Forgotten Voices: The Courageous Women Behind the Music (at Baker Free Library)
2025-09-29 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 (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.

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.

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.

CCMS Student Recital - November 7, 2025
2025-11-07 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.
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.

2025 Allstate Audition Workshop (Cello)
2025-11-09 13:30 | CCMS
Ace your Allstate Audition! In this workshop for cello 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: Sunday, November 9, 2025
Time: 1:30-3:30 PM
Instructors: Jan Fuller
Cost: $15 (FREE for current CCMS students)
Register:
If you are a current CCMS student, please email Nicole Laurin, Director of Student Services, at nlaurin@ccmusicschool.org to register.

Bach’s Lunch: NH Premiere of "In Blackwater Woods"
2025-11-13 12:10 - 12:50
Stephen James, composer, turns collaborative pianist and is joined by soprano Jennie O’Brien for the premiere performance in New Hampshire of his song cycle In Blackwater Woods, set to poems by Mary Oliver. The song cycle includes seven remarkable poems of Mary Oliver which explore moments in her life, the wonders of nature and human reactions to life and the world. Her sometimes surprising point of view will sometimes make you smile, sometimes make you cry, sometimes give you an “a-ha” moment. Jennie and Stephen have often collaborated through the years and are excited to present this new piece of work as part of the Bach’s Lunch series.

Bios:
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.
Jennie O’Brien is a graduate of Boston University with Bachelor of Music, one in Vocal Performance and the other in Music Education and a Master’s in Education from University of Massachusetts Boston specializing in teaching students with visual impairments. A soloist for several area churches and with Stephen James, Jennie has also performed with Newton Choral Society, Longy Chamber Singers, Broadmoor Chamber Singers, Vokes Theater, Revels, Inc., In Good Company, and her own trio Crooked Mowth. Jennie teaches Voice, co-directs Euphonias teen chorus and directs Songweavers women’s chorus all at Concord Community Music School. Additionally, Jennie teaches voice and theatre arts at Perkins School for the Blind. Jennie formerly taught at New England Conservatory in the Continuing Education department and was a board member of the theater group, In Good Company.
Bach’s Lunches are free and open to the public. They are made possible in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.

Wagner’s Women: Archetypes and Inspirations
2025-11-15 19:00 - 20:30
Come join us as we step into Wagner’s world, where love, loyalty, and redemption burn at the heart of opera’s most unforgettable heroines. In this fun and engagingly narrated concert, we’ll explore the women who shaped Wagner’s life and discover how his search for loyalty and faithfulness in turn shaped the unforgettable heroines of his operas. Experience these towering figures and timeless themes brought vividly to life by soaring voices performed in a way you’ve never heard them before; up close and personal.
The Berlin Wagner Group is an international opera company based in Berlin, Germany and New Hampshire dedicated to supporting dramatic opera singers in mastering new roles and bringing the works of Richard Wagner to broader and underserved audiences. It achieves this through innovative programming, including full opera productions, semi-staged highlight concerts, and its signature Snackable Wagner© concert series.
Performers:
Award-winning soprano Jenny Ribeiro has been seen on opera, concert and recital stages throughout the United States and Europe. Roles include Ortlinde in Die Walküre, Dritte Norn in Götterdämmerung, Mrs. McNeill in Breaking the Waves, Giulietta in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Musetta and Mimi in La Boheme, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Lady Macbeth and Dama in Lady Macbeth, Geraldine in A Hand of Bridge, and Lady Billows in Albert Herring. Jenny has performed with Detroit Opera, Teatro Nuovo, Bard Summerscape Theater, New York Dramatic Voices Opera Noire of New York, Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Bremerton Symphony Orchestra, The Collegiate Chorale, New York Virtuoso Singers, Hudson Valley Singers, and Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and many others. She is a frequent recitalist and interpreter of concert work and oratorio, including Mahler’s Symphony No. 2., Brahms Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem and more. She is also a wife to amazing husband Brian, mom to two kids (Josh/10 and Kiki/8) and a producer/educator/company administrator who teaches as a full time professor at Albion College in Michigan, is on the board of the international non-profit Berlin Wagner Group and is the founder of Michigan Opera Outreach in Lansing, MI.
Dramatic soprano Joanna Parisi has earned international acclaim for her commanding performances in Wagner, Verdi, and verismo repertoire. In 2026 she will sing the title role of Salome by Richard Strauss at West Bay Opera in California. Recent Wagnerian highlights include Brünnhilde in Die Walküre with the Miami Wagner Institute (2024) and New York Dramatic Voices (2025), and Brünnhilde in Götterdämmerung with the Moravian Symphony Orchestra (2025). She sang Elsa in Wagner’s Lohengrin at Utah Festival Opera (2023). Parisi is a finalist of the 2024 Lauritz Melchior International Wagner Competition in Aalborg, Denmark, and a winner of both the Maria Callas Award (Rome/New York, 2022) and Enrico Caruso Award (New York, 2023). She has also appeared in leading roles across Europe, Asia, North and South America, including Verdi’s Aida, Don Carlo, Nabucco and Il trovatore, as well as Puccini’s Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Critics have described her as “born to sing Wagnerian roles” and “a soprano to watch, rich in voice and beauty”.
Mezzo/contralto Rachel Barg is acclaimed for her “wondrous depth of sound” (Opera News) and “plummy mezzo” (Opera Today). Earlier this year, she performed the role of Mrs. Herring in Albert Herring with Opera Baltimore. In the 2023-2024 season, Rachel showcased her versatility singing Giovanna and covering Maddalena in Opera Delaware and Opera Baltimore’s co-production of Rigoletto, as well as singing Larina and covering Olga in Eugene Onegin with Opera Baltimore. Additionally, she covered Amneris in Aida at Opera Maine. During the 2022-2023 season, Rachel was a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, where she performed as Mrs. Ott in Patricia Racette’s production of Susannah, and portrayed Tisbe in Opera Maine’s La Cenerentola.
CCMS Faculty and Pianist Kathryn Southworth 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.
CCMS Faculty and Soprano Jennie O’Brien is a graduate of Boston University with Bachelor of Music, one in Vocal Performance and the other in Music Education and a Master’s in Education from University of Massachusetts Boston specializing in teaching students with visual impairments. A soloist for several area churches, Jennie has also performed with Newton Choral Society, Longy Chamber Singers, Broadmoor Chamber Singers, Vokes Theater, Revels, Inc., In Good Company, and her own trio Crooked Mowth. Jennie teaches voice, theatre arts, vocal ensembles, and independent living skills at Perkins School for the Blind. Jennie also teaches at New England Conservatory in the Continuing Education department and is a board member of the theater group, In Good Company.
This performance is free and open to the public. It is made possible in part by the City of Concord, the Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and the generosity of individual donors. It is part of CCMS’s Concord Classical Concerts series.

