BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Mechanics Hall - ECPv6.15.13//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Mechanics Hall X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://mechanicshall.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Mechanics Hall REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241003T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241003T210000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240726T183531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240927T204913Z UID:9896-1727983800-1727989200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz Barron Ryan Celebrates William & Martha Brown DESCRIPTION: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!!\n\nSeries and individual performances tickets are available. Buy Tickets\n\nPianist\, 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.\n\nwww.barronryan.com\n\nRyan’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.\n\nThe 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.\n\n\n\nSeries and individual performances tickets are available. Buy Tickets\n\n\n\nDate: October 3\, 2024\, 7:30 to 9:00pm\nGeneral Admission: $25\nMember Pricing: Use your discount code for 15% off single event tickets!\nSeries Discount: $68 for all three concerts\n\n\n\nBarron 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.\n\n\n\n\nThis series is made possible with the generous support of our program sponsors: URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/beyond-the-frames-a-series-in-jazz-barron-ryan/ LOCATION:Mechanics Hall\, 321 Main St\, Worcester\, MA\, 01608\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/jazz_header_brarron_d.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240929T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240929T180000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240819T140411Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240920T164321Z UID:10205-1727625600-1727632800@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Worcester Symphony Orchestra Classics Lite: “Rhapsody” DESCRIPTION: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. \n \n \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n\nAbout 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. \n\n\nPiano Soloist Father Seán Duggan\n\nThe 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.\nThroughout 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.”\nFather 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. \n\n\n\n\n\nDate and Time: September 29 from 4:00 to 6:00pm (Doors open at 3:15pm)\nTicket Prices: Start at $35\nMembers Pricing: Orchestra members\, Mechanics Hall members and students may purchase any available seat for $15 (not including Premium seating).\nAll Ages\n\nBuy Tickets\n\n\n\n\nThis event is made possible with the generous support of\nthe New England Symphony Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts\n\n\n\nMechanics 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. URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/worcester-symphony-orchestra-classics-lite-rhapsody/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/WSO_header_900x500.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240926T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240926T190000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240812T184618Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240921T224453Z UID:10170-1727377200-1727377200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Club 321 Featuring Harshitha Krishnan Trio DESCRIPTION:Harshitha Krishnan is a Grammy nominated performing and recording artist\, music educator\, and social justice advocate of Indian origin from Lagos\, Nigeria.\n \n\nHailing 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.\n \n\nA 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.\n \n\nShe 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.\n \n\nAn 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.\n \nharshithakrishnan.com\n\n\n\n\nTickets: $20 Advance Purchase | $23 at the Door\nMembers: 15% discount off single ticket (enter your promo code when checking out)\nTime: Doors 6:15pm | Show 7:00pm\nAudience: 18+\n \nCash bar and refreshments available for purchase \n\nBuy Tickets\n\n\n\n\nMechanics 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. URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/club-321-featuring-harshitha-krishnan-trio/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Harhitha_900x500.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240926T171500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240926T200000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240920T163340Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240921T223055Z UID:10709-1727370900-1727380800@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Worcester Economic Club: Jeff Greene DESCRIPTION:Registration & More Information\n\n\nJeff 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. \nA 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. \nWhile 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. \nIn 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. \nGreene 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. URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/worcester-economic-club-jeff-greene/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/wec92624graphic.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240925T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240925T193000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240829T160452Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240829T173125Z UID:10375-1727281800-1727292600@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Worcester Business Journal’s 25th Annual 40 Under Forty Awards DESCRIPTION:WBJ’s 25th Annual 40 Under Forty Awards is a celebration of the rising young leaders from throughout Central Massachusetts. Since 1999 WBJ has recognized over 900 high achieving men and women\, and they’ve gone on to accomplish even bigger things over the last 25 years.\n \n\nNot only will a new class of honorees debut this September – the celebration will also applaud the accomplishments of some of the outstanding achievers who have come before them. 40 Under Forty is WBJ’s biggest celebration of the year – and the 25th Anniversary issue and event is sure to top them all!\n \n\n\n\n\nEvent Agenda\n4:30PM: Doors Open\n5:00PM: Awards Presentation\n6:30PM: Networking and Cocktail Reception\n\nNote: This is a cocktail/networking party reception with general seating in the balcony. A limited amount of reserved VIP tables are available for purchase.\n\nSponsorship opportunities available! Contact Kris Prosser\, kprosser@wbjournal.com for more info.