and educator. Mark, his
musical trio, and wonderful singers will perform various genres of music including gospel, soul, and
smooth jazz.
About Newton Community Pride
Newton Community Pride, formed in 1989, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization building community
through free and accessible arts and culture programming, public art, beautification and service projects.
For more information, please go to www.newtoncommunnitypride.org

New Phil Orchestra presents Classics II
2025-03-01 19:30 - 21:00, 2025-03-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
CLASSICS II
March 1st and 2nd
Berlioz, Harold in Italy
Danny Kim, viola
Schumann, Symphony No. 4

Commonwealth Chorale presents Fate and Earthly Pleasures
2025-03-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Regis College, 235 Wellesley St, Weston, MA
Fate and Earthly Pleasures

Saturday March 8, 2025 at 7 pm
Carl Orff Carmina Burana
Alexandra Henderson, soprano
Morgan Mastrangelo, tenor
Nicholas Ottersberg Enriquez, baritone
In collaboration with:
Rivers Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Memoli, conductor
Wellesley Middle School 6th Grade Treble Chorus, Lauren Connors, Director

Venue

Regis College
Casey Theater
235 Wellesley St, Weston, MA
Map

We all enjoy having fun and we find it in many sources, including music. We also know how chance impacts our lives. In both ancient philosophy and in Greek and Roman myths, human fortunes, good or bad, were determined by the goddess of fate and her wheel of fortune. Inspired by the wheel of fortune, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana begins and ends with warnings about the twists of fate. But life goes on! So, in between, there are songs about earthly pleasures: the arrival of spring, the joys and pains of romantic love, raucous behavior, lust and chastity, gambling, and satires aimed at the Catholic Church. Orff’s inspiration was 11th and 12th century poems discovered 600 years later in a monastic collection, apparently written by university students studying to be priests!

Composers find many ways to have or express fun with their music. Orff’s Carmina Burana is a favored example; it is an audio feast of playfulness, especially when performed with orchestra! We are delighted to collaborate with the Rivers Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Christopher Memoli and with the Wellesley Middle School 6th Grade Treble Chorus (Lauren Connors, Director). Together we will bring you the rare opportunity to hear Carmina Burana with a full orchestra and all the additional power, drama, and liveliness that the instruments bring to conveying the full sentiments of these medieval poems!

Featured Artists

Alexandra Henderson
soprano

Morgan Mastrangelo
tenor

Nicholas Ottersberg Enriquez
baritone

Bay Colony Brass present Prokofiev, Penderecki and Puccini
2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States

Classical with a Twist: Musical Kaleidoscope
2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:00 | the allen center, 35 Webster Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of electrifying music! Cherry Street Music’s Artistic Director International solo cellist, Allison Eldredge, returns to The Allen Center stage with Classical with a Twist: Musical Kaleidoscope. Joining Allison on stage will be the mesmerizing violinist Markus Däunert and the brilliant young pianist Yutong Sun in music of Dvorak. In addition to his trio performance, Daunert will also be featured in the “Twist” which this time is an alluring collaboration with the award-winning Boston String Academy and Co-Director Mariesther Alvarez featuring explosive performances of Mahler, Shostakovich, and Piazzolla. This concert promises to ignite the senses, bringing together a distinguished ensemble of magnetic musicians in the intimate atmosphere of The Allen Center. Don’t miss out—grab your tickets now for this dazzling kaleidoscope of sound and passion!

Bay Colony Brass presents “Prokofiev, Penderecki, and Puccini”
2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:00 | First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
LAST MINUTE VENUE CHANGE!
Music director Philip Sanborn leads Newton’s 20-member BAY COLONY BRASS in a free concert featuring a suite from Sergei Prokofiev’s stunning ballet score from “Romeo and Juliet” to Krzysztof Penderecki’s “Danziger Fanfare” and music from Giacomo Puccini’s tragic opera, “Tosca.” The program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local council that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council and the City of Newton.
FREE ADMISSION
Last minute venue change to:
First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton
1326 Washington St.

Newton, MA 02465

Learn more about Bay Colony Brass at www.baycolonybrass.org.

Games of Tones
2025-03-09 15:00 - 16:30 | War Memorial Auditorium, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, 02459, United States
The Highland Glee Club is proud to announce “Game of Tones”- songs of knighthood, heroism, mythic visions, and the supernatural. Inspired by the medieval fantasy series Game of Thrones, the men of the Highland Glee Club along with their musical director Sarah Robinson Seeber bring you a beguiling concert of
Grieg, Sibelius, Elgar, Romberg and more! With special guest soprano Jessica Toupin and piano solos by Jonathan Reddix.
Sunday, March 9, 2025. 3:00 pm. War Memorial Auditorium at Newton City Hall. 1000 Commonwealth Ave., Newton, MA.

Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra presents Conifer Quartet 2025
2025-03-09 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Salon Series is Pro Arte’s chamber music concert series. Each performance features a select handful of musicians from Pro Arte’s cooperative along with occasional guest artists to present musical gems not featured in the full orchestral Ensemble Series. They are a perfect way get to know Pro Arte players better. If you haven’t been to one of these fun concerts, they are presented in a less formal manner and feature plenty of opportunity to interact with the musicians and to learn more about the music.

Newton Piano Summit - David Schulenberg and Monica Jakuc Leverett
2025-03-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
David Schulenberg: Historically Inspired Virtuoso
David Schulenberg is a renowned harpsichordist, organist, and fortepianist celebrated for his historically informed performances of Baroque and Classical keyboard music. Best known for his interpretations of works by J.S. Bach and C.P.E. Bach, Schulenberg captivates audiences with his technical brilliance and expressive artistry.
A frequent soloist and ensemble performer, he brings historical repertoire to life through his mastery of period instruments and deep understanding of early music styles. Schulenberg has performed widely across the U.S. and internationally, earning acclaim for his compelling musicianship and attention to detail.
In addition to his performing career, Schulenberg is a respected educator and scholar whose work bridges the worlds of performance and research, ensuring the enduring relevance of early music in the modern era.
Monica Jakuc Leverett: Bridging Centuries of Keyboard Mastery
Monica Jakuc Leverett is the Elsie Irwin Sweeney Professor Emerita of Music at Smith College, where she taught since 1969. An internationally recognized pianist, she has performed on three continents and remains an active solo and chamber musician in Western Massachusetts, playing both early and modern pianos.
Her New York debut at Alice Tully Hall in 1980 featured a program of 20th-century music for two pianos. The New York Times praised her performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations at Merkin Hall as “an auspicious debut.” She premiered a work by Ronald Perera in her 1988 London debut and has since toured Japan, Alaska, and both U.S. coasts. Passionate about women composers, she has given lecture-recitals at International Association of Women in Music concerts.
Her recordings include works by Haydn, Marianne von Martinez, and Francesca LeBrun. Her latest album, Fantasies for Fortepiano, features music by Mozart, C.P.E. Bach, Haydn, and Beethoven.
Jakuc Leverett holds degrees from Juilliard and studied with renowned pianists including Leon Fleisher and Russell Sherman. She and her husband, Bob Leverett, explore forests and support conservation through the Monica and Bob Leverett Forever-Wild Conservation Fund.
Special guest Jacob Cooper, a Colorado-born baritone, is acclaimed for his dynamic stage presence in opera, recital, and ensemble performances. Described as “stunning” by The Boston Globe, he has performed with top New England period ensembles, including the Handel and Haydn Society, Emmanuel Music, Arcadia Players, and Boston Baroque (Giulio Cesare). He also champions contemporary music, premiering works such as Oliver Caplan’s The Cellist is Dead and song cycles by Stephen Coxe and Frank Pesci.
His recent solo appearances include Chorus Pro Musica, the Blue Hill Bach Festival, and Juventas New Music Ensemble. His operatic roles range from Saul (David et Jonathas) and Leporello (Don Giovanni) to Ford (Falstaff), praised as “the best Shakespearean acting I’ve seen all year” (HubReview).
This program is supported in part by grants from the Village Bank which has a long tradition of commitment to the Garden City, Advance Auto in Nonantum – providing quality service for everything automotive, Honda Village, and the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Newton Community Pride, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Charles River Foundation and private donors.

Ari & Mia: Glimmer of Warmth
2025-03-15 19:00 - 20:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
This event was rescheduled from 2.22.25
Ari and Mia Friedman, New England’s Americana Sister Act, perform live on stage at The Allen Center. This folk duo will sing for you and with you, sharing some Glimmers of Warmth that can perhaps sustain us until springtime.

Newton Piano Summit - Paul Bloom and George Russell Jr.
2025-03-16 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Paul Bloom : Defies Category
Paul distinguished himself quickly as a prodigiously creative talent in the Boston area before moving to New York City. Originally from Needham, Massachusetts, Paul was enthralled by music as a child and started taking piano lessons at age 5. As a teenager, he took lessons with Steve Sussman, Doug Johnson, and Hal Crook, while performing weekly at Wally’s Jazz Club. He also joined New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music programs, studying with renowned artists and educators including Austin McMahon, Tiger Okoshi, Alexei Tsiganov, Joanne Brackeen, Wes Wirth, Ken Schaphorst, and Julian Lage.
Paul participated in the Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program from 2012-2013, where he worked with mentors Joe Gilman, Stefon Harris, Patrick Langham, and Brian Kendrick. After moving to New York City in 2013, he began studies at Columbia University and discovered a fascination with neuroscience. Over the following years, he balanced studies in developmental neuroscience with a regular schedule of performances and recording sessions, as well as lessons with Frank Kimbrough and Bruce Barth.
Over the past decade, Paul has been an active member of the New York City music scene, playing and recording with artists spanning many musical styles, including Jess Best, Taylor Simone Harvey, iiii, Justin Carter, Alex Graff, Bria Monét, Chandanie, Sedric Perry, Elysse, Jazze Belle, Marcus Machado, Kendra Foster, and JSWISS. He has had opportunities to perform at premier venues, including the Blue Note, Apollo Theater, Dizzy’s Club, Nublu, Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazz Festival, The Bowery Ballroom, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the California Jazz Conservatory.
George Russell Jr. : Fusion of Gospel and Jazz
George Russell Jr. is a name that hardly needs an introduction, he recently performed with vocalist Dominque Eade at the Allen House. This year’s performance will make him the Summit’s first three-time performer​ since moving from the Waban Library. A pianist renowned for his passion, fire, soul, and spirit, he has recently embarked on a sabbatical from his teaching responsibilities to focus on his latest recording project, Reimagined. This album offers a fresh and inspired take on his favorite spirituals and hymns, reflecting his deep musical roots.
Currently, George serves as Chair of the Harmony Department at Berklee College of Music, a role preceded by his tenure as a Professor of Harmony and Piano. Despite focusing on the piano, George often describes himself as “a drummer who happens to play the piano.” This rhythmic sensibility is evident in every performance, where his strong sense of groove and timing infuses his music with dynamic energy and depth.
Through his teaching, performances, and recordings, George Russell Jr. continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of music, blending tradition with innovation in ways that resonate with audiences and inspire future generations.
This program is supported in part by grants from the Village Bank which has a long tradition of commitment to the Garden City, Advance Auto in Nonantum – providing quality service for everything automotive, Honda Village, and the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Newton Community Pride, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Charles River Foundation and private donors.

Newton Piano Summit – Domas Žeromskas and Dennis Montgomery III
2025-03-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Domas Žeromskas: Dynamic Trailblazer
The music of Domas Žeromskas is fresh, creative, full of spirit & wonderful musical ideas and his playing shines thru all.– Bob James
Domas Žeromskas’ playing showcases beauty, inventiveness, maturity, and excitement. All of this, along with his considerable writing chops, make him a player to watch out for.
– Greg Tardy
All the younger artists that have headlined the Summit have displayed prodigious abilities that signal long careers ahead. The 24-year-old Lithuanian jazz pianist and composer has spent his early formative years on stage alongside prominent jazz veterans. By the time he graduated high school, Domas was already a sought-after player, known for his technical versatility and soulful, eclectic taste.
He resides in Boston while pursuing his master’s at the New England Conservatory. Domas’ original music combines Post-Bop and metrically-nuanced modern jazz with Gospel/sacred music traditions and Afro-Caribbean styles. The repertoire is also enriched by modern adaptations of his native Lithuanian composers’ songbook and Baltic folklore.
Upon graduating from Berklee, Domas recorded “Meditations on Providence and Perseverance, Vol.1”.
Dennis Montgomery III : Gospel Giant
Montgomery grew up singing and playing in Baptist churches around the upper Louisiana area under the tutelage of his father and mother, By the time he was nine years old he was proficient enough on the Hammond B3 Organ to get hired to work alongside his father. Montgomery came to Berklee College of Music in 1983. Shortly after he arrived at Berklee, he headed for the gospel choir which had only recently come into existence. While Berklee’s education is focused on jazz, “We know that jazz has its roots in the negro spiritual, which is gospel music. Gospel is also the mother of a lot of other secular music that America has produced.”
Gospel at Berklee grew rapidly and when Mongomery graduated he assumed the direction of the Reverence Gospel Ensemble as a full-time faculty member. Montgomery believes that the choir is a fundamental ingredient of the American experience for international students, which is probably why students from all over Asia, South America, Europe, and Australia all come to be a part of the choir. Montgomery states, “When I was young, I had to learn European musical styles. So when foreign students come to Berklee, I think it is important to educate them in a true form of American music.” The choir has served as a catalyst for some premiere voices in the music industry such as Paula Cole, Lalah Hathaway, Susan Tedeschi, Claude Kelly, Rob Lewis and Mark Whitfield.
This program is supported in part by grants from the Village Bank which has a long tradition of commitment to the Garden City, Advance Auto in Nonantum – providing quality service for everything automotive, Honda Village, and the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Newton Community Pride, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Charles River Foundation and private donors.

