Past Concerts, Lectures and Symposiums.

April 28, 2019 7:30pm A first for Gloucester, acclaimed Austrian soprano Ute Gfrerer and renowned Boston artist Lisa Rosowsky, present a deeply moving evening of song and art, based on the legacy of silence of their two fathers during World War II, one an Austrian member of the Nazi Youth Party, and one a French Jew. In a unique collaboration, the two artists present a Holocaust-themed program of music and mixed media artworks, based on memories of their fathers. Co-hosted with Temple Ahavat Achim.

April 05, 2019 7:00pm

The Skylark Vocal Ensemble will perform a concert called ‘A Cappella Masterpieces’ at 7:00pm in the superb acoustics of the historic (1806) Gloucester Meetinghouse with a 6:00pm pre-concert talk. Over the centuries, art has inspired music, and music has inspired art. In this innovative multi-faceted program, we will offer musical reflections and reactions to the visual arts from the ancient to the modern. Skylark is excited to premiere a commissioned work by Nell Shaw Cohen, a New York City-based composer with a particular interest in the intersection of visual art and music.

March 16, 2019 7:30pm Bach and Beyond will take you on a musical journey around and through the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach. First, soak in the serene exultation of Trumpet Concerto No. 2 by Tomaso Albinoni and gain an understanding of why this popular composer was so intriguing to Bach. Next, venture onward to Bach’s vibrantly fast-paced Orchestral Suite No. 2, followed by his succinct and intense Prelude and Fugue in E minor for organ soloist. You will then meander forward in time to Mozart’s exquisite Clarinet and String Quintet, in which Bach’s influence runs through like a golden thread. Complete the journey by returning to Bach and his gloriously virtuostic and brilliant Brandenburg Concerto No. 2.

March 02, 2019 3:30pm The Americas, Land of Many Cultures. Distinctive harmonies and thrilling rhythms will transport you in a journey celebrating diversity, multiculturalism, inclusiveness, and acceptance; the values that hold the Americas strong. Puerto Rican chorus Camerata Coral join’s Albany Pro Musica Concert Chorus in homage to the musical heritage of the New World, featuring evocative music from North and South America and the Caribbean.

February 16, 2019 10:00am The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is hosting a Free Family Movie Day featuring two great movies, games, prizes. The event opens at 10:00am with delicious refreshments and making decorated indoor snowmen from white socks (bring those extra white socks!).  The first feature movie, ‘Spider-Man, Into the Spider-Verse,’ starts at 11:30am, followed by a free pizza lunch, with the second feature ‘Wreck-It Ralph 2’ starting at 2:00pm. GMF non-profit partners Maritime Gloucester and Pathways for Children will participate with displays and educational information. Free-will donations are encouraged.

January 21, 2019 2:00pm Gloucester’s 3rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration: an afternoon of presentations about African-American History including Sandra Ronan, historian Stephanie Buck, live music by Alvin Foster and his band Soul Eclectic, award-winning  filmmaker/journalist Clennon L. King on MLK’s Boston years, followed by audio of Martin Luther King, Jr. accompanied by a slide show.  Audience invited to ring the Paul Revere bell at the conclusion for freedom; a free community event presented by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation.

December 14, 2018 7:30pm Join The Musicians Of The Old Post Road for a banquet of Bach family works for the holiday season! We present Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach’s rarely-performed and delightful oratorio Die Kindheit Jesu, along with a sumptuous sampling of arias from Christmas cantatas by Bach brothers Carl Philipp Emanuel and Wilhelm Friedemann, cousin Johann Ludwig, and of course, Johann Sebastian.

October 21, 2018 3:30pm As Halloween approaches, maestro of the pipe-organ and sonic artist Peter Krasinski returns to the Meetinghouse to accompany the scary silent movie ‘Waxworks.’ As in past years, Peter will perform on the sonorous 1893 Hutchings-Fisk organ to the delight of the audience, young and old. A short film, featuring Douglas Fairbanks, called the ‘Electric House’ will open the show.

October 14, 2018 1:00pm Over 30 Classic Cars! Come join us on Meetinghouse Green! Admission to the public is free but donations to the Foundation are greatly appreciated. Hourly tours of the building with performances on the historic 1893 pipe organ. Food and beverages will be available and the Dixieland band John’s Giddy Gang will perform. The audience will judge the cars with prizes awarded at the conclusion of the show.

September 29, 2018 10:00am TownGreen2025 presents the 2018 Cape Ann Sustainability Fair, Gloucester’s third sustainability fair with added focus on other elements of sustainable living on Cape Ann.

