Mechanics Hall

Worcester Economic Club: Jeff Greene
2024-09-26 17:15 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | MA
Registration & More Information

Jeff Greene was born in 1954 in Worcester, Massachusetts. His father ran a business selling used textile machinery and his mother was a religious school teacher. His parents taught and instilled in him a strong set of economic values that would become the basis of a long and fortuitous career in real estate investment and development and business.
A 1972 graduate of Worcester’s Doherty High School, Greene worked his way through The Johns Hopkins University teaching religious school three days a week and checking ID’s outside the Hopkins gym, as well as working winter vacations as a busboy and waiter at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. He received his BA in economics and sociology from Johns Hopkins in just two and a half years. After Johns Hopkins, Greene worked on‐the‐road as a circus promoter for almost 3 years, saving the seed capital for what would become a billion dollar real estate portfolio. After his time with the circus , Greene attended Harvard Business School where he received his MBA in 1979.
While at Harvard, Greene began investing in residential real estate by purchasing a 3‐family home not far from the Cambridge campus. He gained a quick understanding of the real estate business, and by the time he completed his second year he had accumulated 18 properties and a net worth of over a million dollars. Post Harvard, Greene moved to Los Angeles where he was able to successfully navigate a roller coaster real estate market through the 80’s and 90’s. By 2006, he had accumulated a $1 billion real estate portfolio, but he worried about the possible collapse of the real estate market. In response, Greene devised a hedge for that portfolio in which he would short what he determined were enormously overvalued subprime mortgage backed securities. His investment has been described as the most successful trade in history by an individual on Wall Street.
In 2010, and now a resident of Florida, Greene felt that the country was heading in the wrong direction and ran for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate, for which he was defeated.
Greene manages a vast portfolio of financial investments in real estate, hospitality and energy. He is an active philanthropist supporting a variety of charities and is a signatory to the Buffet‐Gates Giving Pledge.

Club 321 Featuring Harshitha Krishnan Trio
2024-09-26 19:00 | MA
Harshitha Krishnan is a Grammy nominated performing and recording artist, music educator, and social justice advocate of Indian origin from Lagos, Nigeria.

Hailing from a strong background in western classical music, she embraced soul, R&B, alternative, jazz, Indian folk and other world music styles, creating her own distinctive and eclectic sound: a fusion of Indian and contemporary western elements. Through performing her original music, arrangements of Indian and Pop tunes, jazz fusion pieces and more, Harshitha creates a singular musical experience that takes listeners on a journey of unfiltered emotions, exploring sounds and textures from around the world.

A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Harshitha has already worked with an impressive roster of renowned musicians including A.R.Rahman, Ilayaraaja, Gary Burton, Vijay Prakash, Michael McDonald, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Pablo Ziegler, Bill Whelan, Alejandro Sanz, Clinton Cerejo, Javed Ali, Sivamani, and Javier Limone to name a few, on various film, studio and live projects.

She was a leading member of the Berklee Indian Ensemble whose debut album was nominated for ‘Best Global Music Album’ at the 65th Grammy® Awards, and performs with her vocal group ‘MuZù’, the Yotam Ishay Chamber Group and Utako Toyama’s ‘SkyBridge’. Since 2021, she has served on the Voice, Ensemble, Harmony and Professional Music Faculty at Berklee College of Music.

An artist with a vision to affect positive change in attitudes towards women, mental health, the LGBTQIA+ and race, Harshitha aligns her social, philosophical and political views with the nature of the music she performs.

harshithakrishnan.com

Tickets: $20 Advance Purchase | $23 at the Door
Members: 15% discount off single ticket (enter your promo code when checking out)
Time: Doors 6:15pm | Show 7:00pm
Audience: 18+

Cash bar and refreshments available for purchase

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Mechanics Hall is walking distance from all downtown locations. The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. All concerts take place in Washburn Hall on the second floor. If you need assistance, please contact the Mechanics Hall Ticket Office, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm, by calling 508-752-5608.

Worcester Symphony Orchestra Classics Lite: “Rhapsody”
2024-09-29 16:00 - 18:00 | MA
George Gershwin premiered his “Rhapsody in Blue” 100 years ago, in 1924. His innovative work provides a jazzy showcase for piano soloist Father Sean Duggan, who last appeared with the orchestra in Bach’s Keyboard Concerto #1 in 2023. This afternoon “Classics Lite” concert is great opportunity for families to experience a live orchestra concert together.

About the Artists: Worcester Symphony Orchestra (formerly New England Symphony Orchestra and Thayer Symphony Orchestra) is the continuation of 40-plus years of music making in central Massachusetts. The orchestra is committed to several local performances each year and is engaged in discussions with several local groups about potential collaborative programming. Roderick MacDonald has been the orchestra’s music director since 2014. He is the former principal trumpet of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig and a former conducting student of both Kurt Masur and Bernard Haitink. Under his leadership the orchestra has increased its use of video programming during the COVID pandemic through such initiatives as NESO at Home (downloadable videos of small groups of NESO musicans in intimate settings) and the co-production of AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS with VOX New England.

