A New Lens concerts are a unique opportunity to explore different perspectives, genres, instruments, and cultures, and gain deeper insight into what music means to the 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. Featuring Powers teaching artists and performers and guest artists from esteemed ensembles and organizations, our 2025-2026 concert series includes 6 concert dates at the newly transformed Tracy Powers Concert Hall at Powers.
Discover a new way of thinking or playing, connect more deeply with the musicians, and perhaps even spark a new passion of your own!
Click the arrows below to read about the performers and music featured in each concert!
Sat, Sept 6, 7:00 pm – Faculty Showcase
Our September 6th concert is a special Faculty Showcase, representing the talent and diversity of our teaching artists at Powers. Please join us to hear a variety of different selections and perspectives on music, performed by the exceptional artists who guide you and our students each day.
FRi, Oct 17, 7:00 PM – Hear Woodwind music by living composers
Modern and Melodic: Music for Woodwinds by Living Composers
David Stevens (saxophone, clarinet) and Celine Ferro (clarinet) are excited to present music that is colorful, new, and emotional. This concert will feature woodwind chamber and solo music that David and Celine have a personal connection to, including works by local composers Jonathan Russell and Delvyn Case. You’ll hear about the relationships musicians develop with composers, and build your own connections to contemporary music.
Sat, Nov 15, 7:00 pm – Reflect on nature through modern jazz
John Dalton’s Spheres of Influence Modern Jazz Ensemble: Reflections on Nature
In addition to teaching here at Powers, percussion teacher John Dalton is also an active bandleader! He’ll be bringing his group Spheres of Influence to Powers for an evening of original compositions and jazz standards centered around the beauty of the natural world.
Fri, Jan 9, 7:00 PM – Learn about modal music
The Modal Mosaic: Exploring Connections Across Musical Cultures
James Perretta, Viola da Gamba
Karl Orvik, violin
Ellery Klein, fiddle
Tev Stevig, various plucked strings (lavta, laouto, tanbur, etc.), bowed strings (yaylı tanbur, rebab), bendir (frame drum)
Modal music, or music that focuses on scales instead of chords, is often associated with Middle Eastern music. While common in the Middle East, modal music is a part of a wide range of traditions, including early European music, classical and folk music from the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, and folk music from Celtic traditions. At this concert, you’ll have a great chance to hear these traditions all in one place! Hear the similarities for yourself, and enjoy the reminder that we’re less different from one another than we sometimes think.
Event Page and Information Coming Soon
Sat, Feb 7, 7:00 PM – Dive into piano quintets
An Evening in G: Piano Quintets by Mozart and Brahms
Karl Orvik, violin
Sachin Shukla, viola
Kay Jang, cello
Svetlana Krasnova, piano
Event Page and Information Coming Soon
Sat, Mar 29, 3:00 PM – Be intrigued by french baroque
Chamber Music and Dance from the French Baroque: L’Affilard, Marais, Clerambault
Jane Hershey, viola da gamba
Ken Pierce, dancer
Pamela Dellal, voice
Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichord,
Catherine Liddell, Baroque lute and theorbo
Tickets & Suggested Donations
A New Lens concerts are free to attend, and all are welcome. A $20 suggested donation supports the series and performers.
Not able to attend? We welcome your support of the series to allow others to be inspired.
Accessibility information:
Powers currently requires guests to go up a short flight of stairs to the main floor of the school. We are committed to improving access to our building for those with limited mobility. The school is in the early stages of this large and important project, but there is no formal timeline set for when it will be started/completed as of yet.
Questions about ticketing, venue accessibility, donations, or anything else? Reach out to our Community Engagement Manager, Noah Stone, at nstone@powersmusic.org or call us at 617-484-4696.
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!