2025 Allstate Audition Workshop (Cello)
2025-11-19 18:00 - 20:00 | CCMS
Ace your Allstate Audition! In this workshop for cello 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 19, 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Instructors: Jan Fuller
Cost: $15 (FREE for current CCMS students)
Register:
If you are a current CCMS student, please email Nicole Laurin, Director of Student Services, at nlaurin@ccmusicschool.org to register.

CCMS Student Recital - November 21, 2025
2025-11-21 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

Bach's Lunch: Canterbury Singers 2025 Holiday Recital and Sing-Along
2025-12-04 12:10 - 13:00 | CCMS Recital Hall
The Canterbury Singers are back with “Sing We Nowell!”, another concert of fun and traditional holiday tunes as well as selections from the Shaker, Deep South, and Gospel traditions. The audience will be joining us for our traditional carol singing, too!
All Bach’s Lunch performances are free and open to the public. They are presented in part through the generosity of the Walker Fund.
About the Canterbury Singers:
The Canterbury Singers partner with the Canterbury Shaker Village to present authentic Shaker music, expanded by arrangements of American folk songs, music of early America, and inspired arrangements by a variety of composers. One of the very few non-auditioned, high quality professionally directed choral experiences for mixed voices (men and women blended ensemble) in the Capital Area.

CCMS Student Recital - December 12, 2025
2025-12-12 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

Purple Finches Dec 2025 Winter Concert
2025-12-15 18:30 - 19:30
Join us for a winter concert by our Purple Finches Youth Chorus. This group is led by Maria Isaak and will be accompanied tonight by pianist Kathy Southworth.
The ensemble is composed of three divisions to allow for an age-appropriate sequence of musical development. Participants learn basic music elements through high quality literature such as rhythm, solfège, ear-training, memory development, hand signs, and proper singing technique based on Kodály methods. For children also learning an instrument, it strengthens sight-reading, ear-training, and rhythmic security. For others, it’s an excellent introduction to music. And for all, it’s a rich experience of creativity and self-expression.
This event is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
Learn more about the Purple Finches at ccmusicschool.org/purple-finches-youth-chorus/

Adult Student Recital - December 17, 2025
2025-12-17 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 performance features our adult students, across a variety of genres.
This event will be held in our Community Room. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

Flute Studio Recital - December 18, 2025
2025-12-18 18:30 - 19:30 | 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 performance features the students of CCMS flute faculty members Erin Dubois and Natalie Talbot.
This event will be held in our Community Room. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

CCMS Student Recital - December 19, 2025 (2 Recitals!)
2025-12-19 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.
Recitals to be held at 6 & 7PM. Each lasts one hour.
These events will be held in our historic Recital Hall. They are free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

CCMS Student Recital - January 15, 2026
2026-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

CCMS Student Recital - January 16, 2026
2026-01-16 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

CCMS New Horizons Band 2026 Winter Concert
2026-01-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Concord High School, 170 Warren St., Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Get ready to experience the warmth of music this winter!
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/
This concert will be held at Concord High School. It is free, open to the public, and made possible in part due to the support of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Ellen Downing Waite and Edward Osgood Waite Fund.
(Snow date is Thu, Jan 29.)

CCMS Integrated Arts Recital - Feb 19, 2026
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:00
Student recitals are part of the 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 performance is extra-special because participants have the opportunity to display visual art they have created, using their music as inspiration. These images will be projected on screen as they perform.
This event will be held in our historic Recital Hall. It is free of charge and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

CCMS Student Recital - March 13, 2026
2026-03-13 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

CCMS Student Recital - April 24, 2026
2026-04-24 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

Adult Student Recital - May 13, 2026
2026-05-13 19:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall

CCMS Student Recital - May 15, 2026 (2 Recitals!)
2026-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 | CCMS Recital Hall
