The iconic landmark marks a major transition with an evening of live performances, community, and celebration.
Friday, June 13, Mechanics Hall will honor retiring Executive Director Kathleen Gagne with “Encore: A Night of Music and Celebration.” The evening will showcase multiple live performers, including celebrated artists Cara Brindisi and Michelle Willson, within a varied program that pays tribute to Gagne while supporting the legacy of the landmark building.
Gagne’s retirement at the end of June prompted the idea of a special event, but Encore will be more of a festival than a retirement party. “While I look forward to seeing many people I’ve worked with before officially passing the torch, my hope for Encore is to further build support for this Hall which has given me so much.” For Gagne, that support comes in two forms: fundraising, with proceeds from the event supporting Mechanics Hall and Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers (MVYS), and community building. “I want as many people as possible to experience and love Mechanics Hall, so this wonderful institution will have support into the next generation.”
“Encore is a way for us to acknowledge and celebrate this special moment in time,” said Peter Thomas, president of the Mechanics Hall Board of Trustees. “We honor our rich history and prepare for our bright future, while embracing the transition of our present. For a venue as storied as Mechanics Hall, and for a colleague as treasured as Kathy, the most appropriate way to do this is with an experience rich with music and community.”
Encore will take place in the Great Hall from 8:00 to 10:00pm, with live entertainment in a range of genres. Mechanics Hall Principal Organist Peter Krasinski will welcome attendees into the Great Hall with The Worcester Organ, and blues singer Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson will bring her trademark passion and intensity to the stage in a set with piano and saxophone.
Worcester-based singer/songwriter Cara Brindisi said her upcoming performance during Encore is especially meaningful for her. “I love playing at Mechanics Hall for the pristine acoustics and beauty of the space, and more personally because my first big performance was here. This is where it all began, it’s my home stage, so playing here is always nostalgic and meaningful,” she said.
Brindisi isn’t the only Encore performer who considers Mechanics Hall their home stage. According to Managing Director Christon Carney, several members of the MVYS had their first performing experiences on this stage as well. “There’s something truly special about watching young people find their voice on the same stage that’s shaped so many artists,” said Carney. “For these young singers, and for those of us who guide and encourage them, Many Voices is more than a chorus. It’s an environment in which they are seen and supported. The singers are excited for their Encore performance, which is going to be heartfelt and a whole lot of fun.”
Doors to the Great Hall will open at 7:30pm for all ticket holders. Attendees are encouraged to explore and move about during the event; seating options depend on ticket type. In addition to balcony seating, a limited amount of floor seating is available with a General Admission ticket.
Premium floor seating is available to All-Access ticket holders, who are invited to attend a pre-event reception in Washburn Hall from 7:00 to 8:00pm. In addition to passed hor d’oeuvres and a full bar, Peruvian-born guitarist Carlos Odria will perform jazz standards and original compositions in his unique blend of bossa nova, Afro-Peruvian festejo, rumba flamenca, and Afro-Caribbean styles.
“Stewarding a building as beautiful and historic as Mechanics Hall all these years has been such a privilege,” said Gagne. “It’s never been just a workplace for me, and I’m grateful to have memories of so many extraordinary moments here. Now, what’s important to me is ensuring the legacy of Mechanics Hall and its programs”
Tickets for Encore: A Night of Music and Celebration can be purchased at https://mechanicshall.org/event/encore-a-night-of-music-celebration/.
Mechanics Hall is located at 321 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608. Both Washburn Hall, on the 2nd floor, and the Great Hall, on the 3rd floor, are accessible by elevator from the Waldo Street entrance, or by stairs from both the Main Street and Waldo Street entrances.
Encore is made possible with support from Cornerstone Bank, F.W. Madigan, Open Sky Community Services, Parma Recordings, Peppers Artful Events, Revelation, Seven Hills Foundation, WestBridge, Worcester Academy, and William Ference Catering. Sponsorships are available, contact Debra Mooney at dmooney@mechanicshall.org.
About Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers
Founded in 2022, MVYS is an all-city, non-auditioned chorus open to fourth through eighth graders from every Worcester neighborhood. Under professional direction and with Mechanics Hall – one of the world’s most renowned concert halls – as their “home stage,” children learn to sing a variety of music, build friendships, and work toward excellence, together and in harmony. There is no cost to participate in the chorus. Any fourth-eighth grader living or attending school in Worcester is welcome to participate. Learn more at https://mechanicshall.org/many-voices-mh-youth-singers/.
About Mechanics Hall
Steeped in the rich history of 19th century Worcester, Mechanics Hall is internationally regarded as one of the world’s great concert halls. Regionally, it is a meeting place beloved for the central New England location, its architecture, and the legacy of prominent figures engaged. The world’s most renowned orchestras and performers – including the London Philharmonic, Yo-Yo Ma, Ella Fitzerald, and Linda Ronstadt – have taken the Hall’s stage. Among the many luminaries who have spoken at Mechanics Hall are Charles Dickens, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and Mark Twain. In addition to serving as a premiere venue and recording site, Mechanics Hall offers inspiring cultural experiences for diverse audiences through its signature creative initiatives, including free concerts, community events, a youth chorus, and collaborative programs with local colleges and nonprofit organizations.
Mechanics Hall is a nonprofit organization owned and operated by the Worcester County Mechanics Association, est. 1842. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.