Concord Community Music School

CANCELLED: CCMS Student Recital - November 7, 2025
2025-11-07 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | CCMS Recital Hall
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING ANOTHER UPCOMING ACTIVITY HERE AT CCMS.
Student recitals are part of the Concord Community Music School’s multi-level curriculum for private lesson students. These frequent performance opportunities help our students perform more easily, broaden their musical skills, and help them make new musical friends.
Recital to be held at 7PM. It will be held in our historic Recital Hall. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

CCMS Fall Folk Gathering
2025-11-06 18:00 - 20:30
Join us for an evening of jamming with fellow folk musicians and CCMS folk faculty, plus performances by students from the Concord Community Music School’s Folk Department!

6:00 – 7:00 pm: Slow Jam | Novice/Early Intermediate, other levels welcome to sit in!
7:00 – 7:30 pm: Ensemble Performances
7:30 – 8:30 pm: Fast Jam | Late Intermediate/Advanced, other levels welcome to sit in!

This event is free and open to the public.

Bach’s Lunch: The Composer's Process
2025-11-06 12:10 - 12:50
Composer Stephen James will speak about his creative process when composing, how he researched the poems of Mary Oliver, what inspired him, and how he chose which poems to include in his song cycle for soprano and piano. He will share insights into the texts and how they influenced his writing as he composed the songs.
Mary Oliver (1935 – 2019) was an American poet who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and the National Book Award in 1992. She found inspiration for her work in nature and had a lifelong habit of solitary walks in the wild. Her poetry is characterized by wonderment at the natural environment, vivid imagery, and unadorned language. In 2007, she was declared the best-selling poet in the United States.
Bio:
Stephen James completed his doctoral degree in composition at Boston University, where he received the graduate composition prize in 1984, the Malloy Miller Composition Award in 1986, and an award for continuing musical excellence in 1987. He is a pianist as well as a composer and has performed for the Tanglewood Music Center Chamber Series, the WICN Radio concert series at Mechanics Hall (Worcester, MA), the American Repertory Theater, Alea III, the Omnibus Series at Boston University, the The Essex Chamber Music Players, and on many other concert series in New England.
Dr. James was a 1985 Crofts Fellow in Composition at the Tanglewood Music Center and a member of the Center for Compositional Study at the Aspen Music Festival in 1986. Performances of his works include premieres by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston and the Atlantic Brass Quintet, commissions from the Washington Music Ensemble and the Newburyport Choral Society, and performances by the Society for New Music (Syracuse, NY) and the Fellows of the Music Center at Tanglewood. He has taught piano performance, music theory and composition at Boston University, Worcester State University, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Anna Maria College and Bridgewater State University.
Bach’s Lunches are free and open to the public. They are made possible in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.

2025 Allstate Audition Workshop (Winds/Brass)
2025-11-05 18:30 - 19:30 | CCMS
Ace your Allstate Audition! In this workshop for wind and brass students, we will talk about preparation strategies, managing anxiety, and what to expect on the audition day. All will be welcome to play some of the audition material as a trial run.
When: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 6:30-7:30 PM
Instructors: Stef Burk and Stephanie Jenkins
Cost: $15 (FREE for current CCMS students)
Register: https://ccms.asapconnected.com/#CourseID=277616
If you are a current CCMS student, please email Nicole Laurin, Director of Student Services, at nlaurin@ccmusicschool.org to register.

Trick or Treat at CCMS - 2025
2025-10-31 09:00 - 16:00 | CCMS
It’s back! Whether you have little ones that are too young to go out at night or you want to relive your childhood, we have you covered.
Come trick-or-treat at the Music School on Halloween. Start at our reception desk and follow the signs to our admin staff’s offices. A different treat awaits at each spot. We can’t wait to see you and your amazing costumes! (If you can’t get here ’til after 4, there’ll be fewer places to trick-or-treat, but we’ll still have treats for you.)
You do not have to be a CCMS student to participate.

2025 Allstate Audition Workshop (Voice)
2025-10-25 10:00 - 11:30 | CCMS
Ace your Allstate Audition! In this workshop for voice students, we will talk about preparation strategies, managing anxiety, and what to expect on the audition day. All will be welcome to play some of the audition material as a trial run.
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 10:00-11:30 AM
Instructor: Kathleen O’Boyle
Cost: $15 (FREE for current CCMS students)
Register: https://ccms.asapconnected.com/#CourseID=306059
If you are a current CCMS student, please email Nicole Laurin, Director of Student Services, at nlaurin@ccmusicschool.org to register.

