HURRAH!! THE WORLD OF CONCERTS HAS OPENED UP! CONTACT THE THEATER WEBSITES LISTED BELOW FOR CONFIRMATION OF CURRENT EVENTS.  FYI: COVID PROTOCAL: Some venues are returning to CDC-approved masks to be worn at all times in all areas of the venues, regardless of vaccination status.

APRIL 19 (7:30) + 21 (2PM): BRAHMS REQUIEM

Boston’s Symphony Hall. located at 301 Massachusetts Ave. in Boston hosts the Handel and Haydn Society’s Orchestra and Chorus with this presentation of Brahms rich and totally profound compositions of Begräbnisgesang (Funeral Song) and his Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem). Together, they uniformly capture the full shimmering spectrum of human emotion. It is a perfect showcase for the H&H chorus—almost as if this deeply spiritual music were written just for them. With celebrated period instruments the audience is drawn into the rare thrill of hearing these pieces played on the instruments Brahms knew best. It was a healing project that Brahms created to bring him solace following his mother’s death. This majestic offering balances ferocity with tenderness, boldness with beauty, while promising goosebumps from start to finish. Special solo performers include Lucy Crowe, soprano and James Atkinson, baritone. Tickets for this exquisitely memorable concert visit www.handelandhaydn.org/concerts-tickets

APRIL 19 (7:30) & APRIL 21 (3pm): SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES The highly acclaimed, non-profit organization, American Classics, has been bringing musical journeys that delightfully blend vocal and instrumental music since 1996. Bradford Conner and Benjamin Sears are the co-founders that bring this cast of talented singers that features Grace Allendorf, Bradford Conner, Wes Hunter, John Manning, Cynthia Mork, Julia Zerbinetta Nelson and Benjamin Sears. They are accompanied by Steve Sussman on piano. The concert will include songs such memorable tunes as Two Cigarettes in the Dark, Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk, Hernando’s Hideaway, Please Don’t Smoke, Sweet Marijuana, Two Sleepy People, and A Good Cigar is a Smoke. The Friday performance on April 19 is at 7:30 is in Jewett Hall, First Church Congregational, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge. The Sunday, April 21st performance is at 3:00 pm in the First Parish Church, 75 Great Road, Bedford. Tickets may be obtained by visiting www.amclass.org

APRIL 19 (7:30): A RADICAL WELCOME

The Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Ave. in Boston presents The Boston Public Quartet in a concert of music and dance. A Radical Welcome will be a multi-sensory experience,” explained Boston Public Quartet’s founder Betsy Hinkle. “Accompanying the music there will be dance on stage, with musicians as part of the choreography, as well as students from Rose Conservatory performing West African drumming and violin side by side with BPQ members. We’ll be utilizing aisles for performers to connect with the audience, projecting the musical score and other visual aspects, all intended to encourage questions and conversation for a cross-section of Boston audiences, many of whom we hope will be new to this type of concert experience.” Boston Public Quartet is equally at home performing on a street corner in Mattapan Square or at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and even at the Harvard Musical Association in Boston, They were created to connect, inspire and innovate as an ensemble-in-residence in Boston’s diverse neighborhoods. Founded in 2007, the BPQ is dedicated to normalizing the amplification of historically excluded voices in classical music; musicians, composers, students, and audience members. Scheduled to perform in A Radical Welcome are Betsy Hinkle and Grant Houston, violin; Jason Amos, viola; Emmanuel Feldman, cello; and Joy Cline Phinney, piano. The concert will feature On the Impulse to Move by Lavell Blackwell, with original choreography by Liana C. Percoco in collaboration with dancers Dana Alsamsam, Hannah Brown, Erica Codd, and Sophie Nash. “The piece was inspired by the physical and mental tensions caused by my attempts to practice meditation, which requires stillness,” said Blackwell. “It’s a chronicle of a mind and body trying (and failing) to remain still, drawing musical inspiration from sources as diverse as John Adams and Stevie Wonder.” The program also includes Strum by Musical America’s 2023 Composer of the Year, Jessie Montgomery. Drawing on American folk idioms and the spirit of dance and movement, “the piece has a kind of narrative that begins with fleeting nostalgia and transforms into ecstatic celebration,” said Montgomery. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Piano Quintet in G minor, written in 1903, is one of the renowned Anglo-African composer’s earliest compositions. It will be played by The Boston Public Quartet with movements divided by specially curated audience participation. Boston Public Quartet is equally at home performing on a street corner in Mattapan Square or at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and even at the Harvard Musical Association in Boston, They were created to connect, inspire and innovate as an ensemble-in-residence in Boston’s diverse neighborhoods. Founded in 2007, the BPQ is dedicated to normalizing the amplification of historically excluded voices in classical music; musicians, composers, students, and audience members. Scheduled to perform in A Radical Welcome are Betsy Hinkle and Grant Houston, violin; Jason Amos, viola; Emmanuel Feldman, cello; and Joy Cline Phinney, piano. Including a “Pay What You Want” option, tickets are available at www.bostonpublicquartet.com

