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:20240404T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240404T190000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240220T204925Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240401T174720Z UID:8810-1712257200-1712257200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Club 321 Featuring The Jack Soref Trio & DRH Guitars DESCRIPTION:The Jack Soref Trio will be celebrating the music of guitar hero Django Reinhardt\, and the very special acoustic guitars which have always made his music sing. Django’s virtuosic playing\, and beautiful compositions gave birth to a rich musical universe\, that the Jack Soref Trio delights in being a part of. The band will be performing a program of tunes Django either composed\, or breathed new life into\, on a bevy of guitars handmade right here in Worcester. For this special show\, the trio will be comprised of three guitarists\, Jack Soref\, his closest collaborator Jameson Stewart\, and the man who built the instruments they play\, Worcester’s own Dan Hunt. Dan has promised to bring a number of his creations along with him\, and the evening will be a fun showcase\, of not just the music\, but how surprising and unique each handmade instrument can be. Expect  to hear\, sizzling Django style guitar\, rollicking swing jazz\, impressionistic melodies\, and fun stories about Django\, a musician’s life\, and what it’s  like building guitars.\n\n\n\nTickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=187252\n\n$20 in advance\n\n$23 at the door\n\nWe are proud and excited to be offering CharCUTErie Woo boxes for purchase. Although boxes will be available for sale night of\, we recommend pre-ordering when you purchase your ticket.\n\nAssorted Meats & Cheese – $20\nVeggies & Cheese – $15\n\n\n\n\n\n  URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/club-321-featuring-the-jack-soref-trio/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/jacksoref1-e1708446957126.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240329T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240329T190000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240220T204220Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T130728Z UID:8807-1711738800-1711738800@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Portland Oregon Youth Philharmonic & 2024 GRAMMY-Winning Imani Winds! DESCRIPTION:An evening with PORTLAND YOUTH PHILHARMONIC and IMANI WINDS Celebrating 100 years! \n\nTo honor their centennial celebration\, the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes Grammy-Winning “groundbreaking…fearless…vital” (Carnegie Hall) Imani Winds to perform Jeff Scott’s Paradise Valley Serenade\, a brand-new work for wind quintet and orchestra recently premiered by the winds of the Detroit Symphony.\n\n \n\nAlso on the program is Amy Beach’s too-long neglected romantic and harmonic Gaelic Symphony\, which draws inspiration from English\, Irish\, and Scottish melodies. We will also hear Jessie Montgomery’s delightfully exciting Strum for string orchestra\, which will show off the powerful string section and have audiences clamoring for more of this rhythmically compelling work. Composers Jeff Scott and Jessie Montgomery are 2024 GRAMMY-Winning artists\, rounding out this captivating program\n\n \n\nThe collaboration between this exceptional youth orchestra and the dynamic ensemble Imani Winds\, combined with the diverse and engaging program\, ensures that this concert is an event not to be missed!\n\nTickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=228491\n\nPortland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra\nConducted by David Hattner\n\n Amy Beach: Gaelic Symphony\n Jessie Montgomery: Strum for string orchestra\n Jeff Scott: Paradise Valley Serenade\,\nwith Imani Winds\n\nAbout Portland Youth Philharmonic\n\n \n\nIn 1924\, a group of visionary citizens established the Portland Junior Symphony Association (later renamed the Portland Youth Philharmonic Association or PYP for short). Building on the pioneering work of Mary V. Dodge\, whose Irvington School Orchestra was the nucleus of the first Junior Symphony\, the Association engaged Russian émigré Jacques Gershkovitch as conductor. PYP is the oldest youth orchestra in the United States. The structure and standards that it established for training young musicians in the 1920s became the prototype for youth orchestras across the country.\n\n \n\nIn 1954\, an alumnus of the orchestra\, Jacob Avshalomov\, was selected as PYP’s second Musical Director and led the Junior Symphony for a legendary forty-year tenure. Under Maestro Avshalomov\, the orchestra received the distinguished ASCAP Award for “Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music\,” and it made six international tours to Europe and Asia. In 1978\, the organization’s name was changed to Portland Youth Philharmonic. When Mr. “A” retired after a very long and impressive career\, he was succeeded in 1995 by Huw Edwards.\n\n \n\nHuw Edwards was named Musical Director in 1995 following Maestro Avshalomov’s retirement. During the seven years Maestro Edwards was Musical Director\, he established the nationally acclaimed Peer Mentor program\, broadcasted the world’s first interactive Children’s Concert via satellite across Oregon\, and again\, received the ASCAP Award for “Adventurous Programming and Commitment to Contemporary Music.” In 1998\, PYP represented U.S. at the Banff International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Canada\, and in the summer of 2000 embarked on its seventh international tour\, this time to Australia and New Zealand.\n\n \n\nWhen Mr. Edwards chose to make his departure at the end of the 2001-2002 season\, Mei-Ann Chen was selected from a field of over 100 applicants to become the fourth Musical Director of PYP. Under her leadership\, the orchestra toured domestically and internally\, and received its third ASCAP Award for “Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music.”\n\n \n\nIn 2008\, David Hattner was selected as PYP’s 5th Musical Director from a pool of 112 candidates and fifteen years later\, he continues to lead the orchestra down a distinguished path of artistry and success.