Boston Landmarks Orchestra builds community through great music.
“These concerts further emphasize the series’ mission to make
world-class music accessible to communities all over Boston.”
– Celina Colby, The Bay State Banner (August 2021)
Unique Programming– Landmarks showcases works by composers of color and women, who orchestras have historically ignored. We often perform styles outside the Western canon such as jazz, spirituals, and hip-hop. We also feature music from around the world like Haiti, Syria, Armenia, and Korea.
Community Collaboration– Authentic, reciprocal collaboration with diverse groups is at the heart of Landmarks programming. Almost every concert involves at least one community partner! Many of our commissioned pieces have been co-written by Black, brown, and low-income students from organizations like Camp Harbor View and ZUMIX. Other longtime partners include Conservatory Lab Charter School, Boston String Academy, Jean Appolon Expressions, and Castle of Our Skins.
Breaking Down Barriers– Our Breaking Down Barriers initiative increases access to our concerts for those with disabilities. Accommodations include text-to-speech digital programs, a priority seating section, and ambassadors to greet and assist concertgoers. ASL interpreters communicate the feeling of the music performed from the stage. Another barrier that Landmarks has broken down is financial: Every Landmarks concert is 100% free to attend.
Landmarks is excited to work with Not Impossible Labs to bring their haptic suits to our Hatch Shell concert on August 21 at 7:00pm. These wearable units strap around a person’s back, wrists, and ankles, and they can convert a live performance into vibrations in real time. This allows the wearer to feel the music as it happens. Inspired by the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, this technology provides all users a unique and nuanced music experience. Not Impossible Labs haptic suits have been used by Opera Philadelphia and Lincoln Center, and we are excited to join this list.
Learn more:
Link to “A Way to Feel the Music through Your Skin” (New York Times)
Link to “Introducing Music: Not Impossible” video (Not Impossible Labs)
For more information, please contact Emilia De Leo at [email protected] or 617-987-2000, ext. 103
Another barrier that Landmarks has broken down is financial. We are proud to participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. Together, we enable EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders greater access to cultural programming, including our concerts, which are 100% free to attend. See the full list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare.