MCC to Celebrate Lowell Bicentennial and 25th Anniversary of “A World of Music”

Middlesex Community College is excited to host a performance in honor of the Lowell Bicentennial and the 25th anniversary of the “A World of Music” concert series. Sponsored by a City of Lowell Bicentennial Grant, the celebration will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 11 at MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center, Recital Hall, in Lowell.

“We are so excited to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ‘A World of Music’ concert series this season,” said Carmen Rodríguez-Peralta, MCC’s Chair of Music. “Our very first concert in this series was in October 2001, and we are commemorating this with two celebration concerts in October, one on each campus. Each concert will feature MCC faculty, students, alumni, guest artists, and a poetry reading, and the Lowell concert will include the Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO). We are so grateful for the enthusiastic and supportive audiences we have had over the past 25 years!”

To combine these celebrations, the LCO, as well as MCC music faculty, students and alumni, will perform music which reflects the diversity and excitement of Lowell. Cambodian music, Afro-Brazilian drumming, jazz improvisations, and celebratory music by American composers Aaron Copland, Eric Ewazen, and a world premiere by MCC faculty member Pamela Marshall will be intertwined in this program.

MCC faculty members Raley Beggs, guitarist; Todd Brunel, clarinetist; Orlando Cela, conductor and flutist; Daniel Fridley, bass singer; Pamela Marshall, composer; Carmen Rodríguez-Peralta, pianist; Marcus Santos, Afro-Brazilian percussion; and the MCC guitar ensemble will be featured. MCC President Phil Sisson will read a poem by Jack Kerouac.

“I'm thrilled to be part of MCC’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ‘World of Music’ concert series,” Cela said. “This milestone is especially meaningful to me because I first performed as part of the series as a flutist about 20 years ago, long before the LCO became MCC’s resident orchestra. To return now with the LCO and help celebrate a program that has brought people together through music and cultures from around the world for so long, feels like coming full circle. We are honored to be part of its history and excited to celebrate its future.”

Additional “A World of Music” performances include the Bedford 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 30 in Bedford; Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 8 in Bedford; a second performance by the LCO at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 22 in Lowell; and a Student Recital at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 7 in Bedford.

All concerts are free and open to the public.

MCC’s Academic Arts Center is located at 240 Central Street in Lowell. With parking not available on site, the nearest public parking facility is the Early Garage on 135 Middlesex St.

Learn more about MCC's "A World of Music" concert series!