Performance Calendar

Colombian vocalist Manuela Sánchez-Goubert blends traditional South American music with contemporary jazz, creating her own distinctive style. A Berklee College student, she leads a culturally diverse ensemble whose debut album, Raices, showcases a dynamic fusion of Latin rhythms and jazz instrumentation. This performance offers a vibrant, emotional exploration of Latin heritage—an ideal way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month.

Grammy-winning trombonist Kalia Vandever pairs with innovative harpist Charles Overton in an afternoon of ethereal jazz. The duo promises a tranquil, ambient experience designed as an introspective break from daily life, filled with downtempo grooves and emotional depth.

Canadian-born Boston-based violinist Adrian Anantawan, boasting a stellar artistic resume and a commitment to making music accessible to all, leads a concert spotlighting disabled artists and allies. This event celebrates disability and adaptation: expect boundary-breaking artistry and a lot of fun!

Pianist and organist John Paul McGee returns with his signature "Gospejazzical," a joyful and spiritually uplifting blend of gospel, jazz, and classical traditions. Performing on First Church Roxbury’s historic organ and later joined by his trio, McGee’s concert promises transformative music designed to uplift, soothe, and inspire audiences through innovative harmonies and engaging rhythms.

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.

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. Singer and percussionist Rosi Amador and guitarist and singer Brian Amador, alongside string and wind instrument players and other special guests, perform traditional songs and poetic originals that will make you laugh, cry, and dance as you remember special moments and connect with the spirit of Dia de los Muertos.

Before the performance by Camille A. Brown & Dancers, you're invited to gather at the Celebrity Series office to talk about the book Katherine Dunham: Dance and the African Diaspora by Joanna Dee Das. Discuss the influential choreographer/dancer/scholar whose work redefined dance! Please join us for light refreshments and a facilitated one-hour discussion about the book and related topics. Read part or all of the book selection: it's a jumping-off point for a lively and thought-provoking conversation! Performance tickets not required, and company representatives will not be involved.

Through a compelling blend of the time-honored and the contemporary, artistic director and choreographer Jean Appolon creates works that speak to Haiti’s rich cultural heritage and the Afro-Haitian roots of modern dance. Through movement, he tells deeply human stories about his homeland and its people. The program features highlights from Pouvwa and Traka.

Vocalist Zakiyyah is a Boston-based 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.

Pianist Kevin Harris makes his Celebrity Series debut as a headliner with his trio to perform The Roar of a Feather, new original works inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. Soulful, playful, and always thoughtful, Harris’ music strikes a thrilling balance between compositional vision and improvisatory freedom. He’s an artist you’re going to want to hear, whenever you can.

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.

From Japan, Türkiye, India, and the United States, the four vocalists of Women of the World are committed to exploring the beauty and diversity of music from around the globe. With a repertoire spanning 37 languages, they take audiences on an exhilarating and inspiring journey through the vocal, percussion, and storytelling traditions of our shared world.

Exuberant Jazz and Klezmer music share a double bill in the first of two concerts in our Neighborhood Arts Clarinet Weekend. Clarinetist Juan Ruiz and pianist Camila Cortina perform jazz, and Itay Dayan shares klezmer music that honors tradition while exploring new frontiers.

Second clarinetist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Elchico is a versatile performer and in-demand collaborator.  For this program, he is joined by cellist Christine Lee and pianist Meng-Chieh Liu for an elegant afternoon of classical works featuring clarinet, cello, and piano--a combination of instruments known for their warmth, depth, and lyricism.

Praised by the Boston Globe for their “ambitious hopes” that “seem right for a world that more often than not seems agonizingly divided,” Castle of our Skins celebrates more than a decade of championing Black artistry, past and present. They team with Boston Children’s Chorus to explore Derrick Skye’s American Mirror and more.

Harpist Eduardo Betancourt leads his all-Venezuelan jazz quartet in an exciting collaboration with the young musicians of Boston String Academy’s El Sistema-inspired program. Separately and side by side, they’ll perform jazz and Venezuelan folksongs in this multicultural, intergenerational afternoon of music!

Jonathan Suazo is an award-winning saxophonist, composer, and cultural catalyst, using music to celebrate and illuminate his Puerto Rican and Dominican roots. Whether leading drum circles, mentoring young artists, or crafting dynamic performances, he seamlessly bridges tradition and innovation. Celebrate the release of his forthcoming album: the much-anticipated Ricano, Volume 2. 

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, two amazing Boston-based cellists, and the world premiere of a new choral work by B.E. Boykin. 

In Evening in the Palace of Reason, author James Gaines recounts the meeting between Johann Sebastian Bach, late in his life, and the energetic reformer Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Before pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard begins his journey through Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume 2, you're invited to join us for light refreshments and a facilitated one-hour discussion about the book and related topics. Read part or all of the book selection: it's a jumping-off point for a lively and thought-provoking conversation! Tickets for the performance are not required, and Mr. Aimard will not be involved.

Pianist Zahili Zamora offers a captivating preview of her forthcoming album, a dynamic fusion of classical piano, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. With extraordinary improvisational skill, Zamora weaves these influences into a deeply personal yet universally relevant narrative—one that speaks to healing, resilience, and the transformative power of creativity.