NeighborhoodArts
Zakiyyah
Welcome to Neighborhood Arts!
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 2025/26 Neighborhood Arts Season!
This year’s free Neighborhood Arts series celebrates the many voices that make Boston’s cultural landscape so vibrant. From jazz to classical, global rhythms to contemporary dance, the season brings together a rich mix of traditions, styles, and stories.
You’ll encounter bold new works, joyful community celebrations, and powerful reflections on identity and heritage. Whether it’s through rhythm, movement, or melody, each performance invites you to connect with the artists, with your neighbors, and with something larger than yourself.
Join us after each event for refreshments and conversation with fellow audience members. It’s all part of building community, one performance at a time.
We look forward to sharing this season with you. See you there!
Warmly,
Robin, Aneesh, and Carmen
Robin Lee Baker Associate Director of Community Engagement
Aneesh Kumar Manager of Community Concerts
Carmen Hernandez Community Partnerships Liaison
Navigate the Season
These cherished local spaces connect us in celebration of creativity and culture. From centuries-old churches to vibrant community centers, each venue reflects the history, spirit, and diversity of its neighborhood, making every performance a meaningful discovery.
Explore the map, find an event close by, and join us in experiencing music, dance, storytelling, and more in places that matter to our communities.
AC Arlington Street Church (351 Boylston St, Back Bay)
BE Bethel AME Church (100 Wachusett St, Jamaica Plain)
FC First Church Roxbury (10 Putnam St, Roxbury)
KR Salvation Army Kroc Center (650 Dudley St, Dorchester)
MH Mission Hill Arts Festival (The Yard at BCYF Tobin 1481 Tremont St, Mission Hill)
MC Multicultural Arts Center (41 Second St, East Cambridge)
RC Roxbury Community College (1234 Columbus Ave, Roxbury)
RL Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch (149 Dudley St, Roxbury)
JAMAICA
Manuela Sánchez-Goubert Ensemble
Manuela Sánchez Goubert vocals
Federico Aristizábal drums
Juan Diego Panadero clarinet
Sebastián Guerrero bass
Juan Sebastián Ramírez Cubides percussion
Samuel Zuluaga piano
Saturday | September 13 | 3pm
Arlington Street Church
Presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Colombian vocalist Manuela Sánchez-Goubert, a rising star from Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute, blends Latin American tradition with bold, contemporary jazz. Singing in Spanish and Portuguese, she weaves South American rhythms and instruments into a modern jazz framework, creating a sound that’s uniquely her own.
Kalia Vandever & Charles Overton
Kalia Vandever trombone
Charles Overton harp
Saturday | September 20 | 3pm
Bethel AME Church
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Harpist Charles Overton and Grammy-winning trombonist Kalia Vandever join forces for an afternoon of ambient, ethereal jazz that invites you to slow down and escape the everyday. Vandever’s dreamy, luminous compositions blend seamlessly with Overton’s introspective, genredefying harp work. A longtime Series favorite, Overton is the perfect partner for Vandever’s atmospheric sound. Together, they create a transportive musical experience filled with billowing textures and downtempo grooves that stretch the boundaries of jazz.
Adrian Anantawan & Friends
A Concert Featuring the Power of Disability and Adaptation
Adrian Anantawan violin with special guests
Saturday | September 27 | 3pm
Arlington Street Church
Presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Canadian-born, Boston-based violinist Adrian Anantawan is a remarkable performer and advocate who has played on world stages including the White House and the Olympics. Born without a right hand or forearm, he developed a unique bowing technique that complements his expressive, virtuosic sound. A Curtis, Yale, and Harvard alum, Anantawan now mentors the next generation through Berklee’s Music Inclusion Ensemble. For this joyful concert, he’s joined by special guests for an afternoon of barrier-breaking, celebratory music.
The Kevin Harris Project
Interpretations – An Afternoon of Discovery through Music with Kevin Harris and Sheryl Bailey
Kevin Harris piano
Sheryl Bailey guitar
Saturday | October 4 | 3pm
Arlington Street Church
Presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Known for his curiosity and creativity, pianist Kevin Harris blends soulful composition with improvisational freedom. Thoughtful and playful, his music captivates with every note. This is a bold, imaginative performance from two incredible artists you’ll want to hear again and again.
Biribá Union
Sunday | October 19 | 3pm
Multicultural Arts Center
Mike Block cello
Christylez Bacon beatbox, guitar, rhymes
Edward Perez bass
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Biribá Union, featuring Mike Block, Christylez Bacon, and Edward Perez, offers a spirited blend of global musical traditions—jazz improvisation, Brazilian choro, hip-hop rhythms, and American roots music. Known for their engaging performances, this trio delivers an energetic musical journey that celebrates cultural diversity through inventive arrangements, vibrant improvisations, and captivating stage presence.
Sol y Canto
Noche de Muertos and Mexican Songs
Saturday | November 1 | 3pm
Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center
Presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Pan-Latin ensemble Sol y Canto returns to Neighborhood Arts to celebrate Day of the Dead with songs, stories, and artwork bringing the beloved Mexican holiday to life. Laugh, cry, and dance as you remember special moments and connect with the spirit of Dia de los Muertos.