CCMS Student Recital - October 23, 2025
2025-10-23 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall
Student recitals are part of the Concord Community Music School’s multi-level curriculum for private lesson students. These frequent performance opportunities help our students perform more easily, broaden their musical skills, and help them make new musical friends.
This event will be held in our historic Recital Hall. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

Bach’s Lunch: La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, Part 2 (Lecture and Performance)
2025-10-09 12:10 - 13:10
Join contralto Melissa Elsman (our newest voice faculty) and pianist Kathryn Southworth for Part Two of this lecture–recital exploring the life and music of nineteenth-century Parisian composer Augusta Holmès. Denied access to the Paris Conservatory like her male peers, Holmès persuaded César Franck to take her on as a private student. “She arouses in me the most unspiritual desires,” her composition instructor is famously quoted as saying. Yet Holmès’s brilliance extended far beyond her presence: during her studies with Franck, she began composing large-scale works—an endeavor considered forbidden for women of her time.
The program examines the height of her fame, including the commission of her monumental Ode Triumphale to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution, which premiered in 1889 at the Palais de l’Industrie with 1,200 musicians. This is followed by the profound hardships she faced, both professionally and personally, which left her financially strained. Despite these challenges, Holmès remained resilient, turning toward spirituality and maintaining hope and optimism. Selected songs from her Twenty Melodies will be performed to reflect the struggles she endured, alongside selections from her Divine Tales, which showcase her enduring strength and devotion to the divine.
Bios:
Melissa Elsman (voice), classical singer and music educator, holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts. She continues her studies with renowned countertenor Mark Crayton. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Melissa teaches voice to children and adults from beginner to advanced levels, in a variety of styles including classical, musical theater, and popular music. An active performer with over 20 years of experience, Melissa’s repertoire spans from art song to opera, with a special interest in lesser-known works. She has produced and performed lecture-recitals, including La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Remarkable Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, which she has toured both locally and in Chicago.
Kathryn Southworth (piano department co-chair, piano, performance workshops, Canterbury Singers) holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman and served as a musical ambassador to Costa Rica with soprano Ollie Watts Davis. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.
Bach’s Lunches are free and open to the public. They are made possible in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.

Fall Fiddle Festival Workshops & Concert
2025-10-04 | CCMS
Festival 9:30am-5pm; Concert 7:30pm
Fall Fiddle Festival Workshops and Concert
featuring fiddle faculty Jenna Moynihan, Pascal Gemme, Audrey Budington, & Liz Faiella
with Dan Faiella and Yann Falquet, guitar
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Concord Community Music School, Concord NH
Festival 9:30am-5pm, Concert 7:30pm
Workshops + Concert: $130 | Register now
Concert only: $25 / $20 students & older adults (under 18/65+) | Click here to purchase tickets
Workshops open to all novice to advanced fiddlers and violinists, ages teen to adult. All fiddlers, including novice level, should have a basic familiarity with their instrument and some playing experience!
Concert open to the public! All workshop participants receive a ticket to the evening concert.
Fiddlers from the Celtic, New England, and Quebecois fiddling traditions will join forces in Concord for the seventh Fall Fiddle Festival, a day packed with workshops and group playing for fiddlers (and violinists who are interested in learning to fiddle!). The Festival, open to teens and adults, will include workshops on a variety of topics at the novice, intermediate, and advanced levels. In the evening, all four fiddle faculty members will present a toe-tapping evening concert of fiddle music open to the public.
The Festival will feature guest faculty members Jenna Moynihan and Pascal Gemme, alongside two of New Hampshire’s own fiddling favorites, Audrey Budington and Liz Faiella. They’ll be joined for the evening concert by guitarists Dan Faiella and Yann Falquet.
Jenna Moynihan is regarded as one of the best of the new generation of freestyle fiddlers. Versatile and inventive, her fiddling style draws strongly from the Scottish tradition, but is also influenced by American, Irish, and Swedish styles. She has performed as a soloist with The Boston Pops, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS Sunday Morning, and currently performs with Seamus Egan Project, Hanneke Cassel Band, and in a duo with Màiri Chaimbeul.
Pascal Gemme is a leading light in Quebec’s traditional music scene. Known as much for his original compositions as his fine interpretation of traditional tunes, Pascal is the fiddler, singer and arranger of the band, Genticorum, whose albums have met with critical acclaim in several countries. He has immersed himself in the traditional music around him, playing, collecting and recording music found all over Quebec.
From the Music School’s faculty, Audrey Budington is fluent in various fiddling styles and has performed with Rosanne Cash, Darol Anger, and Bruce Molsky among others. Liz Faiella, chair of the Folk Department at the Music School, brings flair and sensitivity to the traditional Celtic and New England folk music she loves.
In the evening concert, the fiddlers will share the stage with two masterful accompanists. Dan Faiella is a guitarist who specializes in traditional Celtic music. Trained as an accompanist through years of playing for New England contra dances and alongside Irish fiddlers, he has performed at venues and festivals around the country with numerous traditional music groups. Yann Falquet is a dynamic Québécois guitarist, and co-founder of Genticorum, a Québec-based traditional music trio. Over the years, he has collaborated with many leading lights in the traditional folk music scene including Hanneke Cassel, Liz Carroll, Bruce Molsky, and Cillian Vallely & Kevin Crawford (Lunasa).
Learn more and register for workshops

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Please note: This is a tentative schedule and may be subject to change!
9:00-9:30 Doors open
9:30-9:45 Orientation
10:00-11:00 Workshop Session 1
11:15-12:15 Workshop Session 2
12:15-1:15 Lunch Break
1:15-1:45 Group tunes
2:00-3:00 Workshop Session 3
3:30-4:30 Workshop Session 4
4:45-5:00 Fall Fiddle Festival Finale Jam
5:00-7:30 Dinner Break
7:30-9:30 Concert

*A note about food: Coffee, tea, and cookies will be provided! Lunch and dinner are not included in the cost of registration, but you are welcome to bring your own meals or head to downtown Concord. For lunch, you are also welcome to order (for an additional fee) from a list of options provided by the Music School in advance. Pre-ordered lunches will be offered on-site at lunchtime on Festival day.

WORKSHOP TOPICS

WORKSHOP SESSION 1
Novice | Don’t Fear Learning By Ear! | Liz Faiella
Intermediate | Polska Party! | Jenna Moynihan
Advanced | More 7/8! | Audrey Budington
Intermediate/Advanced Jam | Quebecois Tunes from the New England Repertoire | Pascal Gemme & Dan Faiella

WORKSHOP SESSION 2
Novice | Intro to QuebMusic | Pascal Gemme
Intermediate | Jig Rhythm and Bowing Workshop | Liz Faiella
Advanced | Tune/Chords/Harmony |Jenna Moynihan
Novice/Intermediate Jam | New England Fiddle Tunes | Audrey Budington & Dan Faiella

WORKSHOP SESSION 3
Novice | Learn a Great, Simple Tune! | Jenna Moynihan
Intermediate | Superfly | Audrey Budington
Advanced | Come Learn a Galope | Pascal Gemme
Intermediate/Advanced Jam | Fiddle Tune Free-For-All! | Liz Faiella

WORKSHOP SESSION 4
Novice | Unpacking Jigs | Audrey Budington
Intermediate | Airs Tordus | Pascal Gemme
Advanced | Varying a Tune | Liz Faiella
Novice/Intermediate Jam | Scottish Tunes! | Jenna Moynihan & Dan Faiella

Please note: This is a tentative schedule and may be subject to change!

Fall Fiddle Festival Concert: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $25/adults, $20 students & older adults (under 18/65+)
Open to the public. Purchase tickets here!
REGISTRATION for the fiddle festival workshops is available online here, or by calling 603-228-1196. For questions regarding registration, please contact Director of Student Services Nicole Laurin at nlaurin@ccmusicschool.org.

Bach’s Lunch: La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, Part 1 (Lecture and Performance)
2025-10-02 12:10 - 13:10
Join contralto Melissa Elsman (our newest voice faculty) and pianist Kathryn Southworth for Part One of this lecture–recital exploring the early life and music of nineteenth-century Parisian composer Augusta Holmès. Celebrated in her lifetime yet seldom remembered today, Holmès defied societal expectations by composing on a grand scale—an endeavor deemed “masculine” and inappropriate for women of her era.
Renowned not only for her music but also for her poetry, voice, and striking presence, Holmès captivated many of the leading artists of her day. Camille Saint- Saëns is quoted as saying “We were all in love with her— literary men, savants, painters, musicians; any one of us would have been proud to make her his wife.”
This program highlights her early years, a period marked by passion, romance, and artistic inspiration. A selection of musical works and poetry written by Augusta Holmès that reflect this season of her life will be performed, including her ardent song set Les Sérénades and her fiery song cycle Les Heures.
Bios:
Melissa Elsman (voice), classical singer and music educator, holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts. She continues her studies with renowned countertenor Mark Crayton. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Melissa teaches voice to children and adults from beginner to advanced levels, in a variety of styles including classical, musical theater, and popular music. An active performer with over 20 years of experience, Melissa’s repertoire spans from art song to opera, with a special interest in lesser-known works. She has produced and performed lecture-recitals, including La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Remarkable Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, which she has toured both locally and in Chicago.
Kathryn Southworth (piano department co-chair, piano, performance workshops, Canterbury Singers) holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman and served as a musical ambassador to Costa Rica with soprano Ollie Watts Davis. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.
Bach’s Lunches are free and open to the public. They are made possible in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.

Forgotten Voices: The Courageous Women Behind the Music (at Baker Free Library)
2025-09-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Baker Library, 509 South St, Bow, 03304, United States
Join contralto Melissa Elsman and pianist Kathryn Southworth in celebrating the remarkable contributions of three extraordinary women composers of the 19th and 20th centuries: Clara Schumann, Pauline Viardot, and Amy Beach. During their lifetimes, these women made a profound impact on the musical world, earning admiration for their artistry and innovation. However, despite their achievements, their works have often been unfairly overlooked in the canon of classical music. Through captivating songs and compelling stories about their lives, this program sheds light on the challenges these women faced, the courage it took to create music in an era that often silenced their voices, and the lasting legacy they left behind.
This performance will be held at 6:30 on Monday, September 29, 2025 at the Baker Free Library (Bow, NH). It is part of CCMS’s Concord Classical Concerts series. The event is free and open to the public, thanks in part to the generosity of the Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

PERFORMERS:
Melissa Elsman (CCMS voice department) is a classical singer and music educator who holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts. She continues her studies with renowned countertenor Mark Crayton. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Melissa teaches voice to children and adults from beginner to advanced levels, in a variety of styles including classical, musical theater, and popular music. An active performer with over 20 years of experience, Melissa’s repertoire spans from art song to opera, with a special interest in lesser-known works. She has produced and performed lecture-recitals, including La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Remarkable Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, which she has toured both locally and in Chicago.
Kathryn Southworth (CCMS piano department co-chair, piano, performance workshops, Canterbury Singers) holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman and served as a musical ambassador to Costa Rica with soprano Ollie Watts Davis. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.

