Young People’s Concert Series

The Series is funded by a generous grant from the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation

Initiated in 2002, the series introduces great music and theater to entertain, inspire and educate by providing off-island field trips to Cape Symphony Orchestra, outreach programs on-island by Cape Symphony musicians, annual trips to attend Boston Ballet performances and Family Concerts showcasing young, emerging artists.

The Nantucket Arts Council is grateful to the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation for their generous support of our Young People’s Concert Series, which in 2008 has included two trips to Boston for 100 young Nantucket ballet students and their chaperones to attend Boston Ballet performances of Romeo & Juliet and Swan Lake. The Foundation’s support also allowed the Arts Council to bring over the Tanglewood Marionettes, who staged an outstanding show in early May for a crowd of over 200 Nantucket children and 100 adults in Bennett Hall.

A “Kiddie Shakes” children’s workshop sponsored by the Foundation took place during the 4th Annual Nantucket Shakespeare Festival, providing children an opportunity to interact with professional actors from Shakespeare on the Cape in a children’s production of “The Tempest.”
Additionally, the Foundation has provided support for two chamber concerts in the summer and fall of 2008.  The first took place on June 8 at the Coffin School and featured pianist Heng-Jin Park and her sons, violinist Paris Ellsworth and cellist Jonah Ellsworth.  Ms. Park also lead an outreach program at Nantucket Elementary School the following day. 

The second concert series of 2008 will take place on September 26 and will feature cellist Matt Haimovitz and pianist Geoff Burleson.  The first performance--a chamber concert--takes place on Friday, September 26 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Coffin School, 4 Winter Street.  Joining cellist Haimovitz in performing works by Beethoven, Carter, Schumann and Barber will be pianist Geoff Burleson, who has performed to wide acclaim throughout Europe and North America, and is active as a recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and jazz performer. Admission is $25 for adults and $20 for Arts Council members.  Students are admitted free.

 “Cellos Rock at the Box” is the second performance in the weekend series on Saturday, September 27 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Chicken Box, 14 Dave Street. Joining maverick cellist Haimovitz in an innovative concert showcasing his adventurous musical style will be well-known Nantucket cellists Mollie Glazer and Ethan Philbrick.  Admission at the door for the Chicken Box concert is $20.  Students are admitted free.  All proceeds will support the Young People’s Concert Series.

In addition to the concerts, three educational programs will be conducted during the weekend.  On Friday, September 26 at 11 a.m., Haimovitz will perform for students at the New School.  On Saturday, September 27, Haimovitz will conduct a master class for cellists of all ages at 10 a.m. followed by a master class for pianists at 11 a.m. by Burleson.  Both master classes will be held at the Preservation Institute: Nantucket at 11 Centre Street and are open to the public at no charge, thanks to support from the Nantucket Golf Club.

The concerts and other performances are being arranged by Arts Council advisory committee member Evi Musser, who directs the Young People’s Concert Series.

Nantucket Arts Council, PO Box 2176, Nantucket MA 02584 PH: (508) 325-8588