Boston Strong all over again

Yesterday there was another tragedy in our fair city.  A fire broke out in the Back Bay, one of the more tightly packed areas of the city, both architecturally and in terms of traffic.  It quickly went to 9 alarms, sent 18 people to the hospital, destroyed the 4 story building where it started, and killed 2 firefighters.

9 city blocks were closed through this morning as 40+ mph winds whipped the fire into a frenzy.  Backdraft type conditions made the fire merciless and the brave men and women kept fighting even when they knew that one of their comrades lay dead at the bottom of the building.  Even when the fire leapt through the roof and reached for the sky, when floors collapsed and sprayed the surrounding houses with showers of embers, and when the smoke was so thick we could see it from Cambridge, they fought on for hours.

Continue reading “Boston Strong all over again”

Go out and get some culture! Concerts for YOU.

I have concert listings.  Lots of concert listings.  These are upcoming concerts that I’m not performing in but will try to attend.  You should try to go as well.  Music is good for the soul.  Also, Bach rocks.  And, there may be cake.

Continue reading “Go out and get some culture! Concerts for YOU.”

Baritone or Bass needed 3/30 & 4/6‏ Cambridge, MA

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Central Sq, Cambridge is in need of a Baritone or Bass sub for Sunday services on 3/30 and 4/6.  No weekday rehearsals are required, call is 9:00am and the service is over by 12:00pm.  Pay is $50 per appearance.  Preference is for one person to perform on both dates.  Strong sight-reading and leadership skills are necessary, familiarity with Episcopal liturgy is desirable.  St. Peter’s is accessible by the Red line, the 1 bus, and street and lot parking are available.

Please forward this announcement to interested parties.  Responses can be directed to the Music Director, Josh Lawton.

~Kelly

Happy Dance

Sometimes we find things on the Intertubes that we just have to share with everyone.  And these three are related.  They are all different versions of people dancing to the song “Happy” by Pharrel Williams.  The first is set in Tunisia, where the old Star Wars sets have become a tourist attraction.  The second is set in Poland.  The third is a school choir from Detroit, Michigan.

Enjoy!

-Geoff

Continue reading “Happy Dance”

Interim Organist needed ASAP

I just received this today.  Please crosspost or forward to interested parties.  Contact info is below.

~Kelly

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Southborough, MA is in immediate need of an interim Organist.  This person will be responsible for playing in the 10:45am Sunday service and for working with the choir.  This is an interim position that will serve until a new permanent Organist & Choirmaster is appointed.

For more information on St. Mark’s and this position please contact Rev. Phil LaBelle.

OPEN MIC OPERA on Tuesday March 11 at 7 pm in Cambridge

This is happening at our church.  If you’re available to come and sing or to come and listen please stop by.  It sounds like great fun.

For Immediate Release- Tuesday, March 11, 2014, starting at 7:00 pm, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 838 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, the weekly “Tuesday Nights” concert series presents Open Mic Opera.  Local opera singers, younger and older, amateur and professional, are invited to sing their hearts out.  Collaborative pianist Juliet Cunningham, who has accompanied opera, oratorio and musical theater singers (and produced operas with her Janus Opera Company) will play whatever you bring.  Suggested donation of $10 at the door.  For more information about the weekly “Tuesday Nights” concert series please visit www.saintpeterscambridge.org/news-events/announcements/tuesdaynightconcertseries    

Open mic opera?  In Boston – the home of the Red Sox, the Bruins, the Celtics?  Yes, and it isn’t new either.  Many lovers of Italian food will remember a restaurant near Quincy Market that used to feature singing waiters.  In other parts of the country, such as California, there have been restaurants with nights given over to singers performing opera arias and scenes for the past two to three decades, according to Duff Murphy, host of The Opera Show on Los Angeles’s radio station KUSC.   In case you thought opera was just for the old folks, Murphy also has observed that it has become popular with many 20- and 30- somethings.  Robert Hansen, executive director of the National Opera Association has been quoted to the effect that open mic opera is growing in popularity because “there is a huge population out there now of singers who want some sort of opportunity to sing, whether they make a living doing it, for pocket money or just for the love of singing.”  Boston is brimming over with opera singers.  This is an opportunity for them to strut their stuff in public, with encouragement and at no risk.  All singers are welcome to participate, and you can bring your accompanist and audience with you. 

Me, I’d probably bring some Musical Theatre just to shake things up a bit.

~Kelly

Concert at Memorial Church Harvard Sunday 2/16/14 6:00pm

From Matthew Hall comes word of a lovely concert this weekend, the first weekend of School Vacation week here in MA.  That’s important for those of you who, like us, work in the service industry.

Continue reading “Concert at Memorial Church Harvard Sunday 2/16/14 6:00pm”

REMINDER- Meravelha tonight at #PBFund, PARK Restaurant, Cambridge

This is a reminder post for you Boston area music lovers that tonight is the Opus Affair Punch Bowl Fund at PARK in Cambridge.  It should be a great time, Geoff and I will be there, and we’re hoping to win the fund raising competition for Meravelha.  Please, come and have a drink for a good cause.

Details are here.

See you tonight!

~Kelly

Meravelha featured at Opus Affair Punch Bowl Fund

I’ve written about Meravelha in this space before.  Most recently I mentioned that they were up for nomination for the Opus Affair Punch Bowl Fund.  Well, they won, and now they need your help.  The Punch Bowl Fund is an event happening on 1/27/14 from 6pm-9pm at:

59 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

It should be a great time, its walking distance from the T, and with any luck Meravelha will win the money raised there as well.  Will you come and support music making in the greater Boston by purchasing a $5 drink?  This will be great socializing and great fun and I think we can all drink to that.

Geoff and I will be there.  See you on the 27th!

~Kelly

For my church organist friends

This popped up on our Twitter feed this morning.  Somehow I suspect you’ll all understand.

All that’s missing is one that says EJECT.

~Kelly