Free Lectures, Workshops & Concerts

All are Welcome! In Person & Livestreamed

The Art of Groove

Presented by Ted Sullivan, percussionist specializing in hip-hop, R&B, funk, and jazz, and freelance music educator

What makes music irresistibly compelling? In this engaging talk, The Art of Groove, we’ll explore how rhythm and feel come together to create the magic of groove. From the subtle swing of jazz to the driving pulse of rock, the infectious energy of funk, and the syncopated rhythms of samba, we’ll dive into iconic grooves that have shaped music across genres. READ MORE

Music, Memory, and Meaning: How creativity helps us belong

Presented by Merideth Hite Estevez, oboist, author, podcaster, and coach Read Bio

Join oboist and author Merideth Hite Estevez for a performance and talk exploring the profound ways art connects us. Featuring works of Barber, Debussy, Clara Schumann, and more, this unique concert and discussion invites you to find resonance in the power of music to spark joy and deepen our understanding of the human experience. READ MORE

Reflecting the Glory: The Gilded Encaustic Art of Sandra Bowden

Presented by Sandra Bowden, acclaimed visual artist Read Bio

Acclaimed visual artist Sandra Bowden will take us behind the scenes to the biblical roots of her signature gilded encaustic art, particularly the understanding of Glory and how that pertains to her work as an artist. She will take us on a journey of the art’s development, showing how the stunning crosses that hung above the altars of medieval churches launched her quest and how the glorious altarpieces from these churches prompted many of the pieces in her collection. She will also share some of the physical development of these works. READ MORE

Click Here for Info about Sandra’s “Reflecting the Glory” Art Exhibit
(June 20-August 24)

Small but Mighty: Finding the Magic in the Unseen Instruments of the Percussion Section

Saturday, September 13 — 3:30 PM

Presented by Keith Aleo, Director of Percussion & Associate Director of Music for Classical Performance Interlochen Center for the Arts READ BIO

Keith Aleo will take you on a journey to discover the magic of the overlooked instruments in the orchestral percussion section. The instruments you would never think of as important and many think of as an instrument that is “easy to play.” Keith Aleo will take you on an adventure into the world of Complementary Percussion. READ MORE

Aesthetic Reverberations across the Arts: Exploring the Life and Music of Claude Debussy

Saturday, October 11 — 3:30 PM

Presented by Marie Rolf, Scholar, pianist, educator, and administrator READ BIO

In spite of his reputation as a radical trailblazer, Claude Debussy was a man very much of his time who was keenly receptive to aesthetic ideas that were being explored by contemporary poets, artists, and other composers. He once told an American journalist, “I am called a revolutionary, but I haven’t invented anything. (…) There is nothing new in art.” Nevertheless, Debussy’s unique musical language and artistic expression were the result of his deep assimilation and combination of diverse influences. READ MORE

Paris, Boston, the Trombone, and Bolero: Joannès Rochut (1881-1952)

Presented by Douglas Yeo, Musician (bass trombone, serpent, ophicleide, and bass sackbut), teacher and author Read Bio

Joannès Rochut played principal trombone in the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1925–1930. Born in Paris, he played in several prominent orchestras in his home city, served in the French Army, toured the United States with “The French Military Band” during the waning months of World War I, and when he returned to Paris after his five years in Boston, he was general manager of the National Orchestra of France. READ MORE