APRIL 26 & 27: THE TOWN AND THE CITY FESTIVAL 2024 

The Town and The City Festival, is an exciting, two-day music and arts festival in Lowell, MA. Inspired by the adventurous spirit of Lowell native Jack Kerouac, the Fifth Annual edition of The Town and The City Festival fill the venues of the Mill City with a diverse roster of like-minded performers. Performance sites are scheduled at more than a dozen venues throughout downtown Lowell, including Academic Arts Center, Mill No. 5 (including The Overlook and Luna Theater), Taffeta (at Western Ave. Studios), Zorba Music Hall, Warp & Weft, Christ Church United, The Old Court, The Thirsty First (formerly CNCPT6), The Worthen Cafe, Gallery Z, Smokehouse Tavern, Lala Books, Brew’d Awakening, and Navigation Brewery. To date, confirmed musical performers include Americana singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah, Alec Ounsworth’s Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, one of England’s most enduring singer-songwriters Robyn Hitchcock, and Boston-based indie-pop, rock, funk, and soul The Q-Tip Bandits. Also on the 2024 festival lineup are Akrobatik, Awntay, Burp, Colleen Green, D-Tension and The Secrets, Drug Deal Gone Rad, Duck Island, Emily Oveson, Evelynroze & The Thorz, Fantastic Cat, Fee the Evolutionist, Fiesta Melon, Fish House, Frank Morey, Impossible Dog, ISMAY, Jen Kearney, Kid Afternoon, Linnea’s Garden, Muck and The Mires, One Fall, Orbit, Rick Berlin & The Nickel & Dime Band, Roger Miller, Saplin, Scott Pittman and The Deluxe Fiasco, Sofia Talvik, Subpunch, Syd Straw, Tell, The Chelsea Curve, The Roscoes, The Shirts & Shoes, Tysk Tysk Tysk, WLKRZ. The Festival is produced by Porter Productions and the Jack Kerouac Foundation with support from the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and the Lowell Cultural Council. For more information visit www.thetownandthecityfestival.com

MAY 2 & 3 (7:30pm at Sanders Theatre) + 4 (7:30pm at NEC’s Jordan Hall): BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS

 Aisslinn Nosky

 Ian Watson      The Handel & Haydn Society will be reveling in the splendor of J.S. Bach’s complete Brandenburg Concertos, Nos. 1-6. They are noted to be one of Bach’s most intensive labor of love as he spent a huge amount of time and energy composing them. Considered to be the best of the Baroque style, from the clarion call of the trumpet in No. 2 to the tour de force harpsichord solo in No. 5, there is always something new to discover in this much-loved collection. H+H’s endlessly dynamic concertmaster and violinist Aisslinn Nosky, will join principal keyboard Ian Watson to drive the ensemble from within. This is historically informed performance at its finest: masterfully performed and passionately shared. Tickets for this not to be missed concert may be obtained at www.handelandhaydn.org

MAY 4 & 5: FEELINGS AND EXPRESSION

The New Philharmonia Orchestra (NPO) will present this poignantly resonant concert at Grace Church located at 76 Eldredge St. in Newton in the village of Newton Corner. The program features Bernhard Metzger’s “Ramblings”. It is an emotionally charged new work that surrounds the frustratingly emotional journey for a person with FTD (Frontotemporal Degeneration). Newton resident Bernhard Metzger is a founding member of New Philharmonia. He has been a computer programmer since 1972 working in that industry for 40 years. But, his computer interests segued to music starting with the violin in 1971. He then, om 1974 took up the viola with Jerome Lipson of the Boston Symphony. Since, he has played in community orchestras including the NPO at its inception. This new work is the result of harmonization exercises for piano which were recorded and performed by Jonathan Bass, Professor of Piano at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. It was then performed for a fundraiser for the Mass General Hospital FTD research unit. This concert is led by Principal Conductor Jorge Soto.