Piano Soloist Father Seán Duggan

The event will also feature piano soloist Father Seán Duggan. Father Seán Brett Duggan, O.S.B., attended Loyola University in New Orleans and received a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and a Master of Fine Arts degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Arts degree in Theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood. In September 1983, Father Duggan won first prize in the Johann Sebastian Bach International Competition for pianists in Washington, D.C., which entitled him, among other honors, to give various concerts around the country and a two-month tour of Germany. In the “Bach Year,” 1985, he gave complete performances of The Well-Tempered Clavier in New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Birmingham to critical acclaim. In 1991 he participated again in the Bach Competition in Washington, D.C.; this time he was one of three first-place winners, which entitled him to another round of concert engagements and a second tour of Germany.
Throughout the year 2000, the 250th anniversary of Bach’s death, Father Duggan performed the complete cycle of the composer’s keyboard works eight times in a series of fifteen recitals entitled “Bach On the Threshold of Hope.”
Father Duggan, currently on the piano faculty at the State University of New York at Fredonia, is in the midst of recording the complete (non-organ) keyboard works of Bach for commercial release.

Date and Time: September 29 from 4:00 to 6:00pm (Doors open at 3:15pm)
Ticket Prices: Start at $35
Members Pricing: Orchestra members, Mechanics Hall members and students may purchase any available seat for $15 (not including Premium seating).
All Ages

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This event is made possible with the generous support of
the New England Symphony Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts

Mechanics Hall is walking distance from all downtown locations. The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. All concerts take place in Washburn Hall on the second floor.

Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz Barron Ryan Celebrates William & Martha Brown
2024-10-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz features three performances that, through jazz, musically illuminate the remarkable lives and legacies of Sojourner Truth, William and Martha Brown, and Frederick Douglass, the subjects of the Great Hall’s newest portrait installations. The performances will captivate jazz fans, history buffs, artists, poets and storytellers, and, well, everyone!!

Series and individual performances tickets are available. Buy Tickets

Pianist, composer, and author, Barron Ryan brands his talent: Classic Meets Cool. The son of two musicians, Barron Ryan grew up in a house filled with the sounds of artists ranging from Mozart to Motown. In his own work, he combines those disparate influences into a musical adventure that’s vintage yet fresh, historical yet hip, classic yet cool. Smithsonian Magazine named him one of the Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021.

www.barronryan.com

Ryan’s signature recital program features a thrilling combination of classical works, renditions from great jazz pianists, pop tune arrangements, and original compositions that incorporate funk, country, and ragtime elements. The October performance includes an original work inspired by William and Martha Brown. Barron Ryan’s compositions bring an evening of musical reverence, honoring the contributions, passion, and struggles for Black equality told through music.

The first Person of Color inducted as a member of the Worcester County Mechanics Association, William Brown held innovative design patents for “Brown’s Patent Fruit Picker” and “A New and Improved Sofa Bed.” His successful upholstery and drapery business established his importance to the blossoming industrial trade markets in Worcester. William and his wife Martha were leaders in Worcester’s community and shared their extensive home library to neighbors. They raised funds for escaped and freed slaves and, friends of Frederick Douglass, were purportedly involved with the Underground Railroad activities.

Series and individual performances tickets are available. Buy Tickets

Date: October 3, 2024, 7:30 to 9:00pm
General Admission: $25
Member Pricing: Use your discount code for 15% off single event tickets!
Series Discount: $68 for all three concerts

Barron Ryan, hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma was named one of the “Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021” by Smithsonian Magazine. Commissioned by Chamber Music Tulsa, he produced the amazing work commemorating Tulsa’s 1921 Massacre, My Soul is Full of Troubles, and he will be creating a specific piece written about William and Martha Brown, which will be debuted at this concert. Barron is unique in that his original works are published in the public domain, making his music a gift to the world.

This series is made possible with the generous support of our program sponsors:

Salsa Social with DJ Black Mamba
2024-10-04 19:00 - 23:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Join Laura Leones of Fiesta Dance Company of Westborough. Laura will give instruction in Salsa and Bachata from 7:00-8:00 and then the dance floor of our beautiful Great Hall will open for social dance from 8:00-11:00.

Laura came to Latin Dance in 2017 as a student and later instructor at Tumbao Latin Dance in Worcester Since then she has studied with many leading Salsa and Bachata instructors in New York, Boston, Connecticut, Providence and Houston and has performed on various Salsa and Bachata dance teams at Latin Dance congresses across the U.S. Laura teaches for Fiesta Dance at Margaritas in Northborough as well as at Assabet After Dark in Marlborough. Featuring DJ Black Mamba.

7pm – 8pm: Lesson
8pm – 11pm: Open Dance

Members: Free
Nonmembers: $10 Advance Purchase | $15 at the Door
Time: October 4 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Audience: 18+
Cash bar and concessions available.

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Not a member? No worries, JOIN TODAY!

Beyond the Frames: Stories of Hope
2024-10-07 10:30 - 11:30 | MA
A free educational program offered to 5th and 6th grade students
Working with cultural and educational partners, Mechanics Hall brings enriching history, cultural, and performance experiences to children through a variety of programs. Beyond the Frames: Stories of Hope celebrates stories of Hope, Resilience, and Courage through narratives of the historic figures depicted in Mechanics Hall’s newest portrait installations: Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and William and Martha Brown.
Award-winning storytellers Len Cabral and Valerie Tutson, in collaboration with the electrifying Ammaya Dance and Drum, will present stories and performances celebrating the significant contributions of these figures.
We are pleased to invite all schools to attend. Parents, we encourage you to share this information with your child’s school! School representatives can register with Christon Carney at ccarney@mechanicshall.org.

