March Updates from CMCB - Community Music Center of Boston

Castle of our Skins at Fiddlefest!

The string department hosted its annual Fiddlefest! on February 9th, which was thematically centered on folks songs arranged by African-American composer Florence Price. The event featured selected student ensembles as well as the acclaimed chamber group Castle of Our Skins, whose appearance at Fiddlefest! was sponsored through a partnership between CMCB and the Celebrity Series of Boston. The performers – Gabriela Diaz, violin, Mina Lacheva, violin, Ashleigh Gordon, viola and Francesca McNeely, cello – had some wonderful feedback for the students. The group also gave an inspiring performance of two works by Florence Price: “Shortening Bread” from Five Folk Songs in Counterpoint and the Andante moderato movement from her String Quartet in G Major.

The participating student ensembles were the Junior String Ensemble, led by Lisa Sailer, and the Intermediate String Ensemble, led by Karl Orvik. In addition, the ISP string quartet (Quartet-a-tete) performed an excerpt from Florence Price’s O Clementine and the event closed with a rousing collaborative performance of Castle of Our Skins and students performing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

The Lapin Competition

The Lapin Competition is an annual event where solo performers of all instruments and voice compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes. The preliminary rounds are Thursday, April 4 and the finals are Saturday, April 6. Students competing will present two contrasting pieces of music, highlighting their strengths and versatility in their given instrument or voice. Judges also pay close attention to professionalism, musicality, poise, and expression. This event is free and open to the public.

Learn More >>

Join the Ukulele Choir!

The CMCB Ukulele Choir is a group class designed to teach the joy of playing music through the ukulele. We will learn to create chords and play melodies with the instrument, as well as perform entire songs. Singing is not required in this choir, but it is encouraged! The class accepts adults of any level, as well as younger students who have some experience playing on an instrument.If you have ever thought that learning an instrument would be too difficult or stressful, this is the class that will change your mind!

Join us on Wednesday nights from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Castle of our Skins: Legacy

Entitled “Legacy,” Castle of our Skins brings a program honoring legends, past and present, whose lives, work and artistry continue to influence. Jessie Montgomery and Adolphus Hailstork are contemporary award-winning composers/performers and composers/educators respectfully. Pulitzer-prize winning composer George Walker continues to influence today’s generation of musicians. All works are composed by Black composers from the African diaspora with Montgomery, Hailstork, and Walker hailing from the United States.

Support CMCB with Your Boston Globe Subscription

Through a program at the Boston Globe, subscribers can allocate money to a nonprofit of their choice. All you need is your subscription number!

Visit BostonGlobe Grant to redeem your voucher.
Enter you subscription number.
Type “Community Music Center of Boston” to select your favorite nonprofit!
Hit submit!

That’s it! So far, we’ve raised $275 through this program. Check us out on the leaderboard. Subscribers have until April 30, 2019 to submit vouchers! Spread the word.