Newton Piano Summit - Anastassiya Petrova - Camila Cortina Bello
2025-03-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Anastassiya Petrova : Jazz Alchemist
Jazz pianist/organist from Kazakhstan currently based in New York City after spending 8 years in Boston, Massachusetts. She’s blowing up worldwide with her musical prowess and creativity. Throughout her musical career, she has been given opportunities to share the stage with artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Noah Preminger, Allan Chase, Patricia Pérez, Ben Street, Adam Cruz, Marco Pignataro, Ellis Hall, Catherine Russell, and others. In 2022 Petrova received a prestigious New Jazz Legacy Grant, which let her perform alongside the renowned jazz saxophonist Chris Potter and get creative mentorship with Kris Davis. She currently holds an Assistant Professor position at Berklee College of Music and Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Camila Cortina Belo: Cuban Roots, Global Rhythms.
Camila Cortina Belo is an acclaimed Cuban-born pianist, composer, and educator whose work masterfully reimagines the rich sounds and rhythms of her heritage through the lenses of jazz, classical, and world music. Known for her distinctive style, Camila has shared stage with legendary artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Dianne Reeves, to name a few. In 2023, she was awarded New Music USA’s “Next Jazz Legacy” fellowship. Since moving to New York, she has been making a name as a performer in the jazz scene, captivating audiences with her dynamic artistry and cross-genre exploration. Performance credits include the Punta del Este Jazz Festival in Uruguay, Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, and an NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with the band Okan, amongst many others. In 2024, she became a finalist for the prestigious CINTAS Foundation’s Brandon Fradd Fellowship in Music Composition (2024)
This program is supported in part by grants from the Village Bank which has a long tradition of commitment to the Garden City, Advance Auto in Nonantum – providing quality service for everything automotive, Honda Village, and the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Newton Community Pride, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Charles River Foundation and private donors.

ANMS presents Con Brio Lunch Club
2025-03-28 11:00 - 13:00 | All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Join violist Scott Woolweaver and his musical friends for a luncheon featuring classical chamber works, complete with fascinating composer anecdotes and lunch.

Holi Festival of Colors
2025-03-30 12:00 - 16:00 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
The New Art Center invites you to join the Holi Festival of Colors.
We will have art-making, performances, food, dancing, and music throughout the day.
The event includes outdoor color play where you become the canvas for artmaking!
You have the opportunity to participate in the very fun (and messy) tradition of throwing organic color powder at each other.
Please wear white clothes you do not mind getting stained, protective eyewear or sunglasses, and bring towels for clean up afterward.
Guests are welcome to bring their color powder from home. There is no re-admittance to the New Art Center building after color play.

Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra presents The Passionate Viola
2025-04-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
In April, Alyssa Wang, Assistant Conductor of the Boston Ballet, leads Pro Arte in a dramatic journey from darkness to light. The concert opens with Joseph Haydn’s strikingly emotional “La Passione” Symphony, casting moods both stark and stormy. Jennifer Higdon’s intense Viola Concerto is a kaleidoscopic exploration of all the voices in which that instrument can sing. It will feature Pro Arte’s very own principal violist, Anne Black. For the ballet Pulcinella, based on commedia dell’arte, Igor Stravinsky created sunny interpretations of 18th-century Italian music that brim with the composer’s signature wit and charm.
Musical Program

FRANZ JOSEF HAYDN Symphony No. 49 in F minor, “La Passione”
JENNIFER HIGDON Concerto for Viola
IGOR STRAVINSKY Pulcinella Suite

TICKETS

Classical With A Twist: Postcards
2025-04-06 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Classical With A Twist: Postcards showcases the rich folk music traditions of India, China, and Japan, infused with a classical twist. Led by Cherry Street Music’s Artistic Director and renowned international cellist, Allison Eldredge, this unique performance blends folk influences with cross-cultural fusion. The evening will feature captivating performances by Julia Glenn, Sayuri Miyamoto, and TaalMel, bringing a vibrant tapestry of sound to life. Enjoy a world-premiere composition by Ruhan Iyer based on the work of Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). Join us at The Allen Center for an unforgettable musical journey—secure your tickets now for this mesmerizing experience!