Fall 2025 CCMS Faculty Showcase Recital
2025-09-26 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for our Annual Faculty Showcase Recital and learn about the musical passions of our acclaimed teaching artists, who frequently perform on local, regional, and national stages. From classical masterworks to unexpected gems, our faculty recital highlights the remarkable range of CCMS’s professional musicians. This isn’t your typical buttoned-up concert—it’s vibrant, virtuosic, and full of surprises.
This year’s performers are:

Stefani Burk
Erin Dubois
Melissa Elsman
Jarred Garneau
Maria Isaak
Stephanie Jenkins
Steve Lundahl
Lisa Maxwell
Jennie O’Brien
Olga Patramanska-Bell
Grace Schust
Lindsey Schust
Kathy Southworth
Natalie Talbot
Evan Whitfield
Anita Yu
Daniel Acsadi, Executive Director of CCMS

with special guests Jim Schust and Paul Currier
The Faculty Showcase Recital is free of charge and open to the public. It is part of our Concord Classical Concerts series, which is made possible through the generosity of the Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

2025 CCMS Fall Open House
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 | CCMS
Meet our faculty and staff and tour our facilities on Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 10 am – 12 pm.
The morning includes:
• Demo Classes
• Jam Sessions
• Information Sessions
• Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo”
• Giveaways
• Refreshments
OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE

Time
Activity
Faculty Presenter(s)
Location
Age Range

10:30-12:00
Instrument “Petting Zoo”
Stef Burk, with various faculty, student volunteers
Throughout building
all

10:00-10:30
Music and Movement Class
Heather Bigelow Hearne
Community Room
up to 7 yrs

10:30-11:15
Drum Circle/ Junk Drawer Percussion Class Demo
Matt Alling
Community Room
all

10:30-11:00
Intro to Suzuki Violin
Ariel Slater
Recital Hall
4 yrs and up

11:00-11:45
Open Jam Session (Rock/Jazz)
Zeb Cruikshank
Studio A
pre-teens to adult

11:00-11:45
Folk Jam
Liz Faiella
Recital Hall
all

11:30-noon
Songweavers Open Sing
Jennie O’Brien
Community Room
teens/ adults

This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.
Our parking lot on 26 Fayette St. may fill up quickly, but there’s plenty of street parking available nearby.

Free Baroque Music Concert at Baker Free Library (Bow)
2025-08-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Baker Library, 509 South St, Bow, 03304, United States
Join CCMS on Monday, August 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM at Baker Free Library (Bow, NH) for a concert by CANTERBURY BAROQUE, which will be performing music by English and German composers for recorders, viola da gamba and keyboard in various combinations. A set of music by English composers that were inspired by birds will open the program followed by music by German composers Quantz and Telemann.
Performers include Jane Hershey, viola da gamba, Steven Lundahl, recorders, Christine Rua, recorders, and Kathryn Southworth Lundahl, keyboard.
This concert is part of Concord Community Music School’s Concord Classical Concerts series, made possible by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund.
About the performers:
Jane Hershey began her musical studies at the Longy School of Music with Gian Silbiger, and continued at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Sigiswald and Wieland Kuijken. Upon her return to the Boston area, she performed, toured and recorded with the Boston Camerata, in addition to an active freelance career as a gambist and violone player with Boston area ensembles and the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra. With regular performances at the Museum of Fine Arts with Charivary, concerts with Aston Magna, she continued to perform on violone with Arcadia Players of Western Mass. As a member of Arcadia Viols, she performs around New England and as a guest with the Folger Consort in Washington DC. In addition to her innovative work with the Viola da Gamba Society of America, Ms. Hershey teaches at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, the Powers Music School, and has directed the Early Music Ensemble at Tufts since 1995.

Christine Rua graduated magna cum laude with a B.M. from the Crane School of Music at Potsdam, NY with a teaching degree and a focus in oboe. She toured for 10 years with Cirque du Soleil’s show Varekai, having performed over 3000 shows all over the World in 25 countries, from Sydney to Seoul, Rio to Russia as well as the Royal Albert Hall in London. While with Cirque she played a wide range of instruments including recorders, flutes, oboe, clarinet, shawms, bombards, bagpipes, percussion and as a vocalist. Before Cirque she lived in the Boston area and was involved in the world of Early Music. She was inspired by the teachings and approach to sound of Marleen Montgomery, director of The Quadrivium, an ensemble who performed Early Music in innovative and creative ways and she also studied recorder with Marion Verbruggen and with Owen Watkins. Chris is a multi-instrumentalist, playing recorders, historical flutes, reeds, bagpipes and percussion as well as singing. She has performed, recorded and toured with such ensembles as The Quadrivium, Libana, The Christmas Revels in Cambridge, Washington, Philadelphia and Hanover, NH, Early Music New York, Piffaro, Ex Umbris and with Anne Azema of the Boston Camerata.

