Joyce Graduates From St. Olaf College
Jamaica Plain student Finola Marie Joyce, majoring in Psychology, recently graduated from St. Olaf College.
Finola graduated from Boston Latin School, and is the daughter of Thomas Joyce and Karen Joyce.
St. Olaf President David R. Anderson ‘74 presided over the college’s 130th commencement ceremony, which was held May 26.
One of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, St. Olaf challenges students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by tradition.
CSO Concert Nov. 9
The Cambridge Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will present the Masterworks concert Beethoven, Tower, and Adams in two performances: on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 at 7:00 PM at Durgin Hall, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 4:00 PM at Kresge Auditorium, MIT. Music Director Cynthia Woods will conduct the orchestra.
The CSO joins forces with four returning CSO vocal soloists—Indra Thomas, Joanna Porackova, Javier Abreu, and Ron Loyd—and the University Choir and Chamber Singers from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Jonathan Richter, director), to present two powerful works for chorus and orchestra, one classic and one contemporary, side-by-side in concert. Members of the Nashoba Valley Chorale and the Nashua North High School Music Department will join the choir, as well.
Jamaica Plain residents Sarah Izen, violinist, Matt Owen, cellist and percussionist, and Thomas Hougard, trumpet, will perform as part of the orchestra.
Ludwig van Beethoven completed his Symphony No. 9 (1824) three years before his death. This monumental final symphony, a masterpiece of lyrical beauty and heroic triumph, moves toward utopian celebration with the stirring “Ode to Joy,” for which Beethoven introduced soloists and chorus into a major symphony for the first time.
As a modern complement to Beethoven’s Ninth, John Adams’ minimalist choral work Harmonium (1981) sets to music the haunting poetry of John Donne and Emily Dickinson. Adams has described the genesis of his composition as “one of human voices—many of them—riding upon waves of rippling sound.” The program opens with Joan Tower‘s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 (1986) performed by the CSO brass.
Our Spotlight Partner for the Kresge performance is the Cambridge Women’s Center, which provides a supportive community space for all women by offering opportunities for empowerment, learning, healing, trauma support, and understanding. Please visitcambridgewomenscenter.org for more information, and stop by their table in the lobby at Kresge before the performance or during intermission to sign up for volunteer opportunities.
The CSO 2019-20 season is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Tickets for the Kresge performance are $25 (general) and $15 (students and seniors) and can be purchased at http://www.cambridgesymphony.org. Admission to the performance at UMass Lowell is free.
As part of the EBT Card to Culture Program, the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra also offers discounted admission to this concert for Massachusetts EBT cardholders: $5 general admission for adults, and free admission for kids 16 and under with the purchase of at least one $5 adult ticket. This discount program is offered in collaboration with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Department of Transitional Assistance.
Established in 1975, the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, Inc. (CSO) is a 501(c)(3) community music organization presenting classical music to diverse audiences who value great music in an accessible environment. Our volunteer musicians hail from Cambridge, Somerville and other parts of Greater Boston. As the only community orchestra in Cambridge and Somerville, the CSO creates outstanding programing through the combined energy of dozens of dedicated and talented individuals who believe in the importance of classical music and expanding our community’s access to it.
For more information about the concert and about the CSO, go towww.cambridgesymphony.org.
https://twitter.com/CSO_Tweets, and https://www.facebook.com/cambridgesymphonyorchestra.
Andrew Stearns: Always on the Camino at the Jamaica Plain Branch Library
The Jamaica Plain Branch Library at 30 South St., is proud to announce a new exhibition as part of their rotating art program, supported by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library in partnership with Uforge. For the final show of the year, the library presents a solo exhibition of Jamaica Plain-based printmaker Andrew Stearns.
With a BFA in Printmaking and History of Art from MassArt, Stearns explores the continuously shifting narratives of time and space through the investigation of historical moment, with a particular interest in how history is recorded, or simply fades away. A mixture of woodcuts and lithographs, the work on view reflects his journey along the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage route leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in northwestern Spain. Stearns employs a graphic, at times-collagelike style, with bold lines and bright hues of orange and chartreuse, mixing architectural, landscape, and figural motifs. The resulting series is an eye-catching journey through the artist’s own memories.
Andrew Stearns: Always on the Camino is on view from November 8 through December 31, 2019, with a public reception to be held on Thursday, November 14, 5:30 – 7:30 PM. The library is open Monday-Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 12-8, and Friday-Saturday 9-5 (closed Sundays). The exhibition space is located on the lower level.
This exhibition is proudly sponsored by The Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
The Footlight Club Presents “Legally Blonde” in November
The Footlight Club’s production of “Legally Blonde” opens November 9, in Jamaica Plain
The Footlight Club, America’s oldest continuously operating community theater and one of Jamaica Plain’s hidden gems, is proud to announce its second musical presentation for its 143rdseason: the classic comedy turned musical, “Legally Blonde: The Musical”, for eight performances this November at its Eliot Hall home, 7A Eliot St, Jamaica Plain, including a special Relaxed matinee performance, for patrons with sensitivity issues.
A fabulously fun award-winning musical, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances – this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!
Bursting at the seams with a 20+ member cast, the Footlight Club production is lead by Amanda Casale as the bubbly, determined Elle Woods. In addition to the large ensemble, Jeff Mitchell, Christine Kasparian, Bryan Smith, Dave Levy, Ashley DiFranza and Tristyn Sepersky take on supporting (or opposing roles) as Elle’s friends and foes. The production is directed by Katie Swimm , with musical direction by Jeff Kimball, choreography by Amelia Munson and produced by Elizabeth Bean
The original Broadway production ran only for 1 ½ years, but caught fire during its first national tour. By the time of its debut in London’s West End, it was a smash hit, playing for over 3 years and winning multiple Olivier awards. It went on to tour internationally for years, and has been a perennial popular favorite for local performances worldwide ever since. The film catapulted star Reese Witherspoon into leading lady status, and gave the world the unforgettable ‘bend and snap’ trick, which the musical built upon.
Performance Details:
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” opens November 9 and runs for 8 shows through November 23 .All performances are at 8pm. Tickets are $28/$25 (for seniors, students, and kids).
Performances are November 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 at 8pm; November 10 and 17 at 2pm; Relaxed performance on November 16 at 2pm. Tickets are available online at www.footlight.orgor at box office, the night of the show.
The Footlight Club located at 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain. The Footlight Club is America’s oldest continuously operating Community Theater.