Jean Appolon Expressions
Saturday | November 15 | 3pm
Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center
PROGRAM:
Excerpts from Pouvwa and Traka
All choreography by Jean Appolon
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Jean Appolon Expressions blends Haitian folkloric dance with contemporary movement, creating powerful, visually stunning works rooted in ritual and cultural heritage. The company draws on Haiti’s rich traditions to tell deeply human stories. Their performances offer you a moving blend of the timeless and the contemporary that shares the spirit of a vibrant culture.
Saturday | November 22 | 3pm Bethel AME Church
Recommended for ages 8 and up Zakiyyah African Import
Vocalist Zakiyyah is a Bostonbased artist-activist who has performed for audiences at venues including the House of Blues, Symphony Hall, and, in a recent career highlight, at the United Nations.
Her African Import program incorporates sounds from throughout the Black diaspora, from Hip-Hopera to R&B to Reggae.
Stringfest: Edmar Colón Ensemble
featuring youth ensembles from Boston Music Project, City Strings United, and Project STEP
Saturday | December 13 | 3pm Salvation Army Kroc Center
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Saxophonist Edmar Colón and his Ensemble team with young string players from three leading educational programs around Boston for an afternoon of intergenerational inspiration and artistry. The youth ensembles open the concert with winter selections, followed by Colón’s ensemble and side-by-side jazz-inspired interpretations of Puerto Rican folk songs.
Clarinet Weekend
February 28 – March 1
Multicultural Arts Center
Recommended for ages 4 and up
The clarinet—nimble, expressive, earthy—plays a vital role in orchestral, chamber, folk, and jazz traditions worldwide. Yet despite its lyricism, humor, and depth, clarinetists rarely take center stage. This special weekend changes that. Join us for two free concerts that shine a spotlight on the heart of the woodwind family.
Jazz and Klezmer
Saturday | February 28 | 2pm
Juan Ruiz clarinet
Camila Cortina piano
Itay Dayan Quintet, featuring members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band
Colombian-born, New York-based Juan Ruiz brings his dynamic jazz sound—shaped by his work with 15-time Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera— together with Cuban pianist Camila Cortina for a Latin jazz set full of rhythmic fusion and lyrical improvisation.
Boston-based Israeli clarinetist Itay Dayan shares the stage with members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band in a high-energy, soul-stirring performance that honors klezmer traditions while boldly exploring new
Classical
Sunday | March 1 | 2pm
Christopher Elchico clarinet
Christine Lee cello
Meng-Chieh Liu piano
Joined by clarinetists Juan Ruiz, Itay Dayan and Celine Ferro
Boston Symphony Orchestra second clarinetist Christopher Elchico is joined by acclaimed cellist Christine Lee and pianist Meng-Chieh Liu for an afternoon of lush, expressive works for clarinet, cello, and piano.
The weekend concludes with a special clarinet choir finale, bringing together all featured clarinetists in a joyful celebration of this versatile and beloved instrument.
Castle of our Skins & Boston Children’s Chorus
Saturday | March 7 | 3pm Salvation Army Kroc Center
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Praised by The Boston Globe for their “ambitious hopes,” Castle of our Skins has spent over a decade celebrating Black artistry. Their string quartet joins forces with Boston Children’s Chorus for a powerful program exploring cultural connection. At its heart is American Mirror by Derrick Skye, blending African, European, Indian, and American folk traditions into a new vision of classical music.
Stringfest: Eduardo Betancourt & Friends
featuring Boston String Academy
Saturday | March 21 | 3pm Salvation Army Kroc Center
Eduardo Betancourt harp
Carlos Capacho cuatro
Carlos Sulbarán bass
Leo Blanco piano
Boston String Academy
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Stringfest brings young string students together with exceptional artists in joyful public performances. This year, Venezuelan harpist Eduardo Betancourt and his jazz quartet join forces with students from Boston String Academy’s El Sistema-inspired program. Together, they’ll perform jazz and Venezuelan folk songs in a vibrant, intergenerational celebration of music, culture, and collaboration.
celebrityseries.org/neighborhoodarts
Jonathan Suazo & Friends
Saturday | March 28 | 3pm
Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center
Presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects
Recommended for ages 12 and up
Boston-based saxophonist and composer Jonathan Suazo blends Afro-Caribbean roots with bold, modern jazz. His acclaimed album Ricano was named a top ten jazz album of 2023 by The New York Times, with DownBeat praising its lyrical power. As Ricano Vol. 2 nears release, don’t miss this electrifying live preview of Suazo’s dynamic, deeply rooted sound.
I Dream A World Youth Choral Showcase
Saturday | April 11 | 3pm
Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center
Recommended for ages 4 and up
featuring:
Boston Children’s Chorus, Boston City Singers
Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses Chamber Choir
B.E. Boykin featured composer
Brittny Ray featured poet and lyricist
Mike Block cello & Francesca McNeeley cello
This must-see event for the United States’ 250th anniversary year brings together a stage full of talented young singers, the words of American literary luminaries Phillis Wheatley and Langston Hughes, two amazing Boston-based cellists, and the world premiere of a new choral work by B.E. Boykin and Brittny Ray Crowell.