Kathryn Southworth is currently piano department co-chair at CCMS, where she teaches piano, facilitates performance workshops, and directs the Canterbury Singers, a group dedicated to Shaker music. She holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory where she also studied harpsichord, and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.

Steven Lundahl specializes in early low brass and recorders. He has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Hong Kong with such groups as the Boston Camerata, Boston Baroque, the Handel and Haydn Society, Tafelmusik, Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Project Ars Nova, Waverly Consort, Teatro Nuovo, Calliope, and more. He has participated on over 35 recordings on such labels as Telarc, Warner Classics, Angel/EMI, Harmonia Mundi (France and Germany), Erato (France), New Albion Records, and others. He teaches at the Concord Community Music School, and resides in Canterbury, NH.

Free Baroque Music Concert at Canterbury Community Church
2025-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Canterbury Community Church, 5 Center Rd., Canterbury, NH, 03224, United States
Join CCMS on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM at Canterbury Community Church for a concert by CANTERBURY BAROQUE, which will be performing music by English and German composers for recorders, viola da gamba and keyboard in various combinations. A set of music by English composers that were inspired by birds will open the program followed by music by German composers Quantz and Telemann.
Performers include Jane Hershey, viola da gamba, Steven Lundahl, recorders, Christine Rua, recorders, and Kathryn Southworth Lundahl, keyboard.
This concert is part of Concord Community Music School’s Concord Classical Concerts series, made possible by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund.
About the performers:
Jane Hershey began her musical studies at the Longy School of Music with Gian Silbiger, and continued at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Sigiswald and Wieland Kuijken. Upon her return to the Boston area, she performed, toured and recorded with the Boston Camerata, in addition to an active freelance career as a gambist and violone player with Boston area ensembles and the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra. With regular performances at the Museum of Fine Arts with Charivary, concerts with Aston Magna, she continued to perform on violone with Arcadia Players of Western Mass. As a member of Arcadia Viols, she performs around New England and as a guest with the Folger Consort in Washington DC. In addition to her innovative work with the Viola da Gamba Society of America, Ms. Hershey teaches at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, the Powers Music School, and has directed the Early Music Ensemble at Tufts since 1995.

Christine Rua graduated magna cum laude with a B.M. from the Crane School of Music at Potsdam, NY with a teaching degree and a focus in oboe. She toured for 10 years with Cirque du Soleil’s show Varekai, having performed over 3000 shows all over the World in 25 countries, from Sydney to Seoul, Rio to Russia as well as the Royal Albert Hall in London. While with Cirque she played a wide range of instruments including recorders, flutes, oboe, clarinet, shawms, bombards, bagpipes, percussion and as a vocalist. Before Cirque she lived in the Boston area and was involved in the world of Early Music. She was inspired by the teachings and approach to sound of Marleen Montgomery, director of The Quadrivium, an ensemble who performed Early Music in innovative and creative ways and she also studied recorder with Marion Verbruggen and with Owen Watkins. Chris is a multi-instrumentalist, playing recorders, historical flutes, reeds, bagpipes and percussion as well as singing. She has performed, recorded and toured with such ensembles as The Quadrivium, Libana, The Christmas Revels in Cambridge, Washington, Philadelphia and Hanover, NH, Early Music New York, Piffaro, Ex Umbris and with Anne Azema of the Boston Camerata.

Kathryn Southworth is currently piano department co-chair at CCMS, where she teaches piano, facilitates performance workshops, and directs the Canterbury Singers, a group dedicated to Shaker music. She holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory where she also studied harpsichord, and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.

Steven Lundahl specializes in early low brass and recorders. He has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Hong Kong with such groups as the Boston Camerata, Boston Baroque, the Handel and Haydn Society, Tafelmusik, Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Project Ars Nova, Waverly Consort, Teatro Nuovo, Calliope, and more. He has participated on over 35 recordings on such labels as Telarc, Warner Classics, Angel/EMI, Harmonia Mundi (France and Germany), Erato (France), New Albion Records, and others. He teaches at the Concord Community Music School, and resides in Canterbury, NH.

Free Cello Performance at Concord Public Library
2025-08-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Concord Public Library, 45 Green St., Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Join us at CPL (just down the street from CCMS) as CCMS cello instructor Jan Fuller and Harel Gietheim present a free cello performance.