May 19, 2018 2:00pm >A Symposium On American Culture, Gun Violence And The Second Amendment

Spurred by national concern about mass shootings, a symposium in Gloucester on Saturday, May 19, will put a fresh focus on gun violence, examining both the intent and application of the Second Amendment and the differences among us that led to an impasse in addressing the problem.

April 14, 2018 7:30pm The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation hosts a performance by six local organists on Saturday, April 14 first half in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church at the corner of Middle and Church Street and the second half next door in St. John’s Episcopal Church. Doors open at 7:00pm; come early for the best seats. The performers are Kathleen Adams, Frances Conover Fitch, Carl Klein, Michael Kraft, Mark Nelson, and Robert Wech. Each one is connected to the work of the late Charles B. Fisk, whose firm located in Magnolia is world-renowned for superb pipe organs in churches, universities and concert halls. The concert will be narrated by Charles Nazarian describing the connection of the players to Fisk, history of the two remarkable instruments, and information about how the pipe organ sounds.

March 18, 2018 3:00pm Special concert by The Spectrum Singers under the direction of John W. Ehrlich featuring Masterworks by Joseph Haydn and Franz Schubert:  Haydn’s tremendous ‘Mass in Time of War’ and  Schubert’s glorious ‘Magnificat in C’ with distinguished soloists and symphony orchestra; followed by a Gala reception in the Vestry. 

February 25, 2018 6:30pm Cape Ann Forum showing of “Human Flow” on Sunday February 25th at 6:30pm at Cape Ann Community Cinema

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is a co-hosting a special screening of dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s award-winning film on the global refugee crisis “Human Flow.”  It will be followed by a Q&A with Cape Ann Forum chair Dan Connell and Gloucester artist Susan Erony.

February 11, 2018 4:00pm Nearly three dozen young voices will be joined in song on Sunday, Feb. 11, beginning at 4 p.m., in the 10th annual Children’s Choir Festival, to be held at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church.

January 15, 2018 2:00pm A rare opportunity to gather in community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, learn about persons of color and diverse identities on Cape Ann, and rededicate ourselves to the American creed that all persons are created equal.

December 16, 2017 7:30pm ‘Follow the Star,’ a concert by renowned period instrument ensemble Musicians of the Old Post Road, showcasing music written for Epiphany as we approach the holidays.  Festive selections by Georg Philipp Telemann, Christian Geist and a cantata by Christoph Graupner.

December 10, 2017 4:00pm World-renowned organist, Peter Krasinski returns to accompany Walt Disney’s animation classic ‘Fantasia’ on the magnificent 1893 Hutchings-Fisk pipe-organ; benefits Pathways for Children.

November 11, 2017 2:00pm Multiple presentations and discussions by experts about how to combine high sustainability standards like LEED with historically-informed building conservation practices and simple Yankee thrift for civic buildings and homes. Hosted in partnership with TownGreen|2025, an initiative to minimize Gloucester’s carbon footprint in a decade.

October 14, 2017 5:00pm Cape Ann Community Cinema Festival Partner Event featuring ‘Rumble: the Indians Who Rocked the World,’ illustrates how talented Native American musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.

October 13, 2017 7:30pm World-famous pipe-organ maestro Peter Krasinski accompanies the silent horror film classic “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” starring Lon Chaney at the Gloucester Meetinghouse on Friday the 13^th of October at 7:30pm.

May 14, 2017 3:30pm The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is pleased to announce that the Ipswich-based community orchestra, The Orchestra On The Hill,” will perform renowned composer Aaron Copland’s prizewinning “Appalachian Spring” on Sunday, May 14, at the historic Meetinghouse which is home to the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church.

April 29, 2017 10:00am TownGreen2025 presents the 2017 Cape Ann Sustainability Fair, Gloucester’s third sustainability fair with added focus on other elements of sustainable living on Cape Ann.

April 22, 2017 7:30pm The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is pleased to present organist Joonho Park performing an all-Bach program in a progressive organ recital. The first half will be performed in the Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on the 1893 Hutchings pipe organ, restored by world-renowned Gloucester organ builder Charles Fisk in 1962.

March 18, 2017 7:30pm The biblical tale of the Exodus inspired Handel to write some of the most dramatic music of his career, depicting the story in vivid detail from the increasingly unpleasant plagues visited upon the Egyptians to the Israelites’ feelings of exultation and triumph in escaping their oppressors. Join Musica Sacra and our professional soloists and orchestra for this extraordinary musical journey.

