| Boston Landmarks Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | Classical |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Website | landmarksorchestra.org |
| Members | |
| Conductor and Founder Charles Ansbacher |
|
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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The Boston Landmarks Orchestra was founded in January 2001 by Charles Ansbacher [1] to perform free concerts for the Boston community in significant locations around the city. The Landmarks Orchestra is one of two orchestras in the United States that offers high-quality classical concerts for free.[2] By presenting high-quality music performances in historical places, the Orchestra hopes to introduce new audiences to classical music while bringing together the diverse communities of the area.
The mission of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra is
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra has started its second decade with a move to WGBH's offices at 10 Guest Street in Boston, MA. It also hired Christopher Wilkins as its new Music Director.
The Boston Landmarks Orchestra collaborates with Boston-area organizations such as schools, community centers, churches, museums, environmental groups and senior centers to devise educational partnerships of various forms, including work experience for youth, guest lectures and open rehearsals.
For the 2003 season, the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, through a grant from State Street, commissioned composer Daniel Pinkham to create a work based on Robert McCloskey's beloved children's book Make Way for Ducklings. The premiere took place on the Boston Common on June 21, 2003 and there were concerts in communities all over eastern Massachusetts throughout that summer. In the summer of 2004, a recording of Make Way for Ducklings, narrated by Senator Kennedy, was released by Landmarks Recordings.
In summer 2004, the Orchestra commissioned a work by Julian Wachner, based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Paul Revere’s Ride. The Orchestra performed Wachner’s work throughout summer 2004, and partnered with the Paul Revere House in the development of pre-concert workshops. A recording of this work, also narrated by Senator Kennedy was released in spring 2005. For summer 2005, the orchestra commissioned The Journey of Phillis Wheatley by Nkeiru Okoye, with text by Carolivia Herron.