The Allen Center presents A Scottsh Cèilidh
2026-04-04 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Allen Center
April 4, 2026, concert information
Day: Saturday
Date: April 4
Time: 7 pm
Title: A Scottish Ceilidh
Artists: Summer McCall and band
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
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 the director of the Boston Celtic Music
Festival, presented annually by Club Passim. Her band features Elizabeth Anderson

New Art Center presents Teen Build Your Art Portfolio class
2026-04-06 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-13 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-20 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-27 17:30 - 19:30 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
Teen Build Your Art Portfolio class // All Levels // GR 8-12 // Mondays with Mattea Weinberg
This all-levels class is perfect for teens looking to build strong skills and prepare a competitive portfolio for college art programs. Students will draw from life, experiment with materials, and create meaningful, finished pieces—all with the support and guidance of an experienced instructor. Whether applying to art school or simply wanting to grow as an artist, this class offers the structure and feedback teens need to succeed.

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!

Historic Newton presents Naughty Newton at Night: Hamilton's World
2026-04-11 19:00 - 22:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
Join the historic cocktail party of the year on Saturday, April 11 from 7-10pm at the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds. The theme for this year will be the smash musical Hamilton.
Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while exploring the more scandalous topics of the 18th-century through the life of Alexander Hamilton.
What were the favorite drinks of the day? What did people do for fun? How were topics like sex and pregnancy out of wedlock handled? Were there really rules to dueling?
This event is 21+ only. Wear your favorite cocktail party outfit or a historically-inspired outfit.

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.

The Allen Center Presents An Uncommon Education
2026-04-16 19:00 - 21:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Allen Center and Historic Newton present a special screening of An Uncommon Education, a documentary exploring the legacy of Nathaniel T. Allen—right here where his groundbreaking work took place. Learn about Allen’s English and Classical School, a forward-looking program of study at a time when slavery was still the law of the land and women’s suffrage yet a distant goal.

West Newton Cinema presents Bending the Arc: The Journey Continues
2026-04-17 17:00 - 19:30 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Global Spotlight: Partners in Health
Partners In Health: The Journey Continues
In the 1980s, Dr. Paul Farmer, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, activist Ophelia Dahl, Todd McCormack, and investor Thomas White began a movement that changed global health forever. Treating patients who had been abandoned by the health establishment, they developed through Partners In Health (PIH) a community health model that saved millions of lives in the developing world. Their fight became a global battle in the highest halls of power for the right to health for all. Join PIH co-founder Todd McCormack, their CEO Sheila Davis, and Dr. Anatole Manzi to learn the challenges and opportunities for global health now and in the future. This event will begin at 5 pm with a pre-screening reception with PIH representatives. At 5:30 pm, we will screen Bending the Arc, the riveting documentary that shows how moral imagination, strategy, and sheer force of will can change the trajectory of the world. After the screening, our panelists will discuss the film and their work followed by an audience Q&A.
PANELISTS:
DR. SHEILA DAVIS
Dr. Sheila Davis is Chief Executive Officer of Partners In Health (PIH), where she previously
served as Chief of Clinical Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, overseeing global clinical and operational programs. She led PIH’s response to the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic and has spent more than two decades advancing global health, HIV/AIDS care, and nursing leadership worldwide. A nationally recognized speaker and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, she holds doctoral and graduate nursing degrees from the MGH Institute of Health Professions.
TODD MCCORMACK
Todd McCormack is a co-founder of Partners In Health and has supported the organization
since meeting Paul Farmer at Duke University in 1978. He serves on PIH’s Board of Trustees
and Board of Directors, where he focuses on stewarding partnerships and mobilizing resources to advance the organization’s mission, and chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee. A Senior Corporate Vice President at IMG, he has been a pioneer in digital media strategy and continues to advise and invest in emerging media ventures.
DR. ANATOLE MANZI
Dr. Anatole Manzi is a global health leader advancing equity and excellence in healthcare
delivery and serves as Cluster Lead for Capacity Strengthening & Professional Development at the University of Global Health Equity’s LEAP Center. He previously served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Partners In Health, leading multi-country strategies to improve clinical quality and care systems. Born and raised in Rwanda, he holds academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, the University of Global Health Equity, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, grounding his work in social justice and accompaniment.

Newton Theatre Company Presents Oh To Be Pure Again
2026-04-17 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-04-18 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-18 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-04-24 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-04-25 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-25 20:00 - 22:00 | St. John’s Episcopal Church, 297 Lowell Ave, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
Newton Theatre Company presents Oh To Be Pure Again, winner of the Gene Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Newtonville. This tender ode to female desire, submission, rebellion, and growing up in a religious culture centered on purity comedically captures many niche Bible camp experiences and archetypes.