Weaving Words Connecting Cultures, Len Cabral is an internationally acclaimed storyteller who has beenenchanting audiences with his storytelling performances at schools, libraries, museums and festivals since 1976. A great grandson of a Cape Verdean whaler whose grandparents immigrated to America from the islands off the coast of West Africa, Len’s strong Cape Verdean ancestry comes alive in his exuberant retelling of African, Cape Verdean, and Caribbean folktales as well as original stories and tales from around the world.

Valerie Tutson is a multiple award-winning storyteller who has been performing in schools, churches, libraries, festivals and conferences since 1991. She draws her stories from around the world with an emphasis on African traditions. Her repertoire includes stories and songs she learned in her travels to South Africa, her experiences in West Africa and stories from African American history. She is a graduate of Brown University where she earned a Master’s degree in theater arts and a BA in her self-designed major of Storytelling as a Communications Art.

Ammaya Dance & Drum is an ensemble of dancers and drummers who practice traditional West African and Afro-Caribbean dance and drumming in the New England area. Ammaya presents the rich traditions of African rooted music and dance. Their performances are full of spirit and fun for all ages and abilities. The ensemble performs to uplift the hearts of their audiences, playing for the joy and healing inherent in African traditions.

Tickets: Free, Registration Required (see Registration Note, below)
Date: October 7, 2024
Time: Doors 10am | Show 10:30am
Audience: 5th and 6th Grade Students
Registration Note: School representatives can register with Christon Carney at ccarney@mechanicshall.org Parents, we encourage you to share this information with your child’s school!
Membership Invite: Mechanics Hall Members are invited to enjoy this hour-long program. schoolchildren will be seated on the floor, and we will have reserved balcony seating for our members. Remember there is no elevator access to the balcony. Seating accomodations can be made if needed. Members need to register by email with the Box Office at boxoffice@mechanicshall.org. Donations happily accepted.

Club 321 Featuring Ali McGuirk
2024-10-10 19:00 | MA
Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, New England’s Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey.

“With all the hooks of Lake Street Dive but more earthy tenderness and smart introspection, McGuirk will be the Bay State’s next big export.”

– BOSTON HERALD

“Powerfully stunning vocals… the most outstanding performance of the day.”

— GLIDE MAGAZINE

“‘Til It’s Gone’ is more than just a showcase of musicianship. McGuirk brings a songwriter’s sensibility, and a millennial’s perspective, to her lyrics… In just a few deft strokes, McGuirk
paints a devastating and deeply human picture..”

– WBUR

On her Signature Sounds Recordings debut ’Til It’s Gone, McGuirk delivers a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. The album landed on the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Albums list for 2022. Consequence of Sound raved, “All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time– it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow, or it could be on your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Either way, it’s a great listen.”

McGuirk co-produced ‘Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk’s voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.

alimcguirk.com

Tickets: $20 Advance Purchase | $23 at the Door
Members: 15% discount off single ticket (enter your promo code when checking out)
Time: Doors 6:15pm | Show 7:00pm
Audience: 18+

Cash bar and refreshments available for purchase

Buy Tickets

Mechanics Hall is walking distance from all downtown locations. The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. All concerts take place in Washburn Hall on the second floor. If you need assistance, please contact the Mechanics Hall Ticket Office, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm, by calling 508-752-5608.

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Game Changers Business Conference & Expo
2024-10-11 08:00 - 14:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, the need for a skilled workforce has never been more critical. Access to workforce is essential to maintain competitive advantage and ensure sustainable growth in an increasingly complex market.

Join the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday, October 11th for their Game Changers Business Conference and Expo Workforce: Finding and Training Talent to Keep Worcester Moving Forward. This event will bring together industry leaders, employers, HR professionals, and training experts to explore innovative strategies for workforce development and talent management.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in engaging workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to address the evolving needs of today’s dynamic job market. Join us to gain valuable insights, share best practices, and collaborate on building a skilled and resilient workforce for the future. We look forward to your participation in this pivotal event!

TimeActivity

8:00 am

Registration
Breakfast & Workforce Resource Fair | The Great Hall

9:00am

Welcome
Morning Keynote: Secretary Lauren Jones

9:55am

Awards Ceremony

10:15am

Coffee Break/ Networking & Resource Fair

10:35 am

Coffee Break/ Networking & Resource Fair

11:20 am

Workshops

Noon to 1:00pm

Lunch
Keynote: Tonja Mettlach

1:00pm to 2:00pm

Workplace Resource Fair

Register

Music Worcester presents: Philip Glass Ensemble
2024-10-18 20:00 - 22:00 | MA
Philip Glass Ensemble

The Philip Glass Ensemble (PGE) comprises the principal performers of the music of Philip Glass. In 1968, Glass founded the PGE in New York City as a laboratory for his music. Its purpose was to develop a performance practice to meet the unprecedented technical and artistic demands of his compositions. In pioneering this approach, the PGE became a creative wellspring for Glass, and its members remain inimitable interpreters of his work.

The artists of the PGE recognize their unique position in the history of music of the past half-century, and passing on that legacy is part of their practice. A deep dedication to educating the next generation of musicians is integral to the PGE’s work, both on tour and as the Ensemble-in-Residence at The Philip Glass Institute at The New School.

The PGE debuted at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1969, and in its early years performed primarily in the galleries, artist lofts, and museums of SoHo’s then-thriving artistic community. In the five decades since, the PGE has performed in world-renowned music festivals and concert halls across five continents, and has made records with Sony, Nonesuch, and Orange Mountain Music.

