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Concerts to Watch

GBH Music welcomes Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing for the next installment in our music series, playing Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and icy music from her new album, "Arctic."

Music & Culture Events

  • In Person
    Ken Field is a saxophonist & composer. He leads the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, an experimental & improvisational brass band, and is a longtime member of the electronic modern music ensemble Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. His solo releases document his work for layered saxophones and his soundtracks for dance and film. Field's music is heard regularly on the children's television program Sesame Street. He is the host of WMBR Radio’s “The New Edge”, former President of the Board of Tutoring Plus of Cambridge, Member of the HONK! Festival Organizing Committee, President of the Board of JazzBoston, and former member & chair of the Cambridge Bicycle Committee. Field was named a Finalist in Music Composition by the Mass Cultural Council.

    Join us for an evening of music, wine, and food. Registration is encouraged for this free event.

    Registration is encouraged for this free event.
  • Virtual
    Hear from the author of a revelatory memoir about a 330-mile walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City—an unforgettable pilgrimage to the heart of America across some of our oldest common ground.

    Neil King Jr.’s desire to walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City began as a whim and soon became an obsession. By the spring of 2021, events had intervened that gave his desire greater urgency. His neighborhood still reeled from the January 6th insurrection. Covid lockdowns and a rancorous election had deepened America’s divides. Neil himself bore the imprints of a long battle with cancer.

    Determined to rediscover what matters in life and to see our national story with new eyes, Neil turned north with a small satchel on his back and one mission in mind: To pay close attention to the land he crossed and the people he met.

    What followed is an extraordinary 26-day journey through historic battlefields and cemeteries, over the Mason-Dixon line, past Quaker and Amish farms, along Valley Forge stream beds, atop a New Jersey trash mound, across New York Harbor, and finally, to his ultimate destination: the Ramble, where a tangle of pathways converges in Central Park. The journey travels deep into America’s past and present, uncovering forgotten pockets and overlooked people. At a time of mounting disunity, the trip reveals the profound power of our shared ground.

    Following the discussion that will happen both in-person in the Rabb Lecture Hall of the Central Library in Copley Square and online over Zoom webinar, there will be time for an audience Q&A. At approximately 7:00 PM, there will be an author signing facilitated by Trident Booksellers and Cafe for in-person attendees. During the program, online attendees will be provided with a link to order copies of the book from Porter Square Books.


    This program is part of the American Inspiration Series from American Ancestors/NEHGS and presented in partnership with with the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library and the GBH Forum Network.
    Partner:
    Boston Public Library
    American Ancestors
  • In Person
    Virtual
    Experience the magic of this season with GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular, an enchanting evening featuring some of the best musical acts in Massachusetts. The event offers families a front-row seat to an unparalleled lineup of performers, including The Renaissance Men, a Boston-based ensemble of eight male voices known for their close-knit a cappella harmonies; Blue Heron, a Renaissance and medieval vocal ensemble led by Scott Metcalfe which will bring audiences back to the sounds of the earliest holiday celebrations; pianist John Paul McGee, who will perform holiday favorites in his signature "Gospejazzical" genre; the angelic singers of the Handel and Haydn Youth Chorus Chamber Choir led by conductor Alyson Greer Espinosa; and members of the triumphant and jubilant New England Brass Band led by Music Director Mark Olson.

    One of the most accessible events for families this season, GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular, invites music lovers to be part of a live studio production inside GBH's Calderwood Studio, which will glow with festive cheer, including a dramatic snowscape of light designed to herald the start of winter. Musical selections will transport listeners into an unforgettable journey into the holiday spirit with everything from traditional carols to new compositions, each capturing the harmony and passion of this special time of year. WCRB Classical 99.5's charismatic morning drive host, Laura Carlo, and afternoon drive host, Greg Ferrisi, will team up for the first time as the live presenters of this one-of-a-kind holiday experience.

    This event is offered for both in-person and virtual guests. You have two ticket options:

    The in-studio experience is taking place from 7:30 to 9pm ET. $40 in-studio ticket includes general admission seating.

    Join the virtual event, from 7:30-9pm ET. This event is free, but registration is required.

     
    Photo credit: A scene from the GBH’s 2018 Holiday Concert in Calderwood Studio (Meredith Nierman)


    The event is sponsored by the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and The Boston Foundation.

Culture in the News

Actors Karen MacDonald and David Coffee join GBH News Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen to talk about their experiences playing the lead in the Charles Dickens classic

GBH Music

“You & Julia” is a series that celebrates the legacy of Julia Child. Top chefs share their favorite stories, recipes, kitchen hacks, and other culinary tasks that they learned from the unforgettable chef, exploring how her contributions to the culinary world still resonate with cooking today. In the spirit of Julia, we encourage viewers to “be fearless, and above all have fun” by following along at home.

More Culture Programs