Education and Community Outreach
The Newton Symphony Orchestra engages in a number of activities throughout the year designed to enhance the Local and Classical Music communities. These activities include the folowing:.
The Lasker Young Soloist Competition and Free Family Concert
The Lasker Competition was established in 1967 in honor of NSO founders Gertrude and Henry Lasker. The late Henry Lasker was a distinguished music educator, composer, author, and teacher at Newton North High School where the Lasker Auditorium is named in his honor. Gertrude Lasker continues to serve on the NSO Board. The winners of the Primary, Middle, and High School categories have the unique opportunity to perform with the NSO at the annual free Family Concert. Many winners from previous years have gone on to careers in music, and all have carried with them the memory of substantial accomplishment and joy. Sebastian Baverstam, a recent winner, performed the Schumann Cello Concerto with the NSO a short time before making his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra playing the same work.
Children's Programs
Youth groups and senior citizens are invited to NSO dress rehearsals free of charge and concert tickets are discounted for these groups. The Newton Symphony Chamber Players and soloists from the orchestra have offered education and entertainment programs in local youth centers such as the Newton Boys and Girls Club.
Other Collaborations
The NSO collaborates with other organizations to bring special and culturally diverse performances to the Boston area. In 2001, in partnership with the Polish-American community, NSO gave a concert at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston to commemorate the centennial celebration of Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, Primate of Poland and Archbishop of Warsaw. The NSO has collaborated with the Chinese Arts Exchange for several years in the "East Meets West" series, performing both Western and Chinese music in sold out performances at Boston's Symphony Hall and New York City's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
