Entertainment

Cambridge Symphony Orchestra Presents 40th Annual Free “Holiday Welcome” at Perkins School for the Blind

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The following announcement was provided by the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra:

On Monday, November 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM, the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will return to the Howe Building at the Perkins School for the Blind (175 N. Beacon St., Watertown) for its 40th annual “Holiday Welcome” concert — a beloved free event open to all. This year’s program features a festive selection of holiday favorites, designed to delight audiences of all ages and to set the tone for the 2025-26 season. The concert underscores CSO’s commitment to community engagement, accessibility, and bringing live orchestral music to broader audiences. Click here for tickets. “We are honored to mark four decades of our Holiday Welcome tradition at Perkins,” said Music Director Cynthia Woods.

Entertainment

Live Simulcast of Yo-Yo Ma Concert to be Held at Watertown Library

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Yo-Yo Ma. (Photo by Bradley Gutierrez)

The Watertown Free Public Library will be one of more than 20 locations simulcasting Yo-Yo Ma’s Celebrity Series of Boston concert from Symphony Hall on Nov. 21. See more information in the announcement provided by the Watertown Library. This November, Yo-Yo Ma will perform Bach’s complete suites for solo cello for the first time in one evening at home, in Boston.

Entertainment

Armenian Museum of America Presents the Second “Music in Color” Concert

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Joseph Vasconi, left, and Haig Hovsepian will perform in the second “Music in Color” at the Armenian Museum of American in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

The Armenian Museum of America is proud to announce the second performance of its Music in Color concert series on Saturday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m., a dynamic new initiative and Artist-in-Residence program led by acclaimed violinist Haig Hovsepian. Generously supported by longtime Museum benefactor Nancy Kolligian, the program brings engaging live musical experiences to the Adele and Haig Der Manuelian Galleries, while deepening public connection to Armenian culture through music. The Music in Color: Artist-in-Residence Program is designed to foster meaningful engagement with the Museum’s exhibitions through live performance, educational programming, and cross-cultural collaborations. Audiences will experience the rich tapestry of Armenian musical heritage alongside global influences in an intimate gallery setting.

Entertainment

@1775 Concert in Watertown Features Music That Inspired the Founding Fathers

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The following announcement was provided by Sarasa Ensemble:

As part of the semiquincentennial celebration of our nation and the Battles of Lexington and Concord taking place in Eastern Massachusetts in 2025, Sarasa will present a chamber music program for soprano, violin, two cellos, and fortepiano that highlights works which would have been performed around the time of the American Revolution. In celebrating these historic events with our local communities, Sarasa hopes to connect a diverse local audience with music that inspired our Founding Fathers. Sarasa will present “@1775” at three public performances, as well as to incarcerated teens at Massachusetts’ Department of Youth Services facilities, as part of Sarasa’s award-winning Music Unlocked program. Sarasa’s concert program takes its inspiration from the Bach-Abel Concerts in London (inaugurated in 1765, and became a fixture at the Hanover Square Rooms in 1775), Le concert spirituel in Paris (founded in 1725), and the Tonkünstler Societät in Vienna (founded in 1772); all of these organizations brought music to the wider public and for the greater benefit of society as well as its musicians. Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams attended concerts at these benevolent institutions during their diplomatic travels.

Entertainment

Armenian Museum Kicks Off New Concert Series, Music in Color, With Acclaimed Violinist

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The following information was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

The Armenian Museum of America is proud to announce the launch of Music in Color, a dynamic new concert series and Artist-in-Residence program led by acclaimed Armenian-American violinist Haig Hovsepian. This exciting initiative, generously supported by Nancy Kolligian, aims to bring engaging musical experiences to the Museum’s Adele and Haig Der Manuelian Galleries while deepening public connection to Armenian culture through music. Kicking off the series, Hovsepian will be joined by Chilean-American pianist Matias Nestor Cuevas for a powerful inaugural performance that promises both artistic excellence and cultural depth. Armenian violinist Haig Hovsepian will play at the Armenian Museum of America. The Music in Color: Artist-in-Residence Program is designed to foster meaningful engagement with the Museum’s exhibitions through live performance, educational elements, and cross-cultural collaborations.

Around Town

Sold Out Watertown Concert Raises Thousands for Humanitarian Aid

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The Light of Palestine concert raised thousands of dollars for humanitarian aid. (Contribute Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the concert organizers:

The Light of Palestine concert that took place at First Parish of Watertown on December 18 raised $8,800 for humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. The funds supported Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera will use the funds to provide meals, water, shelter, and medicine to those affected by the ongoing war. The concert was sold out, and access to the livestream was purchased by more than thirty households. 

Artistic director Lina Malshy selected a program of songs from her native Palestine and neighboring countries, ranging from traditional folk tunes like “Ala Dal’ona” to present-day popular songs such as “Mawjou Qalbi.”

Malshy confessed, “This concert was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I’ve had as an artist and director.

Around Town

Palestinian Violinist Brings Traditional Music to Watertown

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The following announcement was provided by the concert organizers:

On Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., musicians from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and the U.S. will gather in Watertown to celebrate the beauty of Palestinian music. Proceeds will support Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera provides humanitarian aid to families in Gaza. Palestinian violinist and composer Lina Malshy is serving as artistic director. “This concert is about shining the light of Palestine on all marginalized people,” Malshy shared.

Around Town

Army Band to Perform Free Concert at Mosesian Arts

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The 215th Army Band will perform a free concert at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

Mosesian Center for the Arts will welcome the 215th Army Band on June 26 as part of the band’s summer concert tour. Based in Fall River, the “Governor’s Own” 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard remains one of the nation’s finest military bands. For more than 60 years, the band has performed throughout New England and the world, bringing the Army’s musical traditions and goodwill to thousands of listeners. Commander Stephen M. Martins describes the summer concert tour: “In our concerts, we honor both Veterans of our Armed Forces, as well as those serving in the military today.