February 11, 2017 7:30pm Featuring ‘Leven & Sorrelanza. A Valentine’s concert featuring the a cappella vocals from two great Cape Ann vocal ensembles.

January 16, 2017 1:30pm Admission is free with voluntary donations. The afternoon event on January 16th runs from 1:30-5:30pm.

December 16, 2016 7:30pm Celebrate the holiday with this program abounding with festive music exported to 18th-century Central and South America! Selections include lively Spanish villancicos, ornate Italian cantatas, and rhythmically-playful works with indigenous influences. Castellanos, Durán, Jerusalem, Pacheco, and Torres are among the featured composers.
With Jessica Petrus, soprano, and Catherine Hedberg, mezzo-soprano, and special guest Eloy Cruz (Mexico), Baroque guitar

November 18, 2016 7:30pm Peking and the Mystics has toured nationally and internationally (including trips to the Far East and South America), recorded three CDs, appeared on television and radio, and been featured in local and national print media. The group’s eclectic a cappella repertoire, made up of original arrangements by PATM members themselves, incorporates swing, jazz, doo-wop, and pop music of every decade from the 1890s to the 2000s.

October 23, 2016 6:00pm Sonic artist Peter Krasinski on the historic Meetinghouse pipe-organ, improvising accompaniment to 2 silent film classics: the Buster Keaton comedy, “The Haunted House” and the scary main feature “Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde.” Event opens with a fun costume parade and grand organ prelude.

September 23, 2016 7:30pm Jeannie Alexander will read poems from her unpublished manuscript, ‘Ever the Unsafe Girl’, a collection of poems essays and photographs. She has described her work as ‘confessional-mythological.’ The bio excerpt here is from her organizational website, noexceptions.net, the No Exceptions Prison Collaborative, seeking justice and compassion for those incarcerated in TN prisons. This event is sponsored by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation as part of its ongoing 2016-17 Lecture & Concert Series.

September 07, 2018 6:00pm His band, Soul Eclectic, will take you on journey back to the 60s, 70s, and 80s with the soul music that underpinned Black people’s courage to be happy and celebrate life, love, spirituality and growth in the face of racism. While centered in Motown’s indelible catalog of music, Soul Eclectic also features and celebrates the artists that grew up alongside and after Motown. Comprising of Alvin Foster on vocals, Tricia Reed on vocals, Oscar Brown III on guitar, Briana Washington on keyboard, Min Jae Yim on bass, and Jarrell Campbell on drums, the band uses the timeless gems to deliver a fun and thoughtful musical experience.

August 24, 2018 6:00pm From the Lost, a 60′s garage-band that made a couple of records for Capitol, to the psychedelic late-60′s Bagatelle, to a brief stint in the post-Lou Reed Velvet Underground, the Boom Boom Band in the punk 70′s, which recorded for MCA, to an introspective take on the 80′s recording for the French label New Rose, and renewed band energy in the 90′s with the Persistence of Memory Orchestra, Willie has maintained a consistently high level of emotional and artistic integrity.

August 17, 2018 6:00pm Led by the gender-defying voice of 3rian King, the ensemble delivers their own brand smoky cabaret, neo-soul and acoustic noir, sounding something like Tom Waits and Amy Winehouse performing in a French cafe. What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? is known for its original songs which marry rich lyrical imagery with a cinematic sensibility, exploring themes of love, spirituality, sexuality, and identity. Whether stripped down for acoustic coffeehouses and living room concerts or immersive multimedia shows in clubs and theaters, Mr. Fox brings honesty, energy, and emotional authenticity to every performance.

August 10, 2018 6:00pm Hye Fusion is an American-born trio of musicians who perform Middle Eastern music integrated with Western Jazz. The musicians play current and traditional instruments including the oud, classical and rhythm guitars, keyboard, clarinet and saxophone as well as the doumbek – the most commonly played percussive instrument throughout Middle eastern cultures. The result is a dynamic synergy of melodies and rhythms.

August 03, 2018 6:00pm Deb Hardy and The Altairs are a roots rock party band hailing from Boston’s North Shore. They feature the powerhouse singer Deb Hardy and the driving force of Carl DiFranza, Tom Alley and Jamie Melville. The band gets a crowd moving with a mix of high energy folk, blues, soul, classic and alternative rock.

July 27, 2018 6:00pm The Os Forrozeiros organization has existed for over 10 years, but the Forrozeiros Dance Group has been together for the past 2 years. We practice at the Deborah Mason School of Dance Studio in Somerville and our main goals are to spread our love of Forró, help others get to know more about our culture and its richness through dance, and help needy populations by promoting fundraisers and other events beneficial to the community.

July 20, 2018 6:00pm Hop into the “Way-Back Machine” and listen to some of the best music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s live. Listen to the deep vocal harmonies that permeate the classic rock and pop you love to listen to, but other bands don’t, can’t, or won’t play. Dance the night away to The Beatles, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, CCR, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, The Barenaked Ladies, and so much more.

July 13, 2018 6:00pm Stacia Kraft sings the American Songbook with classic style; a big alto sound with an honest approach to the lyrics. Trained at the New England Conservatory, her programs feature jazz standards, folk songs, Broadway tunes, and spirituals with a superb group of swinging musicians: Tony Malionek-piano, Jon Dreyer-bass, Tom Duprey-trumpet, Miki Matsuki-drums. You are sure to have a romantic evening of song under the stars, and leave wanting more.

July 06, 2018 6:00pm The “Be-Bop” Guitars is an all-faculty band from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. It includes guitars, trumpet/flute, vibes, bass and drums. While rooted in the “Bop” tradition, the band plays a variety of materials that reflect the long history of Jazz music. Since its beginning in 1990, the ensemble has garnered a steady following of fans that enjoy guitar-oriented Jazz, and recorded several CDs.

September 08, 2017 6:00pm Born in the basement and bred in a garage, the Cape Ann Big Band is not your average swing orchestra. The band connects with local musicians of all ages and backgrounds to encourage big-band music making and community involvement. Cape Ann Big Band is inspired by the sounds of jazz, swing, New Orleans street bands, soul, rock ’n roll and show-tune ‘golden oldies’.

August 25, 2017 6:00pm Deb Hardy and The Altairs are a roots rock party band hailing from Boston’s North Shore. They feature the powerhouse singer Deb Hardy and the driving force of Carl DiFranza, Tom Alley and Jamie Melville. The band gets a crowd moving with a mix of high energy folk, blues, soul, classic and alternative rock.

August 18, 2017 6:00pm Hye Fusion is an American-born trio of musicians who perform Middle Eastern music integrated with Western Jazz. The musicians play current and traditional instruments including the oud, classical and rhythm guitars, keyboard, clarinet and saxophone as well as the doumbek – the most commonly played percussive instrument throughout Middle eastern cultures. The result is a dynamic synergy of melodies and rhythms.

August 11, 2017 6:00pm Scanzonati is an exciting and original group that revisits some of the classic Italian pop songs of the past 30 years in an acoustic setting with sophisticated harmonies and arrangements. The project represents an incredibly rich and precious age of well-written Italian music infused with lyrical finesse. Gino Paoli, Fiorella Mannoia, Pino Daniele, and Domenico Modugno are only some of the most renowned and prestigious artists that the project pays the tribute to. The band combines charming and soulful vocal textures with talent and creativity, in a quest for discovering new sounds and atmospheres.

August 04, 2017 6:00pm Gordon Michaels effortlessly performs Broadway ballads, jazz standards, blues, R&B oldies, gospel and country. He is a gregarious southern gentleman at heart and an entertainer with a smooth baritone voice, that will leave you wanting more. Gordon Michaels started the House of Blues Gospel Brunch in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. His ultimate goal is to keep music alive in the Boston and New England area.

July 28, 2017 6:00pm From the Lost, a 60′s garage-band that made a couple of records for Capitol, to the psychedelic late-60′s Bagatelle, to a brief stint in the post-Lou Reed Velvet Underground, the Boom Boom Band in the punk 70′s, which recorded for MCA, to an introspective take on the 80′s recording for the French label New Rose, and renewed band energy in the 90′s with the Persistence of Memory Orchestra, Willie has maintained a consistently high level of emotional and artistic integrity.

July 21, 2017 6:00pm Hailing from New England via Nashville, TN, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Melanie Bresnan has spent most of her life studying and performing music. Her songwriting blends the influences of classical vocal technique, jazz, choral music, rock and Irish traditional music, together with country and pop music. Melanie creates songs that are catchy and singable but still rooted in traditional folk music.

July 14, 2017 6:00pm Three Sheets to the Wind is an old sailing term and refers to a ship whose sheets (lines) have come loose, causing the sails to flap uncontrolled and the ship to shudder and roll like an uncontrolled drunk. It is also a Gloucester chantey/sea music group. Many of the group have years of song and sea history behind them. They love to interact with the audience to create a perfect storm of song and good cheer.

July 07, 2017 6:00pm The “Be-Bop” Guitars is an all-faculty band from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. It includes guitars, trumpet/flute, vibes, bass and drums. While rooted in the “Bop” tradition, the band plays a variety of materials that reflect the long history of Jazz music. Since its beginning in 1990, the ensemble has garnered a steady following of fans that enjoy guitar-oriented Jazz, and recorded several CDs.

September 09, 2016 6:00pm This diverse 17-piece big band entertains and delights audiences with danceable music infused with jazz, swing, New Orleans street bands, soul, and rock n’ roll that will bring you back in time. Known for operating like a family, Cape Ann Big Band prides itself with having a repertoire that has no boundaries. Their program includes such classics as “Mack the Knife,” “I’ve Got You Under my Skin,” and “Take the A Train.” Please note the date change to September 9th!

August 26, 2016 6:00pm Deb Hardy is a musician from Gloucester whose songs reflect the drama,beauty and serenity of this ocean harbor community. Her style of singing andguitar playing is rhythmic, expressive and powerful. Deb performs her songs ina warm, relaxed, and energetic spirit. AlternateRoots is a roots rock party band made up of Tom Alley, Jamie Melville and CarlDiFranza. Together with Deb Hardy, they cover tunes from the Etta James,Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Blind Melon, Alabama Shakes and more.

August 19, 2016 6:00pm In the early days, Mike played bass while Jan sang lead and played guitar. They could often be found kicking around the Boston music scene. They received airplay on several of the city’s radio stations and were nominated for a Boston Music Award in 2001. They have shared the stage with The Black Crowes, Corey Glover, Fuel, Feeder, and Hum as well as playing the Boston leg of The Vans Warped Tour. Their songs are on numerous compilations alongside the likes of G. Love and Special Sauce, Jack Johnson, Burning Spear, and The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones.

August 12, 2016 6:00pm Brian King (voice, keys, guitar) and Nathan Cohen (violin, trumpet) are the founders of the neo-cabaret band, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?. The pair like to bend and blend genres, allowing the song to be what it needs to be in order to express its emotional core. Together they have packed houses in Boston, NYC, and throughout the country.

Chris Leghorn and Gerry Ryan are a new acoustic duo who perform a wide range of compelling songs that cover the traditions from folk, Celtic, sea shanties, original and popular music. They specialize in performing catchy songs with strong melodies and compelling harmonies that captivate and entertain an audience.

August 05, 2016 6:00pm From the Lost, a 60′s garage-band that made a couple of records for Capitol, to the psychedelic late-60′s Bagatelle, to a brief stint in the post-Lou Reed Velvet Underground, the Boom Boom Band in the punk 70′s, which recorded for MCA, to an introspective take on the 80′s recording for the French label New Rose, and renewed band energy in the 90′s with the Persistence of Memory Orchestra, Willie has maintained a consistently high level of emotional and artistic integrity.

July 29, 2016 6:00pm A nonprofit, men’s organization dedicated to four part acapella harmony; particularly the preservation of the Barbershop Harmony style. We meet every Wednesday night at the ICC, 300 Rantoul Street in Beverly, MA from 7:30 to 10:30.

July 22, 2016 6:00pm Three Sheets to the Wind is an old sailing term and refers to a ship whose sheets (lines) have come loose, causing the sails to flap uncontrolled and the ship to shudder and roll (like a staggering drunk) and meander at the mercy of the elements.

Three Sheets to the Wind is also a Gloucester chantey/sea music group. Many of the crew have years of established song and sea history to offer and create a perfect storm of song and good cheer. Their vocals, harmonies and instrument skills are phenomenal, and they have a great time performing and drawing the audience into the fun.

July 15, 2016 6:00pm Ken Steiner, together with a band that he recently assembled, will be playing music that portrays the many facets of New Orleans music. The concert will include jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk tunes associated with New Orleans. Ken Steiner plays with The Real Cool Cats and Dave B & the Hotshots. All the musicians are veterans of the Boston/Worcester music scene.

July 08, 2016 6:00pm Berklee Jazz Quintet is comprised of John Baboian – Lead and Guitar; Greg Hopkins – Trumpet; Mark Earley – Sax; Dave Landoni – Bass, and Phil McGowan – Drums.

John Baboian, Lead Guitarist/Composer/Educator, has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1980. Although best known for his work in the jazz and swing idioms, John has performed in the Classical, Blues, Rock, R & B, Latin and World music genres.

Linda Amero is a local vocalist whose style crosses many genres from jazz to folk. A charismatic entertainer, she has also starred in musical comedy and other stage productions, as well as appearing in regular gigs at various North Shore venues.