Symphonic sounds will weave their way through historic downtown New Bedford this summer with the return of Sonata Saturdays.

This free outdoor concert series, now in its third season, is a partnership between The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (NBSO), New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, and The Drawing Room.

The fourth Saturday of each month, small groups of NBSO musicians will delight the neighborhood and summer visitors with a variety of classical and popular music.

This year, Sonata Saturdays will be held in the garden of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center, located at 33 William Street, on the 4th Saturday of June, July, August, and September from 4-6 pm. Musicians will perform twice each day, with programs beginning at 4-4:45 pm and repeating at 5-5:45 pm. Some chairs will be provided, but you may also bring your own to secure a seat. 

Each Saturday will include special events at The Drawing Room, including wine tastings, locally-grown flowers, baked and frozen treats, and of course, artful treasures inside the art and design shop. Stop by and experience something beautiful. 

Sonata Saturdays 2023 Program

June 24:  Jennifer Memoli, violin and Bonnie Harlow, cello
Jennifer Memoli, violin, and Bonnie Harlow, cello, will be performing a mixture of Baroque, Romantic, and Classical music. These pieces were written between the 1700s and 1900s. The Baroque era includes renowned composers such as Johan Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frederick Handel. The Romantic era includes composers such as Berlioz, Schumann, Beethoven, and Mozart. The Classical era had other wonderful composers, such as Chopin, Sibelius, Verdi, Dvorak, and Vaughn Williams.

July 22: Anna Griffis (viola) and her partner Jensen Ling (bassoon)
Violist Anna Griffis and bassoonist Jensen Ling highlight the pairing of two instruments with a natural affinity but very little music expressly written for them. This program spams the baroque to the 20th century with pieces arranged (or finagled) to fit the bassoon and viola. Works include J.S. Bach's Four Duets, Beethoven's Duo for Clarinet and Bassoon in C major, Rebecca Clarke's Lullaby and Grotesque, and Phillip Hersant's Duo Sephardim, the only work written specifically for this instrumentation. 

August 26: The Horns of the New Bedford Symphony Present: Horns in Harmony
The Horns of the New Bedford Symphony perform a variety of works that celebrate the versatility and unique character of the instrument, with its rich and powerful sound being utilized in various ways throughout the program. The concert begins with an arrangement of Mozart’s uplifting and virtuosic Magic Flute Overture and continues with suites by Alfred Reed and Nikolai Tcherepnin, which showcase the different characters of the horn in short movements ranging from courtly tunes, to folks songs, to rousing hunting calls. The program concludes with four selections from Lowell Shaw’s lighthearted and jazzy “Fripperies” for horn quartet.

September 23: Timothy Macri, flute and Luis Avila, guitar
Timothy Macri and Luis Avila have worked as a duo for 10 years. Their programs often include multi-cultural music, classical, show tunes and, occasionally, a vocal or two by Mr. Macri! Impromptu sing-alongs have even been known to break out from time to time! Audiences always find their programs fun and engaging.

The NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music as well as an outstanding chamber music series. In addition, the NBSO’s innovative and nationally recognized educational programs reach thousands of students each year in local schools and through open access online. The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org today.

Established on November 12, 1996, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park serves as a model for community partnerships in the National Park Service. Located in the urban setting of downtown New Bedford that spans over 13 city blocks, the park and its partners preserve, protect, and interpret the cultural resources associated with the history of the American whaling industry. The park is more than whaling as it includes stories of global immigration, Underground Railroad, women’s history, cultural diversity, architecture, art, and their relevance to current topics. The Visitor Center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford and is open every Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Park Rangers offer orientation to visitors, maps, and brochures on the surrounding area. The building is wheelchair-accessible and is fee-free. For more information, call 508-996-4095, visit nps.gov/NEBE or follow the park’s social media accounts on Facebook.com/NewBedfordNPS and Instagram.com/NewBedfordNPS. 

The Drawing Room is a carefully curated art, design, and wine shop located in historic New Bedford, featuring original work by regional artists who create paintings, pottery, jewelry, artful gifts, and home furnishings. Committed to a vibrant New Bedford, The Drawing Room also hosts free public events throughout the year, including artist talks, wine tastings, pop-up events, and outdoor concerts. Learn more at shop.anthif.com.