Many of Philip Glass’s most celebrated works were expressly composed for the PGE: its core concert pieces Music in Twelve Parts, Music in Similar Motion, and Music with Changing Parts; the opera and musical theater projects Einstein on the Beach, Hydrogen Jukebox, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, Monsters of Grace; and the full-length dance works Dance (Lucinda Childs) and A Descent Into the Maelström (Australian Dance Theater). The PGE is most widely acclaimed for its soundtracks to Godfrey Reggio’s trilogy of wordless films: Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi. It is also featured in Glass’s operas La Belle et la Bête and The Photographer.

TICKETS

Program

Music in Eight Parts (1969/2017)
Glassworks (1981)

Many Voices Youth Singers Fall Concert
2024-10-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Theme: Many Voices, Many Cultures

Sunday, October 20

4:00PM

Tickets: Pay-What-You-Can

Experience the Fall Concert of the Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers, marking their third season.

We are thrilled to invite you to an uplifting performance by the Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers, where talented students from grades 4 to 7 in Worcester will take you on a musical journey “Many Voices, Many Cultures.” Get ready to move, dance, and clap along as these remarkable young voices fill the atmosphere with melodies that reflect different cultures and traditions. This theme promises to be an exhilarating celebration of our rich heritage, resonating with the hearts of everyone in the audience.

Don’t miss out – mark your calendars! 🗓️

The Music

The Greatest by Sia
Dos Oruguitas
Bohmbela
Cirandeiro
Glorious
Many Voice Anthem

Many Voices MH Youth Singers

Worcester Youth Orchestras 77th Season Preview
2024-10-22 17:30 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
A lovely evening of hot finger food and conversation with friends, supporters and WYO families celebrating the start of WYO’s 77th Season. Hosted by the WYO Board of Dirctors, we hope you will join us for this wonderful kick-off!

Ticket Information:
Adult tickets are $20 online in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets are complimentary to Donors to the WYO Annual Fund. Make a contribution to WYO, see Donor Levels for ways WYO says thank you or purchase tickets.

Schedule of Events

5:30pmCash Bar & Hor D’oeuvres with the WY Jazz Band, Dan Gabel, Director

6:00pmOpening Remarks, Presentation of the Robert R. Kennedy Community Service Award

6:20pmMusical Selections with the Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jonathan Colby, Music Director & Conductor

Register

Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz Ruth Naomi Floyd Presents Frederick Douglass Jazz Works
2024-10-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz features three performances that, through jazz, musically illuminate the remarkable lives and legacies of Sojourner Truth, William and Martha Brown, and Frederick Douglass, the subjects of the Great Hall’s newest portrait installations. The performances will captivate jazz fans, history buffs, artists, poets and storytellers, and, well, everyone!!

The incredible talent of vocalist, composer, educator, jazz artist Ruth Naomi Floyd is featured in the October performance. Floyd has created a discography dedicated to a sacred jazz expression. For more than 25 years, she has been at the forefront of creating vocal jazz settings that express theology and justice.

www.frederickdouglassjazzworks.com

Floyd’s recordings consist primarily of original compositions. Blessed with a soaring mezzo-soprano voice, critics praise Ruth’s music for its distinctive sound of progressive ensemble jazz that is seamlessly blended with messages of hope, faith, redemption, and love.

Floyd and her multi-faceted ensemble will perform her Frederick Douglass JazzWorks, a groundbreaking body of music that honors the legacy of Frederick Douglass, born enslaved but who escaped to freedom and became an abolitionist, leading orator, statesman, political activist, writer, banker, ambassador, and theologian. The performance pairs her original compositions with Douglass’ words from his speeches and writings. It shares the themes of tragedy, grief, despair, and injustice of American slavery through the lens of Douglass’ own words of hope, perseverance, triumph and joy—not to be missed!

Series and individual performances tickets are available. Buy Tickets

Date: October 24, 2024, 7:30 to 9:00pm
General Admission: $30
Member Pricing: Use your discount code for 15% off single event tickets!
Series Discount: $68 for all three concerts

Ruth Naomi Floyd’s, Frederick Douglass Jazz Works, is Floyd’s latest body of compositions for septet, based on the speeches and writings of the great leading orator, abolitionist, writer, publisher, and statesman. This body of work won the Best Vocal Recital Award at the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards in 2020-2021.

This series is made possible with the generous support of our program sponsors:

Music Worcester presents: CONCORA: Bach Cantatas BWV 71, 119, 120
2024-10-25 20:00 - 22:00 | MA
For the first THE COMPLETE BACH presentation of our 2024-2025 Season, Hartford’s premiere professional choir CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), directed by Chris Shepard, will perform three of Bach’s cantatas in the acoustically perfect space of Worcester’s historic Mechanics Hall.
Cantatas:
BWV 71 – Gott ist mein König
BWV 119 – Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn
BWV 120 – Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille

TICKETS

Music Worcester presents: Bach Organ Multimedia Concert
2024-10-26 16:00 - 18:00 | MA
BACHtoberfest 2024