Director's Spotlight: Age Group Winner
2026-04-18 19:00 - 21:30 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
In 1980 Jay Helgerson shocked the world, becoming the first person to run a marathon a week for a year – each race completed in under three hours. For the last ten years, his daughter, filmmaker Alexandra Helgerson, followed him with a camera in order to understand the eccentric man who raised her. What she gets are his projected anxieties, his struggles with physical age and emotional distress, all while he endlessly trains for the Boston Marathon. But as Jay trains, the film is nearly derailed by Alexandra’s encounter with a life threatening illness. Ultimately, AGE GROUP WINNER is an affirmation of the will to live.
Join us after the film for a discussion with the filmmakers:
Alexandra Helgerson is a filmmaker, actor and musician. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where she played basketball her freshman year. After working in publishing in New York City, she began a career in acting. Notable roles include Viola and Rosaline for the American Shakespeare Center, Vivien in VIVIEN, and Brynne in the horror-comedy HAPPY ENDING. AGE GROUP WINNER, a ten year in the making cinema-verité documentary about her world record setting, marathon running father, is her directorial debut. A recent survivor of sarcoma, Helgerson chronicles her experiences of love, loss, and desire on her debut album Halcyon Days, to be released in the summer of 2026.
Jay Helgerson was born in Wichita, KS and served in the U.S. Marine Corps before earning a degree in History at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1980 he became the first person in the world to run 52 marathons in one year, each in under 3 hours. His feat earned him a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. He trains daily in Portland’s Forest Park, and at age 71 will run his 20th Boston Marathon in April of 2026. When not running, Jay enjoys eating pizza, reading the news, and talking pop culture, mostly with his three daughters and two granddaughters.

Historic Newton Presents April Vacation Week 2026: Dazzling Decades
2026-04-21 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-22 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-23 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-24 10:00 - 14:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
Travel back in time and immerse yourself in crafts and activities from different decades, including decoupage, shrinky dinks, perler beads, and more! Each day features a unique theme and activities, plus LEGOs, coloring, and outdoor games. Today: Fresh 1990s. Wednesday 4/22: Righteous 1980s. Thursday 4/23: Groovy 1970s. Friday 4/22: Far Out 1960s. Admission: $5 per child per day, adults and kids under 5 are free. Accompanying adults must remain onsite with their child but can utilize a quiet space with free Wi-Fi if desired. Stop by any time during the program. Free street parking on Waverley Avenue is strongly encouraged Tickets can be purchased in advance or onsite.

Artist Talk: Hands to Earth with Patty Rosenblatt
2026-04-25 14:00 - 16:00 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
Join artist Patty Rosenblatt and her co-presenter and video collaborator Kathryn Brodie for a special artist talk that explores the evolution of Hands to Earth and the environmental concerns that shape it.
Rosenblatt noted that green space is disappearing so rapidly that it might soon be possible for people to live their lives without ever touching the earth under their feet. Hands to Earth is her proposal to encourage others to engage with the Earth.
This program provides an opportunity to look back at Rosenblatt’s project through conversation, artwork, and film. Her series, First Violin, An Octave of Prints, which will be on display, offers a powerful visual example of her process and material exploration.
We invite you to join us for an engaging afternoon of art, reflection, and dialogue about touch, transformation, and our shared responsibility to the natural world.
www.newartcenter.org

Andromeda of Boston and Spark Newton present Spring Hafla 2026
2026-04-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
Andromeda of Boston and Spark Newton present a vibrant showcase of world dance at Grace Episcopal Church featuring local students and professional performers. Styles include MENAHT (Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic, Turkish), as well as Asian, Balkan, and Eastern European–inspired traditions. Light refreshments provided; Free for Newton residents with reservations.

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.

Hyde Community Center presents Newton Taiwan Day
2026-05-02 11:30 - 15:00 | Hyde Community Center, 90 Lincoln St, Newton Highlands, MA, 02461, United States
Mark your calendar for the largest outdoor Taiwan festival in Massachusetts. Each year the community comes together at the Hyde Community Center to enjoy vibrant cultural performances, delicious food, refreshing drinks, and a joyful celebration of Taiwanese culture. Free admission. Everyone is welcome!

West Newton Cinema presents Join or Die
2026-05-02 15:00 - 17:30 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Directed by Rebecca Davis, Pete Davis
Starring Robert Putnam, Vivek Murthy, Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, Priya Parker, Jane McAlevey, Glenn Loury, Hahrie Han
THE POWER OF BELONGING: JOIN OR DIE
Stronger communities start with showing up.
3:00 – 4:30 PM – “Join or Die” screening
4:30 – 5:30 PM – Club Fair in the Cinema Lobby
The West Newton Cinema, together with The Boston Club, is hosting a special screening of “Join or Die” and a post screening “joining fair” with 15 area clubs and organizations.
“Join or Die” is a film about why you should join a club—and why the fate of America may depend on it. Follow the story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose viral “Bowling Alone” research into the decline in American community lights a path out of our democracy’s present crisis. The film shows that the solution is within reach: getting involved.
After the film, connect with local clubs and organizations, including Green Newton, Newton Free Library, The Boston Club, Ty Burr’s Movie Club, The Highland Glee Club, Newton Camera Club, LGBTQ Newton, Newton Rotary, Newton Lions Club, Newton Women’s Forum, Rock Voices, and more. Discover how you can turn inspiration into action by becoming part of a community.