\n \n\n\n\nDate: September 25\, 2024\, 4:30 to 7:30pm\nTicket Price: Starting at $75\n\nRegister Now \n\n\n\n\n\nhttps://www.wbjournal.com/40underforty URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/40-under-forty/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/40-under-40_900x500.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240924T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240924T190000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240730T153426Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240911T172238Z UID:9915-1727197200-1727204400@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Mechanics Hall 2024 Celebration of Excellence and 181st Annual Meeting DESCRIPTION:We’re proud to present the 2024 Mechanics Hall Celebration of Excellence and 181st Annual Meeting of the Worcester County Mechanics Association\, featuring Master Mechanic Award presentations to Gloria D. Hall and Stacey Luster.\n\nFree Admission ~ All Are Welcome Register Today \n\n\nTuesday\, September 24 5:00 – 7:00 PM \nDoors Open/Registration and Networking 4:30 pm\nProgram 5:00 pm\nReception 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm\nHors d ’Oeuvres provided by Struck Catering\n\nWith Special Guests:\nTheresa Buccico & Dukroa Owens\, Clemente Course Student Poets\nOliver de la Paz\, Worcester Poet Laureate\nSerenity Jackson\, Worcester Youth Poet Laureate\nPeter Krasinski\, Mechanics Hall Principal Organist\n\n\nThe 2024 Master Mechanic Award honors individuals who are inspirational examples of the pursuit of excellence.\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGloria D. Hall\nPublic Art Administrator\, Preservationist\n\n\nGloria D. Hall is a distinguished preservationist and public art administrator whose transformative impact on Worcester’s cultural landscape is widely recognized. As the ideator and co-founder of Art in the Park\, Gloria has played a pivotal role in turning outdoor spaces into dynamic galleries\, featuring thought-provoking sculptures and art installations. Her commitment to public art also extends to Art in the Heart of Main South\, a spin-off project that enhances University Park with engaging art displays. She is an educator co-founder of Worcester’s Black Excellence Academy and is the former director of the Willis Center Cultural Institute. \n\n\nGloria’s influence in Worcester is further exemplified by her recent work at Mechanics Hall as co-chair of the Portraits Project which included recruiting distinguished panelists\, creating the artists’ call\, and administering the artist selection process. The results of this initiative were the commissions of portraits of significant Black historical figures\, which are now included in the Hall’s world-renowned performance hall. The Project has been celebrated for its role in presenting a more inclusive and accurate depiction of the city’s history.\n\nHer educational background includes degrees from Northeastern University and Goucher College\, which have equipped her with a robust understanding of public policy and arts administration. This foundation has greatly contributed to her success in both art curation and nonprofit leadership. In addition to her significant contributions to the arts and community\, Gloria Hall has been honored with several prestigious awards. These include the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Community Vision Cultural Enrichment Award\, the Worcester County YWCA’s Katherine F. Erskine Award in Arts & Humanities in 2004\, and the 2023 Harvey Ball Smile Award from the Worcester Historical Museum. Gloria was one of 125 women leaders from the state of Massachusetts recognized by the Women’s Union as having made a significant contribution to the lives of women and families in their own communities and beyond. Her accolades reflect her enduring impact on the cultural and social fabric of her community.\n\nMore\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStacey Luster\nGeneral Counsel & Assistant to the President Worcester State University\n\n \nStacey Luster is a third generation Worcesterite\, who secured her place in Worcester’s history by becoming the only African American woman to be elected to the Worcester City Council as well as the first African American to be elected President of Mechanics Hall. \n\nAfter graduating from South High School in Worcester at age 16\, Stacey attended St. John’s University in New York\, earning a BA in Government and Public Administration and Boston University School of Law\, where she earned a Juris Doctorate. Stacey has also earned professional certifications from Harvard University in Negotiations and Executive Leadership and from Cornell University in Mediation. \n\n\nStacey Luster is an attorney\, mediator\, educator\, community leader and trusted confidant with over 30 years of experience advising Presidents\, CEOs as well as elected and appointed officials. In addition to teaching Education Law to school leaders\, Stacey has worked at all levels of public education including the Worcester Public Schools\, Quinsigamond Community College\, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and co-founding the Black Excellence Academy. Currently Stacey is working as a founding board member of the Worcester Cultural Academy Public Charter School and General Counsel and Assistant to the President at Worcester State University. \n\nStacey is vested in the success of our beloved community and has expanded her work into the financial sector as a Director and Chairperson of the Culture\, Community and CRA Committee for Country Bank. \n\nStacey and her husband Charles have 5 children\, 3 grandchildren and enjoy attending church and turning community events into date nights!\n\nMore\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFree Admission ~ All Are Welcome Register Today URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/2024-mechanics-hall-celebration-of-excellence/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ann_mtg_header-centered.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240919T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240919T210000 DTSTAMP:20260405T113024 CREATED:20240613T144321Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240917T153556Z UID:9607-1726774200-1726779600@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Beyond the Frames: A Series in Jazz Avery Sharpe Celebrates Sojourner Truth DESCRIPTION: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!!\n\nSeries and individual performances tickets are available. Buy Tickets\n\nCelebrated bassist and composer Avery Sharpe will deliver a performance of his music album Sojourner Truth—‘ain’t I a woman\,’ inspired by and based on Truth’s incredible life story.\n