Free entry, RSVP required

Register

For THE COMPLETE BACH’s inaugural organ performance, international sonic artist Peter Krasinski will be presenting “Th Expanded Bach “– a multimedia immersive experience for the audience, on one of the most auspicious organs in the world – Worcester’s own Hook Brothers Organ, built in 1864.
The performance will feature the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, coupled with imagery designed to present a new perspective on these pieces – visual works of art, views of earth from space, and images from nature will all help getting Bach’s music to a new place. Through well-placed cameras and projection screens, audience members will also get an up-close view of Krasinski’s technique and the organ itself.
The repertoire will range from Bach’s secular, and sacred works for organ, including music from the Schübler Chorales, Trio Sonatas, the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and other popular melodies. Also featured will be a short silent film, THE BOAT, starring Buster Keaton, with live improvised musical accompaniment provided by Mr. Krasinski using the many popular melodies from Bach’s works as a springboard.
Program
Toccata and Fugue in G, BWV541
Toccata and Fugue in d, BWV565
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV645
Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV648
Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, BWV650
Trio Sonata No. 1 in Eb, BWV525, First Movement
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV564, First Movement

Peter Edwin Krasinski is broadly recognized as a motivating consultant for the pipe organ community, and as a conductor, organist and music educator, whose imaginative and energetic performances elevate and inform audiences. Well respected in both secular and sacred genres of his field, he has taught the enchantment of music to both public and private institutions in the greater Boston area for many years. His silent film performances have been hailed in the press as “a great marriage of movie and music.”

Specializing in the art of live silent film accompaniment, worldwide, some of his many appearances have included such venues as The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, (Nashville), Riverside Church, (NYC), Coral Ridge, (Fort Lauderdale), Irvine Auditorium, (University of Pennsylvania), Trinity Wall Street (NYC), Wanamaker’s-Macy’s Greek Hall (Philadelphia), St Joseph’s Cathedral (Hartford), Old South Church (Boston), National City Christian Church (Washington, DC), St Joseph’s Oratory (Montreal), The Kotzschmar Organ, (Portland), The Great Organ at Methuen Music Hall, and major concert halls in the cities of Yokohama, Fukui, Miyazaki and Kanazawa, Japan as part of seven tours in that country.

A multiple prize-winner, he is the recipient of the First Prize in Improvisation from the American Guild of Organists National Competition. A seasoned performer, he has played recitals at Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris), the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, (Los Angeles), Holy Name Cathedral, (Chicago) and Mikael Agricola Church, (Helsinki).

Past Dean of the Boston Chapter AGO, Mr. Krasinski is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, is credited as organist and choir leader in the film THE HOLDOVERS, and was a vital contributor towards establishing an accurate portrayal for director Alexander Payne. He is Principal Organist at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, House Organist at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Organist at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mission Church, Boston, and the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Providence RI as well as accompanist at Beth El Temple Center, Belmont. A distinguished pedagogue, he recently presented Master Classes at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. He holds both a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Organ Performance, and the Master of Sacred Music Degree from Boston University.

WWW.KRASINSKI.ORG

Music Worcester presents Zlatomir Fung: Bach Cello Suites
2024-10-26 19:00 - 22:00 | MA
The youngest cellist ever to win First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Zlatomir Fung is poised to become one of the preeminent cellists of our time. Astounding audiences with his boundless virtuosity and exquisite sensitivity, the 24-year-old has already proven himself a star among the next generation of world-class musicians.

TICKETS

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As Artist-in-Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2023/24 season, Fung appears at London’s Cadogan Hall and tours the UK with the orchestra. Further afield, highlights in North America and Asia include Fung’s debut with the Cleveland Orchestra, appearances with the Baltimore and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras, and a tour to Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Recent concerto highlights include his debuts with the New York Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lille, and BBC Philharmonic, as well as Detroit, Seattle, Milwaukee, Utah, Rochester, and Kansas City Symphonies.

Fung made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 2021 and was described by Bachtrack as “one of those rare musicians with a Midas touch: he quickly envelopes every score he plays in an almost palpable golden aura.” Other recent highlights include returns to the Wigmore Hall and appearances at the Verbier, Dresden, Janacek May, and Tsinandali Festivals, Cello Biennale, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, ChamberFest Cleveland, and the Aspen Music Festival.

Alongside demonstrating a mastery of the canon with his impeccable technique, Fung brings exceptional insight into the depths of contemporary repertoire, championing composers such as Unsuk Chin, Katherine Balch, and Anna Clyne. In 2023, under the baton of Gemma New and with the Dallas Symphony, Fung gave the world premiere of Katherine Balch’s “whisper concerto” with “jaw-dropping brilliance” (Dallas Morning News) as the dedicatee of the work.

A winner of the 2017 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 2017 Astral National Auditions, Fung has taken the top prizes at the 2018 Alice & Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition, the 2016 George Enescu International Cello Competition, and the 2015 Johansen International Competition for Young String Players, among others. He was selected as a 2016 US Presidential Scholar for the Arts and was awarded the 2016 Landgrave von Hesse Prize at the Kronberg Academy Cello Masterclasses.

Fung was announced as a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship Winner in 2022 and awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2020. He was named to WXQR’s Artist Propulsion Lab in 2023. Fung has been featured on NPR’s Performance Today and has appeared six times on NPR’s From the Top. He plays a 1717 cello by David Tecchler of Rome, kindly loaned to him through the Beare’s International Violin Society by a generous benefactor.

Of Bulgarian and Chinese heritage, Zlatomir Fung was born into a family of mathematicians and began playing cello at age three. Fung studied at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Richard Aaron and Timothy Eddy, where he was a recipient of the Kovner Fellowship. Outside of music, his interests include chess, cinema, and creative writing.

