Belmont Festival Orchestra In Concert Saturday, Dec. 30 at the Beech Street Center

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Photo: Nathaniel Meyer

Welcome in the New Year with music as the Belmont Festival Orchestra returns to the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Saturday Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. to perform its annual holiday concert featuring Verdi’s Overture to the opera “La Forza del Destino” (“The Force of Destiny”) and Brahms Symphony No. 4.

The free program will be repeated at First Church in Cambridge, 11 Garden St. on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m.

Founded in 2010 and led by Belmont High Class of 2009 alumni Nathaniel Meyer, the Belmont Festival Orchestra, is an ensemble of emerging young professional musicians in the Boston area, performing every year during the holiday season, and in the summer as a holiday gift from the musicians to the community.

 

New High School Building Project Seeking Seniors Opinion Friday

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Photo: The Belmont High School Building Committee’s logo.

The Belmont High School Building Committee is holding its next community engagement meeting with the town’s senior community in mind at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. on Friday afternoon, Oct. 13 at 1:15 p.m.

The afternoon’s agenda includes:

  • High School Building Project updates
  • District enrollment update and grade configuration discussion,
  • Results of recent Education Visioning workshops,
  • Guiding principles of the project,
  • Conditions and space summary, and
  • Questions and comments,

Online Survey

The Belmont High School Building Committee wants to hear from the residents of Belmont. Our new online survey is available at www.belmonthighschoolproject.org. The committee invites residents to share your ideas, opinions, and thoughts on the Belmont High School Building Project.

Upcoming Community Meetings include:

  • Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. at Belmont High School with optional facility tours starting at 9:30 a.m.
  • Tuesday, December 12 at 7 p.m. at Belmont High School with optional facility tours starting at 6:30 p.m.

To sign up for email updates and to learn more about the Belmont High School Building Project, including project timelines, videos, meeting schedules, presentations, and more, visit www.belmonthighschoolproject.org.

Questions on the project can be sent via email to: BHS-BC@belmont-ma.gov.

Classical at the Beech: Belmont Festival Orchestra in Concert Thursday, June 1

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Photo: Pianist Sasha Beresovsky and conductor Nathaniel Meyer.

The Belmont Festival Orchestra marks its return to the Beech Street Center with a concert of classical music standards on Thursday, June 1 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Led by the group’s founder, Belmont’s own Nathaniel Meyer (Belmont High Class of ’09), the all-volunteer orchestra will be joined by the brilliant, young Ukrainian-American pianist, Sasha Beresovsky, in a performance of Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto in G major.

The concert’s program also features Glinka’s “Overture to Ruslan & Lyudmila” and Wagner’s magnificent and uplifting “Tannhäuser” Overture.

The concert is free and open to all residents in Greater Boston.

Meyer said Beresovsky has a truly incredible story. Born in Moscow to a Ukrainian family, they became refugees after the fall of the Soviet Union before coming to the United States.

“Throughout his harrowing, often difficult journey, he has been inspired by his deep passion for music, and particularly that of Beethoven,” said Meyer.

Beresovsky received his Master’s in Piano Performance from the Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Ind. Sasha’s ongoing passion for music is fueled by his love of literature, history, the natural sciences and nature in particular.

The video shows Beresovsky performing Prokofiev.

Housing Trust’s Meeting On Increasing Housing Options Thurs. Apr. 27

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Photo: Housing affordability thrust of Housing Trust’s meeting.

Next week, the Belmont Housing Trust will host a public meeting to discuss its Housing Production Plan, which provides a five-year framework and strategy for the development of a variety of housing options to meet the needs of the Belmont residents.

Cosponsored by the League of Woman Voters, the meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 27 at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

“We’re excited to gather final public input and comments on Belmont’s housing future. The high level of interest in this month’s town election suggests people are really thinking about what we need to do, going forward, to make Belmont a more livable place for all,” said Judie Feins, co-chair of the Housing Trust.

In community meetings over the past year, residents participated in discussions about “imagining Belmont’s housing future,” identifying their interests and concerns about housing in Belmont. Their input was combined with a Housing Needs Assessment based on demographics and economic data to develop the Housing Production Plan, which details production goals and strategies aimed at meeting those needs.