\n\n \n\nOver the years\, thousands of young musicians have played in one or more of PYP’s ensembles. Some have gone on to professional careers in orchestras across the country\, including the New York Philharmonic\, the Boston Symphony\, the National Symphony\, the St. Louis Symphony\, the Oregon Symphony\, as well as Juilliard and American String Quartets. Others have achieved great success in teaching music or exploring non-musical fields\, while continuing to be accomplished amateur musicians and active supporters of the arts in their communities. Alumni often attribute much of their success in life to the discipline and teamwork they experienced as members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/portland-oregon-youth-philharmonic-grammy-winning-imani-winds/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Imani-Winds-and-PYP-Image-e1708443733970.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240327T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240327T120000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240301T205001Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T130321Z UID:8886-1711540800-1711540800@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Brown Bag Concert featuring Betty's Bounce DESCRIPTION:Betty’s Bounce plays music inspired by Parisian gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt\, infused with American jazz\, blues and pop sounds. The music is lively and upbeat\, covering swing\, ballads\, and Latin styles\, with Audie Bridges and Curtis Doo on guitar\, and Zach Bridges on double bass. Special guest violinist Tomoko Iwamoto has played the Boston jazz scene for 30+ years and has her own gypsy jazz quartet: 440.\n\nFREE — OPEN TO THE PUBLIC\nRegistration not required\n\n \n\nDoors 11:30pm | Show 12:00pm\n\nThe 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.\n\n \n\nThe 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\, Monday through Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm\, by calling 508-752-5608.\n\n \n\nWhenever possible\, Brown Bag Concerts are also broadcast live on WICN 90.5FM\, and streamed live on WICN.org.\n\n  URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/brown-bag-concert-featuring-bettys-bounce/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/BettysBounce-e1709308177794.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240324T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240324T180000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240219T204933Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T130753Z UID:8788-1711292400-1711303200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:ICHSA Northeast Semifinal DESCRIPTION:A Cappella Semifinals featuring top high school singing groups from the Northeast region!\n\n\n\n \n\nThe Varsity Vocals International Championship of A Cappella is the only international tournament that showcases the art of student a cappella singing. Our programs include both The Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) and The Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA)\, and both are dedicated to providing top-notch a cappella groups with valuable feedback from our highly qualified judges. Our young vocalists also have the opportunity to showcase their talent to an international audience and develop relationships with each other\, cultivating the art of a cappella singing and a lifelong love of music.\n\n \n\nVarsity Vocals is the home of a cappella since 1995. We give singers in high school and college (and beyond!) the opportunity to interact\, compete\, learn from each other\, get feedback from the pros\, and perform in fantastic venues around the globe. We believe that competition fosters growth — both in vocal performance and personal development. Our singers work hard and pull together to create incredible music and form lasting relationships.\n\nTickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=218794 URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/ichsa-northeast-semifinal/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/varsity-vocalslogo.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240323T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240323T143000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240220T203916Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T130809Z UID:8804-1711204200-1711204200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:2024 NEMFA Concert Festival DESCRIPTION:Please join us in this performance of 400 of the top high school musicians from all across New England who have come together almost every year since 1927 to create outstanding musical ensembles including a Symphony Orchestra\, a Symphonic Band\, and a Concert Chorus.\n\nIn 1927\, the New England Music Festival Association (NEMFA) was formed to give outstanding experiences in musical performance to high school students throughout the six New England states of Maine\, New Hampshire\, Vermont\, Massachusetts\, Connecticut\, and Rhode Island. The Association’s very first festival was held in Boston with Conductor John Philip Sousa. (As a side note\, Sousa conducted Band concerts here in Worcester’s Mechanics Hall 27 times! ) Since this particular Concert Festival is the 97th Anniversary of NEMFA\, it seemed natural that a great place to hold the festival would be in the area near to our roots… Worcester\, “The Heart” of Massachusetts and New England. As one of the first areas in the New World where settlers arrived to pursue a new way of life\, this area is home to many firsts in American history. In the area of music\, it is significant to note that Boston is where American Music Education in the public schools began under Lowell Mason. Music Education has since become a dynamic part of American schools. The members of NEMFA continue to take pride in the many wonderful concerts that have been held over these past 97 years. Thousands of young lives have been shaped and nurtured through music as a result. It is a heritage for which all music educators may be justly proud.