John Paul McGee Jazz Trio
Saturday | April 18 | 3pm First Church Roxbury
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Pianist and organist John Paul McGee returns with his signature “Gospejazzical”—a joyful, spirit-lifting blend of gospel, jazz, and classical music. He begins with a solo set on the newly restored organ at First Church in Roxbury, then brings the energy downstairs with his jazz trio. With harmonies that heal and rhythms that inspire, McGee’s music is as moving as it is entertaining. Experience the power of Gospejazzical and its uplifting effect on all who hear it.
Zahili Zamora & Friends
Saturday | May 2 | 3pm Arlington Street Church
Presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Pianist and Berklee professor Zahili Zamora shares a dynamic preview of her upcoming album, blending classical technique, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. With remarkable improvisational skill, Zamora crafts a deeply personal sound rooted in resilience, healing, and the transformative power of music.
Your Neighborhood Arts Experience: What to Expect
• Tickets are not required for these events, but we invite you to sign up for email reminders on our website.
• Signing up for reminders doesn’t guarantee your spot: seating opens 30 minutes before each event, and is first come, first served.
• Food, drinks, and conversation: stay afterward for refreshments from neighborhood restaurants and vendors!
• To request an accommodation for a performance, please contact boxoffice@celebrityseries.org or complete a request form at cseries.org/accessibility at least two weeks before the event.
• Most events are amplified, but you can sit as far as you wish from the speakers. If you need to stand up, leave the hall, or take a sensory break from the performance, you’ll be able to return at a pause in the music.
• Help us improve: take a survey at every event to let us know what you enjoyed, and what we can do better!
Follow us on YouTube for video highlights from select shows!
Neighborhood Arts events are family-friendly! Age recommendations are listed with each performance.
Mission Hill Arts Festival
The Yard at the Tobin Community Center
The Mission Hill Arts Festival is an annual outdoor performance series that invites audiences to come together for live performance and conversation. The 2025 festival theme is Thrive and Celebrity Series is proud to co-present these programs.
Olivia Pérez-Collellmir Quartet
Friday | September 5 | 5pm
Jason Palmer & Kevin Harris
Saturday | September 6 | 5pm
Ciara Moser Quartet
Sunday | September 7 | 5pm
Support Neighborhood Arts
Celebrity Series of Boston’s Neighborhood Arts program presents top Bostonbased and Boston-affiliated artists in venues across the city, in concerts that are free and open to all.
We invite you to explore the season and see the range of performances these brilliant artists are offering. Many Neighborhood Arts artists also present workshops behind the scenes to give area students deeper appreciation and insights.
Not only does Neighborhood Arts offer free concerts across Boston–it also employs local artists, commissions new works, and connects young people with artist mentors. Make a gift today to help us continue making a lasting impact on the arts community in our neighborhoods!
“Celebrity Series goes beyond a traditional presenting organization by fully immersing themselves in the fabric of our community, designing programming and experiences for audiences, performers, and partners alike that enrich the cultural fabric of our city.”
Christopher Schroeder, The Boston Music Project
Roxbury Concert Series
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch
Entering its third season, the Roxbury Concert Series showcases Boston’s vibrant and diverse arts community. Celebrity Series partners with RCS this year to offer you four free performances by outstanding artists with local ties. Check out an event at the gorgeous and newly renovated Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library in addition to other Celebrity Series performances!
Biribá Union
Mike Block, Christylez Bacon and Edward Perez
Saturday | October 25 | 12pm
Global music with American roots and hip-hop flair featuring cello, beatbox, guitar, vocals and bass.
Christopher Elchico clarinet & Boston Conservatory Faculty String Quartet
Saturday | February 21 | 12pm
Osvaldo Golijov’s The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, and other works.
Zahili Zamora pianist & Friends
Saturday | April 25 | 12pm
Original tunes by pianist/composer Zahili Zamora blending classical, jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
Carlos Vargas pianist & Friends
American Scenes
Saturday | June 6 | 12pm
20th century program featuring iconic Broadway tunes and Paul Schoenfield’s Café Music
Presented with thanks to Lizbeth & George Krupp for their leadership support of Celebrity Series’ programming in Roxbury.
Celebrity Series of Boston 20 Park Plaza, Suite 220 Boston, MA 02116-4309
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
CELEBRITY SERIES OF BOSTON IS GRATEFUL TO OUR 2025/26 Season Sponsors Crescendo Donor Advised Fund and Susan & Michael Thonis and to the many individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies whose generosity supports Arts for All! and helps fulfill our mission to enrich and inspire our community through exceptional live performances and our vision of a community of Greater Boston where the performing arts are a valued, lifelong, shared experience–on stages, on streets, in neighborhoods–everywhere.
Anonymous (2) | Amy & Joshua Boger | Stephanie L. Brown | George & Lizbeth Krupp
Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation | Eleanor & Frank Pao | Royal Little Family Foundation Schrafft Charitable Trust | Stifler Family Foundation | Belinda Termeer Urban Agenda Grant Program from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED)