Music Worcester presents BACHtoberfest Choir: Bach Cantatas BWV 50, 62, 122
2024-10-27 16:00 - 18:00 | MA
Be part of THE COMPLETE BACH series by joining our BACHtoberfest Choir! This collaborative choral performance featuring The Worcester Children’s Chorus will offer our audience the opportunity to hear a consortium choir perform these cantatas from the stage at historic Mechanics Hall.

TICKETS

Cantatas:
62 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
122 Das neugeborne Kindelein
50 Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft

Featured Performers

BACHtoberfest Choir

Worcester Children’s Chorus

Pamela Mindell, director (WCC)

United Way of Central Massachusetts Women's Initiative Stepping Up For Girls
2024-10-29 17:00 - 21:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
The Women’s Initiative hosts annual fundraising and member events to drive awareness of our philanthropic and leadership group, highlight our support of adolescent girls, and raise funds to increase our impact.

This event is a celebration of women’s philanthropy, leadership, and empowerment of adolescent girls, Stepping Up for Girls is the Women’s Initiative’s signature fundraiser to support future programming. The event highlights our funded programs, celebrates local women leaders, and the positive impact we as a community have made in support of girls and women. It will also feature the presentation of the 2024 Lois B. Green Leadership Award & Meredith D. Wesby Young Leader Award.

Salsa Social with DJ Locura
2024-11-01 19:00 - 23:00 | MA
Join Laura Leones of Fiesta Dance Company of Westborough. Laura will give instruction in Salsa and Bachata from 7:00-8:00 and then the dance floor of our beautiful Great Hall will open for social dance from 8:00-11:00.

Laura came to Latin Dance in 2017 as a student and later instructor at Tumbao Latin Dance in Worcester Since then she has studied with many leading Salsa and Bachata instructors in New York, Boston, Connecticut, Providence and Houston and has performed on various Salsa and Bachata dance teams at Latin Dance congresses across the U.S. Laura teaches for Fiesta Dance at Margaritas in Northborough as well as at Assabet After Dark in Marlborough. Featuring DJ Locura.

7pm – 8pm: Lesson
8pm – 11pm: Open Dance

Members: Free
Nonmembers: $10 Advance Purchase | $15 at the Door
Time: November 1 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Audience: 18+
Cash bar and concessions available.

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Not a member? No worries, JOIN TODAY!

Massachusetts Department of Corrections Employee Awards
2024-11-06 10:30 | MA

18th Annual ACE Gala
2024-11-09 16:30 | MA
The ACE Gala marks a night to celebrate all we have accomplished together since 2006 as we look forward to an even brighter future.

Join us in person at Mechanics Hall or livestream the event from wherever you are to experience:

The Annual ACE Student Fashion Show
Dance, Drumming, Music & Arts Performances from ACE Students and African Artists
Authentic African Food From Across the Continent
A Black-Owned Makers and Art Market
Guest Speakers, Raffles & MUCH, MUCH MORE!

TICKETS

The Idea Swap
2024-11-12 09:30 - 16:00 | MA
The Idea Swap is the annual event for New England-based nonprofit cultural organizations and touring artists to network and share ideas for touring projects. This year, we will convene back at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA.

$65 early bird | $85 regular

Nonprofit arts organizations are highly encouraged to attend the Idea Swap to learn more about potential New England States Touring (NEST) 3 tours and identify tour partners. NEST 3 grants support the presentation of artists from anywhere in the world and presenting partners across multiple New England states are required.

To support networking that is mutually beneficial for organizations and artists, capacity is limited. Organizations may register up to three staff members. The Idea Swap is designed for staff who directly participate in artistic or community programming. Artistic ensembles may register up to two members.
Key Dates

Project Idea Submission Deadline: October 9, 2024
Early Bird Registration Deadline: October 18, 2024
Registration Closes: November 5, 2024 at 11:59 PM
Idea Swap: November 12, 2024

Registration & Information

Fall 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Tomoko Iwamoto
2024-11-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Admission: Free & Open to the Public

Time: Doors 11:30am | Show Noon

Audience: All Ages

Jazz violin and vocalist. Born and educated in Japan, Tomoko Iwamoto majored in electrical engineering at Keio University, but spent a lot of time playing jazz saxophone and singing in the R&B band. She graduated from college in 1988, and worked as an engineer in Tokyo for a year before moving to the U.S. to become a professional musician.

A scholarship student at Berklee College of Music (1990-1993), she studied with Sharon Leventhal (classical violin), Matt Glaser (jazz violin), Herb Pomeroy, Greg Hopkin and Ken Pullig (jazz arranging and composition). Being a “jazzy” violinist, Tomoko has performed with groups representing styles from classical, rock, pop to jazz to world music, demonstrating a great sense of improvisation. Tomoko leads a gypsy jazz quartet “440” and is also a member and composer/arranger of J-Way (jazz string quartet) and Axis Electric Strings (Top 40 songs). She provided arrangements and performed as a soloist with Mood Swings Orchestra (jazz big band), and wrote many grade school level arrangements for Newton All-City Orchestra. Tomoko continues to perform classical music with Plymouth Philharmonic, Lexington Symphony, New England Philharmonic, Woodvale String Quartet among others.

The Brown Bag Concert Series, presented by Mechanics Hall and 90.5 FM WICN, has been a beloved tradition in Worcester since 1983. These hour-long concerts by acclaimed regional and national performers are held in the Great Hall on select Wednesdays from noon to 1pm. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch, and enjoy wonderful music while eating your lunch! Cabaret-style seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. All concerts are free, open to the public, and subject to change.