\n\n\nTickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=226192\n\n\nhttps://www.nemfa.org/concert-festival\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThank you to our sponsors:\n\n Arts/Learning\n Castleton University – a Vermont State University\n Lowell Mason House\n Mason & Hamlin Pianos – Piano Disc\n University of Massachusetts-Amherst\n David French Music Company URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/2024-nemfa-concert-festival/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/01-nemfa_logo_1_1-e1708446900137.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240219T205829Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T131014Z UID:8795-1710936000-1710939600@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Brown Bag Concert featuring the Daniel Bennett Group DESCRIPTION:Mechanics Hall & 90.5 FM WICN present \nBrown Bag Concert Featuring the Daniel Bennett Group\nDoors: 11:30pm | Show: 12:00pm | Free Admission\n\nNew York saxophonist Daniel Bennett has been hailed as one of the most original and unpredictable musical voices of his generation. The Boston Globe described Bennett’s music as\, “a mix of Jazz\, Folk and Minimalism.” The Daniel Bennett Group is celebrating the release of their 9th studio album\, ‘New York Nerve.’ Timeout New York called the music\, “hypnotic!” Daniel Bennett is joined by master percussionist Koko Bermejo on drums and keyboard. Rounding out the trio is acclaimed six-string bassist Kevin Hailey. Daniel Bennett has been featured in Timeout New York\, Baltimore Sun\, Miami Herald\, Boston Globe\, and NPR. The UK Jazz Journal called Bennett “an outspoken voice of hope” during the COVID 19 pandemic. Daniel Bennett Group was recently voted ‘Best New Jazz’ in Hot House Magazine. The band performs regularly at the Blue Note (NYC)\, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London) and Zingari Jazz (San Francisco). Daniel Bennett is a touring woodwind clinician and educator at the New York Jazz Academy. Daniel Bennett is also an active woodwind doubler in the New York City theater scene. Bennett orchestrated the music for ‘Whitman at the Whitney\,’ a multimedia theater production at the Whitney Museum. Daniel Bennett played woodwinds in ‘Blank! The Musical\,’ the first fully improvised musical to launch on a national stage. The New York Times called the show\, “Witty\, Likable and Ludicrous!” Daniel Bennett’s genre-bending sound has captivated audiences throughout the world.\n\nhttps://danielbennett.net/ URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/brown-bag-concert-featuring-the-daniel-bennett-group/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/daniel-bennett-group-photo-by-mp-kuo-2021-scaled-e1708456431500.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240317T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240317T160000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240219T205434Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T131029Z UID:8793-1710691200-1710691200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Worcester Youth Orchestra presents Four Orchestras Festival DESCRIPTION:400 Students join together from The Worcester Youth Orchestras\, Burncoat High School and Shrewsbury High School for the 6th Annual Four Orchestras Festival. The concert celebrates music and the performing arts in our community.\n\nSponsored by Gold Concert Sponsor: 1010 Dental on Elm\nTickets: https://wyorchestras.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/ URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/worcester-youth-orchestra-presents-four-orchestras-festival/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/WYO-e1708447233617.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240315 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240316 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240219T205130Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T131301Z UID:8791-1710460800-1710547199@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:College of the Holy Cross 100 Days Ball DESCRIPTION: URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/college-of-the-holy-cross-100-days-ball/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/College-of-the-Holy-Cross-logo-for-website-e1708447066670.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240314T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240314T170000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240208T201838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T130941Z UID:8722-1710435600-1710435600@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Beyond the Frames: A Celebration! DESCRIPTION:Beyond the Frames: A Celebration is SOLD OUT\n\n\n\n  URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/beyondtheframes/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SOLDOUTBTF.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240313T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240313T120000 DTSTAMP:20260424T001321 CREATED:20240208T201355Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T130924Z UID:8719-1710331200-1710331200@mechanicshall.org SUMMARY:Brown Bag Concert featuring Evening Sky Band DESCRIPTION:Evening Sky is a Jazz/Roots Quartet featuring Chris Brooks on Pedal Steel Guitar\, Joe Potenza on Bass\, composer Gino Rosati on Guitars\, and producer Eric Hastings on Drums.   \nThe band has a knack for combining the classic elements of American music (jazz\, folk\, R&B\, country) to form a unique\, spirited sound.  Their rhythmic\, smooth\, and playful approach has been compared to artists as diverse as Bill Frisell\, Bill Withers\, Bill Monroe\, and Bill Laswell. And that’s just the Bills! \nThe 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.\n\nFREE — OPEN TO THE PUBLIC\nRegistration not required\n\nDoors 11:30pm | Show 12:00pm URL:https://mechanicshall.org/event/brown-bag-concert-featuring-evening-sky-band/ LOCATION:MA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mechanicshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/eveningsky-e1736354721555.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR