New to Celebrity Series? Haven't attended one of our events before?
Celebrity Series is committed to welcoming new audiences to our performances around greater Boston. You have a lot of choices for arts and entertainment, and we want to make it easier to say yes to attending your first Celebrity Series performance, so you're invited to choose a show from the list below and get amazing seats for just $20!
Come as you are: audience members wear clothing that they're comfortable in, but please be sure to check before you attend to see if a mask is required! Venues may have different policies that could change as the season goes on.
No matter which show you choose, we hope you have a great experience and that it's just the first of many!
Jason Moran and the Harlem Hellfighters: James Reese Europe and the Absence of Ruin | February 17
Brilliant pianist, composer, and multimedia artist Jason Moran turns his boundless creativity and curiosity to a celebration of the life of African American musical pioneer James Reese Europe, credited with introducing jazz music to the European continent during World War I. Moran and his band play at Berklee Performance Center in the Back Bay.
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor & Kevin Miller, pianist | March 5
Tenor Lawrence Brownlee, “one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world today” (NPR), returns alongside pianist Kevin Miller with a program of song based on texts by poets and authors of the Harlem Renaissance set to brand-new music that he is commissioning from acclaimed Black composers. Brownlee and Miller perform at GBH's Calderwood Studio at their headquarters in Brighton.
KODŌ, Tsuzumi | March 12
Exploring the limitless possibilities of the taiko, the traditional Japanese drum, Kodō is forging new directions for a vibrant living art-form. With this group, there’s no substitute for the feeling of the in-person experience. Be there when they fill Symphony Hall with their propulsive music and movement!
Chineke! Orchestra | March 22
Don't miss an exciting and important Boston debut: the first-ever visit by Britain’s Chineke! Orchestra. The ensemble was founded as the first professional majority Black and Asian orchestra in Europe, and the young musicians always wow audiences wherever they play. The London Times praised the "music played with a passion and joy that freely radiates.” Chineke! perform at NEC's Jordan Hall in Fenway.
Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science | March 24
Outstanding activist, educator, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and her band Social Science appear on the Celebrity Series this season, two years after earning a Grammy nomination for their album, Waiting Game. Special guests to be announced join the group for a multi-dimensional vocal and instrumental musical experience. This performance will be held at Berklee Performance Center in the Back Bay.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis | April 21
This time-tested ensemble always delivers a tight and polished experience that impeccably conjures the Big Band heyday, whether they are playing new works or reinterpreting classics. Marsalis’ insightful commentary and often-witty banter will draw you even closer to the music and the stories behind it. The Orchestra performs at Symphony Hall in Fenway.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | May 4-7
From essential repertory pieces like Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, to new material that engages with vital social movements and other choreographic traditions, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater creates dances with the power to transform and bring people together. The Ailey company performs at the Boch Center Wang Theatre in the Theatre District.
Looking for a great arts experience in a relaxed and social atmosphere? Try our Jazz Festival at Artists For Humanity EpiCenter or our Stave Sessions festival, which debuts at the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre this March.
Choose a performance in our second annual Jazz Festival at Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in South Boston, a beautiful space packed with visual art that we convert into a pop-up club complete with an available bar. Enjoy the creative atmosphere and some dazzling music!
Get standing room tickets for just $19 each as part of this first-time audience member offer. Jazz Festival concerts are all ages.
Melissa Aldana Quartet | March 8
Thanks to her lyrical, elegant, powerful playing and her visionary band leadership, Melissa Aldana has been on an amazing upward trajectory in recent years. Come hear one of the leaders of the new generation in jazz!
Hiromi | March 9
Across her career, multifaceted Japanese pianist Hiromi has thrilled fans and critics alike with creative energy that can’t be contained by genre. Don’t miss this fiery solo performance from an audacious pianist!
Nnenna Freelon | March 10
Born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, renowned jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon brings her elegant voice and compelling stage presence to the pop-up club setting of Artists For Humanity EpiCenter in what will be a memorable experience.
Ambrose Akinmusire | March 11
Berkeley, California-based trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire has become a force in jazz, at once excelling at his craft yet simultaneously stretching beyond the genre, making connections to classical, hip-hop, and other artistic circles. Refusing to be contained, he weaves inspiration from myriad sources into compositions that are as poetic and graceful as they are bold and unflinching.
This festival of contemporary music and genre-busting, boundary-crossing artists returns in 2023 and makes its debut at the Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.
Stave Sessions performances are all ages, and feature a cash bar. Get a $20 general admission ticket as part of this first-time audience member offer.
Wild Up | March 30
Los Angeles-based ensemble Wild Up creates mind-bending and theatrical contemporary music experiences by playing with place, structure, the relation of artist to audience: any aspect of the concert experience is up for reinvention at any time!
Craig Taborn Trio | April 1
Craig Taborn is known for his versatility as a leader, a soloist, and a sideman in dozens of bands and his brilliance as an improvisor in any number of musical contexts, from straight-ahead jazz to electro-acoustic sound collage.
This offer is for one-time use by first-time buyers only, with new accounts created in September 2022 and later. Limit six tickets for any one performance on the list above, and select your own seats from a limited (but high-quality!) allocation. For accessible seating available with these offer terms, please contact the box office.
EBT and WIC cardholders can get $20 tickets to all concerts that allow subscription discounts as part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Card to Culture program.
High School students and all college or university students -- undergrad, grad, and professional -- can get $20 tickets for many performances through our student rush program. Some offers are online in advance and others are traditional rush at the door.
If you're looking for high-quality free performances, check out Neighborhood Arts. The new season is full of amazing Boston-based artists sharing their talents at venues across Boston and Cambridge. Dance, Latin, jazz, contemporary music, percussion, and more: explore the 2022/23 Neighborhood Arts season today!
Teachers and administrators of public school groups, student clubs and ensembles, and human services organizations can sign up to learn more about our deep-discount ticketing programs Arts For All and Take Your Seat. More information will be coming soon.
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