The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. Please note, there is no elevator access to the balcony. All concerts take place in the Great Hall on the third floor. If you need assistance, please contact the Mechanics Hall Ticket Office, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00am-5:00pm, by calling 508-752-0888.
Whenever possible, Brown Bag Concerts are also broadcast live on WICN 90.5FM, and streamed live on WICN.org.

Club 321 Featuring Nellie McKay
2024-11-14 19:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
The incredible talent and wit of Nellie McKay returns to Club 321!

“Thanks to (McKay), the Great American Songbook has a living, breathing present as well as a glorious past” – Boston Globe

Sister Orchid is Nellie’s seventh album, starting with Get Away From Me (“a tour de force” – The New York Times), including Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day (“among the killer overhauls of American standards” – The New York Times) and My Weekly Reader, music of the ‘60s (“…kicks serious butt. The results are beautiful.” – PopMatters), her second collaboration with famed Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. On Obligatory Villagers (“…a brisk nine-song set that plays like the breathless first act of a stage musical decrying American fascism” – SPIN), local Poconos hometown jazz greats Bob Dorough, Phil Woods, and David Liebman contributed their exceptional talents.

Nellie’s music has been heard on Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, and SMILF, and she has appeared on TV shows including The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Ferguson, and The View.

She has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera, performed onscreen in the films PS I Love You and Downtown Express, and her music was used in Rumor Has It, Monster-in-Law, PS I Love You, Gasland, Last Holiday and Private Life.

McKay co-created and starred in the award-winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats and has written three acclaimed musical biographies – I Want to Live!, the story of Barbara Graham, third woman executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin, Silent Spring: It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature, an exploration of environmental pioneer Rachel Carson, and A GIRL NAMED BILL – The Life and Times of Billy Tipton, named one of the Best Concerts of 2014 by The New York Times. Her latest lady bio is The Big Molinsky – Considering Joan Rivers (“…unpredictable, thrilling…sardonic wit…” – The New York Times).

“McKay comes on as a Harlem Holly Golightly, a social activist with a disarming mastery of pop vernacular.” – Los Angeles Times

Get your tickets early – Club 321’s intimate venue will create a very special environment to experience this legendary performer.

Tickets: $20 Advance Purchase | $23 at the Door
Members: 15% discount off single ticket (enter your promo code when checking out)
Time: Doors 6:15pm | Show 7:00pm
Audience: 18+

Cash bar and refreshments available for purchase

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Mechanics Hall is walking distance from all downtown locations. The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. All concerts take place in Washburn Hall on the second floor. If you need assistance, please contact the Mechanics Hall Ticket Office, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm, by calling 508-752-5608.

Warren Miller's 75
2024-11-15 19:30 - 21:30 | MA
Warren Miller is going big for 75 years! Stacked with unbelievable action and unexpected stories, Warren Miller’s 75 will bring fans to powder stashes and chutes around the world, from Canada, Colorado, California, and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria, and New Jersey.

Catch a diverse lineup of snowsports legends, Olympic hopefuls, world champions, X Games stars, and emerging talents on the big screen this fall, including snowboarders Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, and Toby Miller, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Mark Abma, and Aaron Blunck. With original segments and unique collaborations, this year’s film will set the tone for the next 75 years of ski and snowboard filmmaking.

Get ready for the celebration that is 75.

Group Discounts are available to all attendees purchasing a minimum of 10 tickets, each ticket is discounted $3

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Date: Friday November 15th 2024
Time: Doors open at 7:00, Event starts at 7:30pm
General Admission: $25
Group Discount: 10+ Tickets discounted by $3 per ticket
Ages: All Ages

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra
2024-11-16 15:00 - 17:00 | MA
Saturday November 16, 2024 at 3:00 PM, the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra comes to Mechanics Hall to perform their greatest hits, including “In The Mood”, “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “American Patrol”, “A String Of Pearls”, “Little Brown Jug”, “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, Tuxedo Junction”, and of course their theme song “Moonlight Serenade” as they continue their national tour.

The 17 member orchestra, their lead singers, and vocal group will perform their catalog of big band classics just the way they would have over 80 years ago when Glenn Miller stood in front of his band. It is a show that continues to transport audiences back in time and is as nostalgic as it is exciting.

Touring continuously since 1956, The Glenn Miller Orchestra is featured in over 200 concerts and dances per year. Each performance includes the timeless classics that made them famous the world over in a show that has moved audiences for generations.

Saturday, November 16, 2024 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Doors open at 2:15pm)