Hayden Ren     It will also showcase the 16 year old, award winning Newton cellist Hayden Ren who will perform the solo for Dvořák’s Cello Concerto/Allegro in B . As a competition winner, music festival participant, and member of Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Hayden Ren has performed in Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and Teatro degli Atti in Rimini, Italy, as well as numerous and prestigious music venues in Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Ioannina, and more. The program also includes the deeply expressive Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, considered by some as both Brahms’ most intimate and his one of his best symphonies. Tickets are on sale now at www.newphil.org

MAY 5 (4pm): BACH’S B MINOR MASS

Music Worcester will present Bach’s Mass in B Minor, widely considered one of the seminal works in all of classical music, at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. in Worcester. Music Director Chris Shepherd will lead The Worcester Chorus, along with the Orchestra of Emmanuel Music. Featured soloists will include soprano Susan Consoli who has led an active and versatile career throughout the United States and abroad from Bach to Harbison to Gershwin. Ms. Consoli made her Carnegie Hall debut performing Handel’s Messiah under the direction of Chris Shepard with Masterwork Chorus. This marks her 19th season singing with Emmanuel Music. She is joined by soprano Kendra Colton, who performs repertoire from Baroque opera and oratorio to contemporary music. She appears regularly in solo recital, chamber music concerts, and with symphony orchestras. Ms. Colton has developed a niche for herself in the oratorio and sacred works of Bach (recording 6 CDs of cantata arias and duets), Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. Mezzo- soprano Krista River also will perform. She is the winner of the 2004 Concert Artists Guild International Competition and a 2007 Sullivan Foundation grant recipient, mezzo-soprano Krista River has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Symphony, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, Handel & Haydn Society, the Charlotte Symphony, Odyssey Opera, and Boston Baroque. Matthew Anderson, tenor; has appeared at the Aldeburgh Festival as a soloist in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and at the Carmel Bach Festival, where he was featured as a 2010 Virginia Best Adams Fellow. Mr. Anderson has twice won prizes in the American Bach Society Competition and received second prize in the Oratorio Society of New York Solo Competition…and bass soloist is David McFerrin whose opera credits include Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, the Rossini Festival in Germany, and numerous roles with Boston Lyric Opera and other local companies. As concert soloist he has sung with the Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Handel and Haydn Society, and in recital at the Caramoor, Ravinia, and Marlboro Festivals. .“We simply cannot wait for this concert on May 5,” stated Adrien Finlay, Music Worcester Executive Director, “as it brings together the work Dr. Chris Shepard focused on for his dissertation and the legendary music forces of Emmanuel Music, both their Orchestra and these five acclaimed soloists who will also appear. This performance has been several years in the making and will also serve as an announcement of a much larger, multi-year Bach project starting this fall.” The Worcester Chorus of Music Worcester has the unique distinction of being one of the oldest on-going choral groups in the United States. Founded in 1858, (just a year before the first public performance of the complete Mass in B Minor,), the 100-member group includes both amateur and professional singers from Worcester County, northern Connecticut, and the Boston area. Now in his fifteenth year as artistic director & conductor of The Worcester Chorus, Chris Shepard, also serves as the music director for CONCORA, Connecticut’s oldest professional and The Masterworks Chorus in New Jersey. His choirs have collaborated with a number of orchestras, such as the Juilliard Orchestra, the Orquestra Sinfónica Nacional de Mexico, and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and performed in such noted venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall in New York, as well as the Royal Festival Hall in London. Chris spent a dozen years in Sydney, Australia, where he founded the Sydneian Bach Choir and Orchestra. Tickets for this outstanding concert may be obtained at www.musicworcester.org/schedule/

