We all want to feel valued. For our talents, our perspective, and for being who we are.
If we’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s our need to broaden our thinking and value the ideas and voices of others besides our own. That includes music!
A New Lens concerts are a unique opportunity to travel the world, explore different perspectives, genres, instruments, and cultures, and gain deeper insight into what music means to the different people in your community.
Now you can experience the exceptional level of talent found at Boston’s finest music venues and organizations – right in your own backyard!
We hope you’ll find each concert to be a relaxing and intriguing look into a diverse range of music, widening your perspective and perhaps even sparking a new curiosity or passion of your own.
Featuring Powers teaching artists and performers and guest artists from esteemed ensembles and organizations, our 2024-2025 concert series includes 6 concert dates at the newly transformed Tracy Powers Concert Hall at Powers, as well as a final culminating performance to close out Powers’ 60th Anniversary.
2024-2025 Series Dates
Saturday, September 7 at 7:00 PM
A kick-off concert featuring a variety of performers
Friday October 18 at 7:00 PM
The Ackley Duo
Alison Ackley, voice and cello, Taylor Ackley, voice, mandolin and banjo, with Tony Watt, guitar
Alison and Taylor Ackley are partners in life and in music and have been performing together since 2015 when they founded the Deep Roots Ensemble. Taylor’s background in traditional American music and Alison’s extensive experience as a classical chamber musician come together to form the foundation of all the music they make together. The rich sound of their two-part harmony singing brings songs old and new to life in a way that feels both timeless and remarkable. While they primarily perform with the Deep Roots Ensemble their duo performances always bring a special, intimate character to their well-loved style. For this concert, they will be performing Selections from Songs for Trees, Hard Tellin’ and Songs from the Bitterroot to be announced from the stage.
Sunday, November 17 at 3:00 PM
Influential Women – Performed by Marvento Duo
Elizabeth Basconi, Piano, with Weronika Balewski, Flute
Marvento Duo celebrates music by women composers both past and present, and considers their legacies today. The program introduces legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger through her Three Pieces for Cello and Piano transcribed for flute and piano. Boulanger taught dozens of well-known composers, including Aaron Copland, whose Duo for Flute and Piano became part of the “American sound.” We also bring to life a seldom-played Suite by Clemence de Grandval, who played a major role in supporting new music in late 19th century Paris. In Jhula Jhule, Reena Esmail honors her grandparents through the Indian folk songs they taught her, while Emily Doolittle’s Palouse Songbook explores the birds of the palouse prairie of the American northwest. These composers are creating and influencing current generations of musicians.
Friday, January 10 at 7:00 PM
A Musical Tour through Baroque Europe!
Featuring solo and chamber performance from early music faculty members:
Mary Cicconetti, baroque bassoon
Job Salazar Fonseca, violin
Sarah Freiberg Ellison, cello
Ruth McKay, harpsichord
Hear the sounds of 18th century Europe! Powers’ Early Music faculty members will perform Telemann, Couperin, Janitsch, and more, on period instruments.
Saturday, February 1 at 7:00 PM
Sachin Shukla, viola
Explore how classical music can reinvent itself in the future by looking at its history, told through previously unexplored repertoire for the viola.
Saturday, March 29 at 7:00 PM
Karl Orvik, violin/viola
Saturday, May 3 at 7:00 PM (60th Anniversary Performance)
Performances to celebrate Powers’ 60th year featuring faculty, students, and alumni!
Suggested Donations
All concerts in our A New Lens series are free to attend (both Powers students and the general public). We do ask for a suggested donation (below or at the door) to ensure that our performers are paid a fair stipend.
Powers students and parents – see your teacher in a new light.
By far, one of Powers greatest strengths is our faculty.
They are exceptional teachers and coaches, guiding hundreds of students towards their goals each year, but also incredibly talented musicians and performers outside of our school. In short, they bring excellence to everything they do.
Our faculty are also people who have their own unique interests, skills, talents, and things they wish to explore. Some are composing works for chorus or orchestra. Some are diving deep into the traditions of Irish tunes, early music, or Makam. Some are world class concert pianists.
These interests and passions are just some of the possible ways that you and all of our students can experience music. We hope it will show you the infinite number of possible paths you can explore.
Enjoy the concerts, and maybe you’ll see your teacher with new eyes!