Program:
Oblivion, by Astor Piazzolla
arranged by Jose Bragato
Romberg Cello Sonata
Allegro non troppo
Eccles Sonata in G minor
Largo, Corrente, Saraband, Gigue
Rachmaninoff Vocalise in E minor
Kummer, Three Cellos Duets, No. 2 in G minor
Allegro, Un Poco, Adagio

This concert is part of Concord Community Music School’s Concord Classical Concerts series, made possible by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund.
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About the Performers:
Jan Fuller, described as “a wonderful cellist and musician” by Lynn Harrell, is a Concord, NH resident and began his studies at the age of five. He has performed across the east coast as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, performing at prestigious halls such as Jordan Hall, Sanders Theater, Symphony Hall, Alice Tully, and Carnegie Hall. He has participated at festivals such as The Interlochen Music Festival, Tanglewood BUTI, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music, Heifetz International Music Institute, Aspen Music Festival, and the National Summer Cello Institute, working with artists such as Steven Doane, Uri Vardi, Lynn Harrell, Hans Jensen, Franz Helmerson, Ralph Kirshbaum, Christoph Henkle, Antonio Lysy, Desmond Hoebig, Darrett Adkins, Richard Aaron and member from the Ying Quartet. A passionate teacher, Jan continues to work with his former teacher, Harel Gietheim, as his assistant during summers at the Manchester Community Music School. Jan plays a cello made in 2007 by William Whedbee. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from The Juilliard School, studying with Timothy Eddy. His former teachers include Harel Gietheim and Natasha Brofsky.

Described as a “brilliant cellist” by the Boston Globe, Harel Gietheim has impressed audiences and critics alike with his fresh interpretations and dramatic presentation style. Equally at home as both soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Gietheim has performed across North America, Europe and Asia. Orchestra positions include appearances as principal cellist for Symphony New Hampshire, Springfield Symphony, Back Bay Chorale, and Boston Masterworks Chorale. New Hampshire’s Hippo Press singled out his solo playing as “top notch”. Mr. Gietheim has performed as soloist with groups such as Nashua Chamber Orchestra, Keshet Eylon Festival Orchestra, Longy School of Music Summer Orchestra and Newton Symphony Orchestra. Chamber music performances include collaborations with artists such as Sharon Kam, Gil Shaham, Alexander Bailey, and musicians from Boston, San Francisco, and London Symphony Orchestras. Harel Gietheim was born in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel, and began his cello studies at the age of eight. His major teachers were Uri Vardi, Michael Haran and Eric Rosenblith. He participated in many master classes with renowned cellists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Janos Starker, and Aldo Parisot. He is a faculty member at Manchester Community Music School and St. Paul’s School.

Forgotten Voices: The Courageous Women Behind the Music (at Canterbury Parish House Community Center)
2025-06-29 19:00 - 20:00
Join contralto Melissa Elsman and pianist Kathryn Southworth in celebrating the remarkable contributions of three extraordinary women composers of the 19th and 20th centuries: Clara Schumann, Pauline Viardot, and Amy Beach. During their lifetimes, these women made a profound impact on the musical world, earning admiration for their artistry and innovation. However, despite their achievements, their works have often been unfairly overlooked in the canon of classical music. Through captivating songs and compelling stories about their lives, this program sheds light on the challenges these women faced, the courage it took to create music in an era that often silenced their voices, and the lasting legacy they left behind.
Canterbury Parish House Community Center is located in Canterbury, NH.

PERFORMERS:
Melissa Elsman (voice), classical singer and music educator, holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Performance from Chicago College of Performing Arts. She continues her studies with renowned countertenor Mark Crayton. A member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Melissa teaches voice to children and adults from beginner to advanced levels, in a variety of styles including classical, musical theater, and popular music. An active performer with over 20 years of experience, Melissa’s repertoire spans from art song to opera, with a special interest in lesser-known works. She has produced and performed lecture-recitals, including La Femme Vaillante: Reviving the Remarkable Musical Legacy of Augusta Holmès, which she has toured both locally and in Chicago.
Kathryn Southworth (piano department co-chair, piano, performance workshops, Canterbury Singers) holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.M. in Vocal Accompanying and Coaching from the University of Illinois. She held a graduate assistantship as staff accompanist under the tutelage of acclaimed accompanist John Wustman and served as a musical ambassador to Costa Rica with soprano Ollie Watts Davis. She has been a collaborative pianist for Opera North, Dartmouth College, Plymouth State University, and Boston Ballet, and has also served as music director, accompanist, and organist for many theater and choral groups in New England. Kathy is currently music director and organist for the Canterbury United Community Church. Former faculty positions include St. Paul’s School and Plymouth State University.
This event is part of CCMS’s Concord Classical Concerts series. It is free and open to the public, thanks in part to the generosity of the Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

CCMS at Market Days Festival 2025
2025-06-26 - 2025-06-28 | Downtown Concord, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH, 03301
Our presence at Market Days is twice as nice this year! We doubled our booth space, allowing lots of room for you to meet our staff, take a sample class, enjoy our musical instrument petting zoo, and more! Like past years, we’ll be located right in front of the State House.
We’ll also be walking the festival wearing our CCMS t-shirts, so if you happen to see us anywhere, please feel free to say hi!
(And did we mention the kazoos are back?)
Check Out Our Special Market Days Events!
Thursday, June 26:
12-1 pm – Bee Skep Puppet Theatre presents a Puppet Show
Kids Stage, Eagle Square
A fun and fanciful puppet show performed by Jonny Clockworks of Bee Skep Puppetry, designed for ages 3 years to 12 years.
12-2 pm – Instrument Petting Zoo and Music Therapy Q&A Sessions
CCMS’s Market Days Booth (in front of State House)
with Tony Varga
3-4 pm – Storytime & Music and Movement Class
Kids Stage, Eagle Square
Join Miss Heather for a chance to sing, dance, move, and play! Designed for children ages 5 months to 8 years and their parents or caregivers.
Friday, June 27:
10-10:45 am – Music and Movement Class
Under the Tree, Statehouse Lawn (orange zone)
Join Miss Heather for a chance to sing, dance, move, and play! Designed for children ages 5 months to 8 years and their parents or caregivers.
11 am -1 pm – Instrument Petting Zoo and Music Therapy Q&A Sessions
CCMS’s Market Days Booth (in front of State House)
with Tony Varga
12-1 pm – Bee Skep Puppet Theatre presents a Puppet Show
Kids Stage, Eagle Square
A fun and fanciful puppet show performed by Jonny Clockworks of Bee Skep Puppetry, designed for ages 3 years to 12 years.
2-4 pm – Suzuki Violin Demonstrations and Q&A
CCMS’s Market Days Booth (in front of State House)
with Ariel Slater
Saturday, June 28:
10-10:45 am – Music and Movement Class
Under the Tree, Statehouse Lawn (orange zone)
Join Miss Heather for a chance to sing, dance, move, and play! Designed for children ages 5 months to 8 years and their parents or caregivers.
12-1 pm – Drum Circle
Kids Stage, Eagle Square
Join Jared Steer for a drum circle on the family stage! Fun for all ages and drums will be provided!
2-4 pm – Suzuki Violin Demonstrations and Q&A
CCMS’s Market Days Booth (in front of State House)
With Ariel Slater
Our Eagle Square activities are made possible in part via a Grant from Concord Walmart

Piano Somatics Institute with Alan Fraser
2025-06-20 - 2025-06-22 | CCMS Recital Hall
New England’s first post-pandemic Piano Somatics Institute returns to Concord this year on June 20 – 22, with two special free introductory events on Friday, June 20 in the Recital Hall. This is the perfect opportunity to discover how Alan Fraser and Piano Somatics can help improve your piano playing – even create a breakthrough!
FREE INTRODUCTORY LECTURE FOR YOUNG PIANISTS – FRIDAY, 4 PM
In the first introductory seminar, Alan will introduce young pianists to Pianimals, the first ever piano method based on the Feldenkrais Method. The children will be taken through a series of exercises to improve how the hand stands, walks, runs and jumps on key, and a couple of mini-demo lessons given to volunteers from the audience will show how it works in practice. This is a free event open to all interested pianists and their families and friends.
FREE INTRODUCTORY LECTURE FOR TEENS AND ADULTS – FRIDAY, 5 PM
The second hour is dedicated to older CCMS students and staff (teens and adults), with exercises taken not only from Pianimals but from Fraser’s other books on piano technique. Again, audience members will be taken through a series of movements for the hand, and then shown in a couple of small demo lessons how these strategies can quickly transform one’s ability and sound at the keyboard. This is also a free event open to all interested pianists, their families and friends.

INSTITUTE REGISTRATION
If you know you want to attend the institute, you can register on Alan Fraser’s website here. If you are not sure, you will have a chance to register at the conclusion of the free events Friday afternoon (space permitting).
OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PIANISTS
The Institute is open to all interested pianists:

students who wish to improve their sound and agility
amateurs who wish to feel more in command of the instrument
teachers who want new ways of teaching technique to their students
professionals who wish to hone their skills to the highest possible level.

There is no limit to improvement!
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS: CCMS STUDENTS AND STAFF
CCMS students and staff are welcome to audit the institute at no charge, and receive a generous discount for active participation.
ABOUT ALAN FRASER
Canadian pianist Alan Fraser gives master classes and recitals worldwide and conducts ongoing research and refinement on the ideas put forth in his three books, The Craft of Piano Playing (also in DVD), Honing the Pianistic Self-Image, and All Thumbs: Well-Coordinated Piano Technique. He is at work on several new volumes. Visit here for more on Alan Fraser.
If you have concerns or questions about your participation in the institute and would like to address them directly to Alan Fraser, send him an email.
To view the full weekend workshop schedule, lecture topics, and registration, please visit Alan Fraser’s website: https://www.alanfraserinstitute.com/21-usa-concord.php

NH Trumpet Day
2025-05-31 09:30 - 17:00
Join us for NH Trumpet Day on Saturday, May 31 at the Music School, featuring workshops by Phil Snedecor from the Hartt School. The workshops run from 9:30 am – 5 pm, and sessions include sound production, performance masterclass, trumpet listening, and a NH Jazz All State Workshop. Plus, Ellis Music will be on site offering trumpet demos of new Bach and Yamaha trumpets. This event is FREE and open to the public for all levels and ages. To register and learn more, please visit: https://forms.gle/geBc4WwD23vvQevh8 or email sean.andersonmusic@gmail.com.
Download a PDF poster
This event is organized by CCMS trumpet faculty Sean Anderson.

CCMS Student Recitals - May 29, 2025
2025-05-29 18:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall
Student recitals are part of the Concord Community Music School’s multi-level curriculum for private lesson students. These frequent performance opportunities help our students perform more easily, broaden their musical skills, and help them make new musical friends.
Tonight, there will be back-to-back recitals at 6 pm and 7pm.
These events will be held in our historic Recital Hall. They are free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

Songweaver Drummers Recital - Spring 2025
2025-05-28 19:00 - 20:00
Songweaver Drummers is open to intermediate and experienced women drummers with at least one year’s experience, where they can learn African hand-drumming techniques taught in the oral tradition.
This recital is free and open to the public. It will be held in our Community Room.

New Horizons Band Concert- May 2025
2025-05-22 18:30 - 19:30
5/22/25 UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, this event will be held in our historic Recital Hall.
The New Horizons Band is a community band that welcomes adults of all ages who play woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments. No auditions, no requirements, just reasonable comfort on your instrument to get started.
Under the direction of Maria Isaak, New Horizons at CCMS is a supportive group for those who have always wanted to learn an instrument, those who haven’t played in years, and even players who have kept their music making current and desire to play in a concert band setting.
Learn more about the Band at ccmusicschool.org/new-horizons-band/

We Will Rise (Joint Northern Lights / Canterbury Singers Concert)
2025-05-18 17:30 - 19:00 | Wesley United Methodist Church, 79 Clinton St., Concord, NH, 03301, United States
This year marks the second annual joint concert with Canterbury Singers and Northern Lights Women’s Vocal Ensemble. Each group will present a short set of songs and then join forces to sing some uplifting Gospel music.
Location:
Wesley United Methodist Church, 79 Clinton St., Concord, NH
Tickets:
$15 (advance purchase suggested at https://square.link/u/4nG9hist )

Seussical Jr. (With Purple Finches Youth Chorus; Sun Matinee)
2025-05-18 14:00 - 15:30
A musical perfect for the whole family, Seussical JR (performed by our Purple Finches Youth Chorus and directed by Maria Isaak) takes us into the world of Dr. Seuss, where we revisit beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo.
The Cat in the Hat guides us into The Jungle of Nool where we see Horton, the kind-hearted elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child reprimanded for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird. Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him and eventually, the two fall in love.
Seussical JR weaves a story of friendship, loyalty, and love. Despite all odds, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton, and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool.
Seussical JR teaches us the power of being unique, and the importance of fighting for your beliefs.

Performance dates and times are:
Friday, May 16, 2025: 6:30 PM
Saturday, May 17, 2025: 2 PM and 6:30 PM
Sunday, May 18, 2025: 2 PM

Tickets are $10/pp (all ages). Please use the following links to purchase tickets
Friday, 6:30 PM show: https://square.link/u/wq5k69NO
Saturday, 2 PM matinee: https://square.link/u/AiRKX9k1
Saturday, 6:30 PM show: https://square.link/u/e7BdkT6D
Sunday, 2 PM matinee: https://square.link/u/BoJwiVOy

Seussical Jr. (With Purple Finches Youth Chorus; Sat PM)
2025-05-17 18:30 - 20:00

Seussical Jr. (With Purple Finches Youth Chorus; Sat Matinee)
2025-05-17 14:00 - 15:30

Seussical Jr. (With Purple Finches Youth Chorus; Fri PM SOLD OUT)
2025-05-16 18:30 - 20:00
A musical perfect for the whole family, Seussical JR (performed by our Purple Finches Youth Chorus and directed by Maria Isaak) takes us into the world of Dr. Seuss, where we revisit beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo.
The Cat in the Hat guides us into The Jungle of Nool where we see Horton, the kind-hearted elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child reprimanded for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird. Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him and eventually, the two fall in love.
Seussical JR weaves a story of friendship, loyalty, and love. Despite all odds, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton, and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool.
Seussical JR teaches us the power of being unique, and the importance of fighting for your beliefs.

Performance dates and times are:
Friday, May 16, 2025: 6:30 PM – SOLD OUT
Saturday, May 17, 2025: 2 PM and 6:30 PM
Sunday, May 18, 2025: 2 PM

Tickets are $10/pp (all ages). Please use the following links to purchase tickets
Friday, 6:30 PM show: https://square.link/u/wq5k69NO- SOLD OUT
Saturday, 2 PM matinee: https://square.link/u/AiRKX9k1
Saturday, 6:30 PM show: https://square.link/u/e7BdkT6D
Sunday, 2 PM matinee: https://square.link/u/BoJwiVOy

CCMS Adult Student Recital - May 14, 2025
2025-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall
Student recitals are part of the Concord Community Music School’s multi-level curriculum for private lesson students. These frequent performance opportunities help our students perform more easily, broaden their musical skills, and help them make new musical friends.
This event will be held in our Community Room. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

CANCELLED - CCMS Student Recital - May 9, 2025
2025-05-09 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall
This event has been cancelled. We welcome you to attend our other events and happenings.
Student recitals are part of the Concord Community Music School’s multi-level curriculum for private lesson students. These frequent performance opportunities help our students perform more easily, broaden their musical skills, and help them make new musical friends.
This event will be held in our historic Recital Hall. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
