A Far Cry + Project STEP
2026-01-31 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
TICKETS

SIDE BY SIDE @ JORDAN HALL

Saturday, January 31, 2026
7:30 PM
NEC’s Jordan Hall | 30 Gainsborough Street | Boston, MA, 02115United States (map)

Musical Program
Sapo Perapaskero aka Taraf de Haïdouks | Turceasca, arr. Osvaldo Golijov & Ljova
Igor Stravinsky | Apollon musagète
Joan Tower | String Quartet No. 5, “White Water” (arr. Randy Zigler)
Arcangelo Corelli | Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 3
Corelli | Concerto Grosso in D major Op. 6 No. 4
Curated by Crier Michael Unterman
Featuring students from Project STEP & New England Conservatory *
Great music isn’t just taught—it’s shared with the next generation side by side.
In A Far Cry’s annual Side by Side, the Criers partner with young musicians from Project STEP and New England Conservatory for a joyful performance that celebrates the next generation of artists and the mentors, teachers, families, and friends who lift them up. Students participate in a radical side-by-side rehearsal and performance experience as co-equals with the Criers, empowering young artists through their democratic model of music making.
The program opens with a burst of energy: Taraf de Haïdouks’ Turceasca, arranged by Golijov and Ljova, revels in the joy of sharing oral musical traditions. From there, we move into Stravinsky’s Apollon musagète, a neoclassical ballet that reaches back toward antiquity with grace and restraint—an homage to the past, refracted through a modern lens. Joan Tower’s White Water, originally written for string quartet and expanded here for fuller forces, offers a visceral, contemporary portrait of musical momentum and renewal. And finally, we arrive at two concerti grossi by Arcangelo Corelli, whose influence echoes through everything that came before.
This is more than a concert. It’s a powerful tribute to the next generation, a standing ovation for caregivers and educators, and a bright spotlight on Boston’s rising talent.
*Students will be joining for select works

Rockport Music
2026-03-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Shalin Liu Performance Center at Rockport Music, 16 MAIN STREET, Rockport, MA, 01966
Join us on Sunday, March 22 at 3 pm at Rockport Music’s Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport MA for a free community concert as part of Rockport Music’s Education & Community Program. Tickets are FREE with RSVP and open to the public.
This concert is in honor of the late William Moyer, Project STEP’s founder.

William (Bill) Moyer, in 1982, then-Orchestra Personnel Manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was charged with finding musicians from underrepresented communities in classical music to audition for open spots in the orchestra. He crisscrossed the country and could not find any that had the extensive music training required to take these auditions. His conclusion: “If we’re serious about this, we must start a program.” With initial support from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and others in the Boston area, he helped design and launch Project STEP (String Training Education Program) to provide that comprehensive and long-term training, and a lasting connection to the surrounding community.
Because of Bill’s commitment to equity in the arts, Project STEP opened its doors in 1982 with 7 students, and graduated its first two students in 1988. Since that time Project STEP has introduced 2,000 children to music through our FOCUS and core programs. In contrast with Boston’s 4-year graduation rates for Black and LatinX students (which declined in 2019 to 76.4% and 67%, respectively), 100% of Project STEP’s graduates attend college or conservatory.
Recent Project STEP graduates have attended Juilliard, Harvard, the New England Conservatory, NYU, and Brown. Project STEP graduates have gone on to become orchestra members, founders of other programs modeled on Project STEP, music teachers, and soloists, as well as financial services advisors, doctors, and architects. We consider Project STEP to be a model for creative youth development where music is used to help young people develop key skills and find success throughout their lives. Project STEP is the nation’s FIRST pathways program for college and conservatory students typically underrepresented in classical music. Project STEP would not be here today without William Moyer.

STEP into Grace
2026-03-31 17:30 - 21:30 | Grace by Nia, 60 Seaport Blvd #325, Boston, MA, 02210
Save the Date
STEP into Grace
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Grace by Nia | 60 Seaport Blvd #325, Boston, MA 02210
DRESS code: FUN & FABULOUS – whatever makes you feel good!

TICKETS & SPONSORSHIP
WHEN: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 from 5:30 – 9:30 pm
WHERE: Grace by Nia – 60 Seaport Blvd. | Boston, MA
WHY: Our most important annual fundraiser. Support Project STEP students, music education, and equity in the arts.
HONORING: Lecolion Washington, Executive Director of Community Music Center of Boston, to receive the William Moyer Champion of Change Award
You’re Invited: Please join Project STEP on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Grace by Nia to celebrate and raise funds for Project STEP; the nation’s first college and career pathway program for students of color in classical music. Sip handcrafted cocktails and savor bold, modern soul-food flavors at Grace by Nia in Boston’s vibrant Seaport District. Hear live performances from Project STEP’s brilliant young artists, and connect with Boston’s most inspiring leaders and changemakers.
2026 William Moyer Champion of Change Awardee
Lecolion Washington, Executive Director of Community Music Center of Boston
“I am deeply honored to receive this award, which celebrates the legacy of Project STEP’s founder, Bill Moyer. Music has always been an important part of my personal and professional life, but as a young black bassoonist in Texas, I didn’t always have accessible opportunities for music education. This recognition strengthens my commitment to ensuring that all young people can find their place in the arts.” – Lecolion Washington
Press Release
The William Moyer Champion of Change Award honors the legacy of Project STEP’s founder William (Bill) Moyer. Bill’s visionary leadership and commitment to equity in classical music were instrumental in the founding of Project STEP. The award recognizes individuals who champion diversity, create opportunities, and make a lasting impact in the arts and beyond, embodying Bill’s principles and the core values of Project STEP: community, collaboration, and excellence. Photo by Rue Sakayama
PARKING: We encourage you to make a plan for parking prior to to the event:
• Consider using a ride-share service such as Uber or LYFT.
• Take the MBTA Red Line to South Station. Hop on any Silver Line bus and go one stop to Courthouse.
• Parking Garages: One Seaport Garage (75 Sleeper Street), Fan Pier Garage/Pilgrim Parking (1Bond Drive). Please note parking can be up to $45 for a 4-hour event.
• Try the smart phone application Spot Hero to find the best available price/spot near the venue.

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION & BENEFITS

Visit the event page for a list of sponsors and committees

NYC Concert
2026-04-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Manhattan School of Music, 130 Claremont Avenue, New york, NY, 10027
Project STEP + Opportunity Music Free Community Concert
WHEN: Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 3 pm
WHERE: Manhattan School of Music, Greenfield Hall |
130 Claremont AvenueNew York, New York 10027

This April 2026, approximately 20 of our Project STEP students will embark on an unforgettable journey: their very first tour to New York City! This milestone trip will give our students the rare opportunity to connect with peers from the Opportunity Music Project in NYC, collaborating in rehearsals and culminating in a joint concert performance that celebrates both musical excellence and the power of community.
Learn more about the NYC tour and support this project.

Project STEP Spring Recital in Collaboration with Tony Williams Dance Center Collaborative Project
2026-05-17 15:00 - 17:00 | MA
Project STEP Spring Recital in Collaboration with
Tony Williams Dance Center Collaborative Project
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 3 pm
Venue Coming Soon!
This event is sponsored in part by The Gregory E. Bulger Foundation
Free and open to the public – NO RSVP NEEDED
Additional information will be added soon.
This program is supported in part by grants from the following generous supporters: Mass Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. This event is also made possible by the generous support of the D’Addario Foundation, The Gregory E. Bulger Foundation, and The Mary Saudek Jaffee Fund.
