Things to See & Do

Carl Ristaino’s imagination comes alive through dynamic jazz scenes and whimsical cityscapes in Inspirational Jam, on view in the Wedge Gallery at The Umbrella Arts Center. Working in acrylics, Ristaino builds layers of bold color that capture the transcendence of live music and fantastical worlds. In his jazz series, Ristaino’s canvases become stages where musicians lean into their instruments, vocalists throw their heads back in ecstatic song, and the audience communes over the pleasure of spontaneous creativity.

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Enjoy scenes from the 1969 play The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail by playwrights R. E. Lee and J. Lawrence. Join Robbins House President Nikki Turpin and local Concord Historian Richard Smith for a presentation and conversation on Henry David Thoreau’s Essay “Resistance to Civil Government,” Black History in Massachusetts, and Civil Rights. Q and A to follow.

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Unlock Your Musical Voice: Secrets of Composition. Ever wondered how your favorite pieces of music get written? Stop wondering and start creating! This introductory workshop is your chance to step directly into the composer’s seat. Through a dynamic, hands-on session, you will learn directly from composer and CCM piano faculty member Keith Kirchoff as he de-mystifies the creative process behind structuring melodies and developing musical ideas.

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Enjoy the best of classic, independent, and foreign films curated by The Concord Film Project at The Umbrella Arts Center, with pre-show dinner options.  This January, join us for Force Majeure (2014, dir. Ruben Östlund, rated R for language). In this searing black comedy, a Swedish couple on holiday confronts a natural disaster that shatters their beliefs about themselves as a family. 

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“There is art in the science, and science in the art.” – Marsha Wilcox Ancient Light transforms the Allie Kussin Gallery from Jan 12 - Mar 22 with celestial photography by Marsha Wilcox. Join us for a joint opening reception on Jan 28 at 6 PM celebrating Ancient Light and Carl Ristaino’s Inspirational Jam (RSVPs appreciated).

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Native Concordian, world-renowned naturalist, lecturer, birder, and author Peter Alden will present his new memoir, My Wild Life: Rare Birds, Close Calls, and the Adventures of an Eco-Explorer. Alden will share stories and photos from his decades of travel to all seven continents. 

This program is free. 

Presentation from 12-1 pm, with book-signing to follow.

Parking is free for event attendees.

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On the fifth anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol, First Parish in Concord will host a discussion on the current state of the rule of law in the United States. The featured speakers are Simon Cataldo, State Representative of the 14th Middlesex District, and Lisa Graves, the author of “Without Precedent: How Chief Justice Roberts and His Accomplices Rewrote the Constitution and Dismantled Our Rights”. 

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Please join us on New Year's Day for our First Day self-guided hike! We will have special interpretive signage along the accessible trail to the house site. Henry David Thoreau, as portrayed by Brent Ranalli, will welcome visitors to his house (the replica), 11am-1pm. Refreshments will be served.

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Join Sudbury-native Kenter Davies for this special One-Day Choir in Concord, MA, to explore the classic Scottish folk tune, "Auld Lang Syne". Together, we will play, weave new connections, and reflect on the past year. What resolutions can we form as a collective as we enter 2026? Let's raise our voices in harmony and dive into community with one another. All are welcome. 

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Concord Compose the Action! Learn Film Music Composition.  Have you ever wondered how music creates the perfect mood in a movie or builds the suspense? This Film Music Composition Workshop is your exclusive chance to step into the composer’s chair! Through an exciting, interactive group project, students will learn directly from composer and CCM faculty member Manuel Garcia-Baro how music is used to convey specific emotions and drama across different visual media. You’ll get hands-on experience in music composition by planning the soundtrack for an unforgettable scene from the popular movie How to Train Your Dragon. This unique workshop offers practical insight into the creative process of professional film scoring. Who Should Attend? This dynamic composition workshop is designed for students ages 10-18 who are curious about music composition or film scoring.

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