MAY 9 (7:30pm): PIANIST MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN

Marc-André Hamelin  Music Worcester presents this world-renowned pianist in Recital at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. in Worcester. A Boston-based Montreal native, Hamelin is regarded as one of his generation’s most technically astounding pianists. He has been praised by critics and audiences alike for his interpretations of both established repertoire as well as rarely performed works. He regularly performs around the globe with leading orchestras and conductors and gives recitals at major concert venues and festivals worldwide. The program will also include Hamelin’s interpretations of Schumann’s Waldszenen (Forest Scenes) Op. 82 and Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit. The program is anchored by Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata. According to The Guardian’s review of a recent performance by Hamelin of this infrequently performed work, “pianists with the technique and perspicacity to take on the challenge of finding their way through the thickets and tangles of notes are rare creatures too, but that is exactly the kind of challenge that Marc-André Hamelin relishes. He devoted the first part of his Wigmore Hall recital to Ives’s three-quarter-hour work, and a capacity audience was enthralled from first note to last.” “We are really looking forward to the chance to finally welcome Mr. Hamelin to Worcester for a recital,” stated Adrien Finlay, Music Worcester Executive Director, “and so many of our supporters have told us they simply cannot wait to hear him traverse such incredible works of the piano repertoire. We also feel truly fortunate to have had the George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation come forward with a major sponsorship to not only make the concert take place, but also to allow us to make sure the next generation of piano students attend.” Tickets and information can be found at www.musicworcester.org/schedule

MAY 18 : VIOLINIST TESSA LARK & GUITARIST FRANK VIGNOLA

Music Worcester invites you to join the legendary jazz guitarist Frank Vignola and the acclaimed violinist & fiddler Tessa Lark as they create an intimate evening of original arrangements spanning classical to jazz as well as old to new. This event takes place in Worcester’s historic Tuckerman Hall that is located inside Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. in Worcester. Music Executive Director Adrien Finlay stated, “This promises to be a wonderful conclusion to our 2023-2025 Season…These two extraordinary musicians, experts across multiple genres, are reviving the infectious Hot Club vein of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.” Widely praised for her technical agility and expressive nuance, Lark is not only an acclaimed traditional fiddler in her native Kentucky, she has also garnered an Avery Fisher Career Grant, a GRAMMY nomination for Best Classical Instrumental Solo, and other accolades cementing her place as a classical superstar. Frank Vignola’s jazz-steeped musicianship and “acoustic mastery in exhilarating single string runs, complex flurries, and astounding full register riffs” (Downbeat) have earned him a spot on Les Paul’s “Five Most Admired Guitarists List.” Vignola has performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall and currently holds a residency at NYC’s renowned Birdland Jazz Club. Tickets and more information can be found at www.musicworcester.org

JUNE 15: MAKE THEM HEAR YOU BENEFIT CONCERT         

 

The Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music & Arts, welcomes honoree Latin Music icon Issac Delgado and featured performer and 5-time Grammy Award-winner PJ Morton to its annual benefit concert at Boston’s Berklee Performance Center,136 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston. Hamilton-Garret is proudly rooted in Roxbury, MA and invested in the people of Greater Boston. They support Black culture through preservation and providing a rich legacy of support to young artisit and their artistic expression. This concert benefits the Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music and Arts that is committed to the preservation and celebration of Black music for 20 + years.

Issac Delgado       The 2024 Make Them Hear You Award pays tribute to that legacy this year by honoring award-winning composer, vocalist, and performer ​Issac Delgado, who has earned widespread acclaim as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Latin music. The passion of this multifaceted musician has led him on a remarkable journey through the vibrant landscapes of Cuban music. Delgado’s innovative blend of traditional Cuban rhythms with contemporary influences has earned him accolades throughout the Latin music industry. Beyond his musical pursuits, Delgado is known for his philanthropic efforts, advocating for social causes and supporting charitable initiatives to empower underserved communities. A true trailblazer in the Cuban-Salsa industry and beyond, Issac Delgado continues to push the boundaries of Latin music, captivating audiences with his unparalleled talent and unwavering commitment to his craft. With each new endeavor, he reaffirms his status as a true icon of Cuban music and a driving force in the global music scene. PJ Morton
5x Grammy Award-winning artist and producer PJ Morton will be the featured performer at Make Them Hear You. Morton is a dynamic artist whose musical vision has propelled him to the forefront of contemporary R&B and soul, earning him widespread acclaim as a modern-day music pioneer. Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Morton’s musical journey began at an early age, steeped in the rich traditions of jazz, blues, and gospel. As a keyboardist, singer, and songwriter, he quickly made a name for himself in the industry, collaborating with artists across genres and showcasing his prodigious talent.
Morton joined the Grammy Award-winning band Maroon 5 as their keyboardist in 2010, contributing to the band’s sound and helping redefine their musical identity, thus earning them critical acclaim and commercial success. Morton has also enjoyed a successful solo career, releasing a series of acclaimed albums that blend soulful melodies with poignant lyrics. His unique blend of classic R&B influences with modern production techniques has earned him a dedicated fanbase, numerous accolades for his own work, as well as being hailed as the Stevie Wonder of today’s generation.”We’re excited to bring Make Them Hear You back with the most exciting night of music Boston has seen in years,” said HGCMA Executive Director Gerami Groover-Flores. “Bridging the worlds of Afro Cuban with R&B/ Soul music— only at Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music and Arts!” Tickets are available at www.hamiltongarrett.org

EVERY SUNDAY (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM): LIVE MUSIC BRUNCH AT CLUB PASSIM

 The Live Music Brunch has returned to the legendary Club Passim located at 47 Palmer St. in Cambridge. Uniquely, this time guests can take part in the show if they would like. They are encouraged to bring their own instruments and sit in on tunes led by some of the best musicians from the greater Boston area. Along with the great music and fun atmosphere, Passim will be serving up a menu created from scratch with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Traditional brunch favorites like French Toast, Breakfast Sandwiches, and Eggs Benedict will be available as well as a number of gourmet and vegan menu treats. “Our Live Music Brunch is another wonderful way for our community to gather with great food and entertainment,’ said Passim Executive Director Jim Wooster. “It also supports our mission of providing opportunities for us to connect artists with new audiences. In short, it’s the perfect way to kick off your Sunday experience.” Catering not only to the taste buds of guest, the brunch also caters to an eclectic selection of musical tastes. The line up may include the likes of Jamming with Bluegrass hosts Micah John & Maxfield Anderson or possibly an Old Time Jam with hosts Ruth Rappaport & Ben Wetherbee. And too, guests may enjoy experiencing a Celtic Jam with hosts Kat Wallace & Ben Roberts. a Django Jam with host Jack Soref or a Folk Jam with hosts Lucy Nelligan & Charissa Hoffman. Currently, patrons and staff must wear masks at Passim unless actively eating or drinking. The entire menu and schedule for upcoming a one of a kind brunch experience as well as reservations can be found at www.passim.org/brunch

ONGOING: SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH AT THE CITY WINERY BOSTON

This Berklee Ensemble Brunch Series is hosted in partnership with City Winery Boston, located at 80 Beverly St, between Haymarket and North Station in Boston. The Berklee College of Music is bringing live music performed by student ensembles from the world’s preeminent contemporary music school into the winery’s unique dining and entertainment venue. Each Sunday the series, curated by Berklee’s Ensemble Department, presents a different group representing a wide variety of genres, styles, size, and configurations playing music spanning from Afro-Pop to Broadway, Funk to Joni Mitchell and everything in between. Says Tyrone Chase, Berklee’s Assistant Chair of the Ensemble Department. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to team up with City Winery to present a beautiful experience with music while showcasing the talents of Berklee out in the community.” City Winery Founder & CEO Michael Dorf explains, “Starting out as a musician isn’t easy. We’re glad to provide an authentic (and paid!) performance experience for these students. Berklee is the ideal partner for this experiment, and we anticipate great success and incredible music!” Berklee’s roster of alumni includes such successful performers as Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Branford Marsalis, Diana Krall, Melissa Etheridge, Charlie Puth, as well as John Mayer, and Esperanza Spaulding. The Sunday Brunch is from Noon-2pm (doors open at 11am) and is $45 per person including buffet. For more information visit www.citywinery.com/boston

FEB. 23 + 25: HARRY, HAYDN & MOZART

Symphony Hall in Boston, at  301 Massachusetts Ave.. will host the Handel and Haydn Society’s return visit of Harry Christophers. Boston music lovers should mark their calendars for Harry Christophers’ first appearance as Conductor Laureate who will conduct the music he does best. The program features Haydn: Symphony No. 49, La passione; Mozart: Vesperae solennes de confessore; Hildegard von Bingen: O filie Israhel (“Daughters of Israel”); Hildegard von Bingen: Flos campi (“Flowers of the field”); Raphaella Aleotti: Vidi speciosam (“I saw a beauty”); Raphaella Aleotti: Surge propera amica mea (“Arise, my dear friend”) and Mozart: Mass in C Major, Coronation. Guest perormers will include Joélle Harvey, soprano; Helen Charlston, mezzo-soprano; Aaron Sheehan, tenor, and Matthew Brook, bass-baritone. They will be accompanied by the H+H Orchestra and Chorus. Tickets for this joyful reunion may be obtained at www.handelandhaydn.org

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BOCH CENTER STAGE: www.bochcenter.org