Doors open at 2:15pm
Tickets start at $60

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Music Worcester presents: Maxim Vengerov (violinist) and Polina Osetinskaya (piano)
2024-11-17 16:00 - 18:00 | MA
Maxim Vengerov
Universally hailed as one of the world’s finest musicians, and often referred to as the greatest living string player in the world today, Grammy Award winner Maxim Vengerov also enjoys international acclaim as a conductor and has held teaching positions in the world’s leading conservatoires throughout his career.
From his first public debut at the age of 5, Vengerov dreamt of playing for people all over the world. He believes that music is a universal way to connect people regardless of their political or geographical belonging. Till date, Vengerov has played over 3,000 concerts and is glad to have spread the joy of music making with audiences around the globe.
Depending on repertoire, Vengerov plays on different instruments and bows, but most of the time he brings to concerts his faithful companion that has been with him since 1998 – the legendary 1727 “Kreutzer” Stradivari.
Vengerov is proud to be deeply rooted in the tradition of Franco-Belgian and Russian violin schools. His favorite violinists are Fritz Kreisler, Eugène Ysaÿe, George Enescu, David Oistrakh and Jascha Heifetz, to name a few.
Polina Osetinskaya
​In the 2024/2025 concert season, Polina makes her debuts in Australia, Singapore, and Brazil and comes back to the United States with a recital tour along with a tour with her colleague Maxim Vengerov. She also has a series of her debuts with new recitals at festivals and at Konzerthaus in Austria, takes part in a big project dedicated to 5 Prokofiev concertos in Germany in Theater Altenburg Gera, and plays concerts in Italy, Belgium, and Germany.
Ms. Osetinskaya has performed at Vienna’s Musikverein, London’s Barbican Centre, Rome’s Teatro Argentina, as well as in Italy, Germany, Poland, The USA, Russia and Israel. Ms. Osetinskaya has appeared with musicAeterna, Mariinsky Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.
Onstage partners have included Teodor Currentzis, Laurent Petitgirard, Vladimir Spivakov, Andrey Boreyko, Dmitry Liss, Yan Pascal Tortelier. Ms. Osetinskaya has released recordings with the Quartz, Naxos, Sony Music, Bel-Aire, and Melodiya labels.

Tickets

Internationally acclaimed pianist Polina Osetinskaya began her career at the age of five and was soon acclaimed as a wunderkind in the former Soviet Union. She gave her first concert at the age of six and entered the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory at the age of seven. The first teacher of Ms. Osetinskaya was her father Oleg Osetinsky, then she continued her studies at the Leningrad Conservatory with Marina Wolf and later at the Moscow Conservatory with Vera Gornostaeva.

Maxim Vengerov

Program
C. SCHUMANN – Three Romances Op. 22 BRAHMS – “Scherzo” from the F-A-E Sonata R. SCHUMANN – Violin Sonata No. 3 PROKOFIEV – Five Melodies PROKOFIEV – Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 94with Polina Osetinskaya, piano

Annual Firefighter of the Year
2024-11-18 | MA

Fall 2024 Brown Bag Concert: Trío Búho
2024-11-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
Admission: Free & Open to the Public

Time: Doors 11:30am | Show Noon

Audience: All Ages

Trío Búho is a latin jazz group featuring pianist José Soto, bassist Greg Loughman, and percussionist Gen Yoshimura. Together, they have forged a new and distinctive voice, rooted both in the rhythms and songs from across Latin America and the songs and improvisational approach of jazz. The result is a unique and irresistible blend, rhythmically infectious, melodically appealing, and peppered with exciting and surprising complexities. Costa Rican pianist José Soto has performed internationally with artists including Luciana Souza, Chico Pinheiro, Danilo Perez, and Cheo Feliciano. Bassist Greg Loughman has performed with artists including Jerry Bergonzi, Mark Murphy, the Rhythm Future Quartet, and Danilo Perez. Drummer Gen Yoshimura has made a name for himself as a versatile accompanist, performing with internationally acclaimed artists such as Fernando Huergo, Kris Davis, and Walter Smith, winning Jazz Artistry Now (JAN)’s Best of Jazz 2020 for his drumming in Fernando Huergo’s Big Band album “The Possibility of Change”.

The Brown Bag Concert Series, presented by Mechanics Hall and 90.5 FM WICN, has been a beloved tradition in Worcester since 1983. These hour-long concerts by acclaimed regional and national performers are held in the Great Hall on select Wednesdays from noon to 1pm. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch, and enjoy wonderful music while eating your lunch! Cabaret-style seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. All concerts are free, open to the public, and subject to change.

The accessible entrance to Mechanics Hall is located on Waldo Street. Elevators are located in the ground-floor lobby and provide access to the second and third floors. Please note, there is no elevator access to the balcony. All concerts take place in the Great Hall on the third floor. If you need assistance, please contact the Mechanics Hall Ticket Office, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00am-5:00pm, by calling 508-752-0888.
Whenever possible, Brown Bag Concerts are also broadcast live on WICN 90.5FM, and streamed live on WICN.org.

Multistate Association for Bilingual Education 50th Birthday Celebration
2024-11-22 17:30 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
MABE is turning 50 years! You are cordially invited to register for MABE’s 50th Birthday Celebration.

Come honor bilingual education’s past, present, and future with us! Dance to live music from The Hartt Salsa All-Stars, memorialize history, & enjoy appetizers on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 5:30pm in Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA. Cash bar open. To honor the past, we will present Lifetime Achievement Awards to honor individuals who influenced our Dual Language Bilingual Education landscape. View list of awardees

Tickets: $50
Time: Doors 5:00pm | Show 5:30pm
More Info: https://mabene.org/50

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Worcester Youth Orchestra’s Jazz Ensemble with Empire State Youth Jazz Orchestra
2024-11-23 15:00 | Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01608, United States
The WY Jazz Program is pleased to host the Empire State Youth Jazz Orchestra for an afternoon jazz exchange concert! Each ensemble will perform their own selections and conclude with joint performances with both ensembles.

Light refreshments served and cash bar available.

Featuring:
Worcester Youth Jazz Ensemble
Dan Gabel, Director of Jazz
Empire State Youth Jazz Orchestra
Peter Bellini, Conductor

Tickets: Adult/Senior $15, Children free
Time: Doors 2:30pm | Show 3:00pm
Audience: All Ages

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