The draft Housing Production Plan is available here.

Participants Thursday will provide additional input before the Plan is finalized and submitted to town officials for approval and action.

The Housing Needs Assessment noted that Belmont’s population continues to rise modestly, with a forecasted need for housing for seniors and new families, including rentals and community housing. Housing costs in Belmont have increased more than 40 percent since 2009, making Belmont less accessible for lower and moderate income households. 

In addition, while nearly a quarter of Belmont households are eligible for affordable housing, only seven percent of Belmont’s housing units are considered affordable. Belmont’s housing is also generally quite old and may have significant maintenance needs.

Massachusetts requires cities and towns to have affordable housing of at least 10 percent of total housing units.  Affordable housing is defined as housing that is affordable to households earning less than 80 percent of Area Median Income – $51,150 for a single person household. 

Once the town’s newest and largest housing developments, Royal Belmont and Cushing Village, are completed, the town will remain 337 units short of the 10 percent benchmark. 

The primary goal of the Housing Production Plan is to identify opportunities to create these 337 affordable units. Those units should, however, meet the needs reflected in the recent assessment. Thus the Plan proposes to create housing for seniors, new families, and for lower income households.

 

The Plan has identified several strategies, including the development of housing near transportation centers, leveraging opportunities on public land, supporting redevelopment of industrial sites, revitalizing existing community housing, and networking with Belmont residents, organizations, property owners and local businesses. 

Belmont Festival Orchestra Performs Thursday, 7 PM at Beech Street

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Photo: Cristina Basili and Nathaniel Meyer.

Start the holidays with great music made by young musicians.

The Belmont Festival Orchestra led by Belmont’s own Nathaniel Meyer (Belmont High ’09, Yale ’13) returns on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. to give another Winter Concert for the Belmont community.

Meyer will conduct a program includes Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture and the Dvorak Cello Concerto, featuring the young Greek-Viennese cellist, Cristina Basili, who will be making her North American debut.

Born and raised in Vienna, Basili has performed as a soloist throughout Europe and is one of the most talented and charismatic rising stars in the international music scene.

Rehearsals are open to the public at 7 p.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The orchestra’s summer concert had more than 200 in attendance so come early. 

Cost is free but donations are accepted.

Classical Music Returns To Beech Street With Friday Night ‘Festival’ Concert

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Photo: Nathaniel Meyer returns with the Belmont Festival Orchestra. (credit: Hello Stage)

Nathaniel Meyer is back in Belmont and has brought 50 of his friends to play music in his hometown. 

The young musician and conductor who has been traveling throughout Europe has once again reunited the Belmont Festival Orchestra to perform in concert on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. 

Meyer – a 2009 Belmont High graduate to matriculated at Yale (’13) – will conduct the youthful assemblage in Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. 

The concert is free. Residents are asked to come early as Festival concerts traditionally are “standing room only” affairs. 

Friday’s concert marks the fourth time Meyer brings the youthful Festival Orchestra to the Beech Street Center for a summer event – he also led a musical performance in December 2013.

An outstanding trumpet player, Meyer has been a student of Benjamin Zander, the long-time conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra who is currently the musical director of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Meyer obtained his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

Meyer Conducts Chamber Concert Sunday at the Beech

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Photo: Nathaniel Meyer.

Belmont High School alumnus Nathaniel Meyer conducts the Athena Orchestra Chamber Players in a “Summer String Serenade” on Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. 

Meyer, a 2013 Yale graduate who concentrated in German Studies and Music, will lead the ensemble in the free concert featuring music by Mozart, Elgar, Sibelius, Bach and Tchaikovsky.

This marks the third time Meyer brings an orchestra to the Beech Street Center for a summer concert– he also presented a concert in December 2013 – having organized the Belmont Festival Orchestra in previous years.

An outstanding trumpet player in his own right, Meyer has dedicated his current activities towards conducting. A  student of Benjamin Zander, the long-time conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Meyer recently obtained his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. 

At Yale, he conducted the school’s Amadeus Ensemble, Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Yale Symphony Orchestra.

‘MacBeth’ Bleeds on the Beech Street Stage Today at 4PM

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The New Rep Theatre’s classic company returns to the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., today, Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. to deliver a performance of the “Scottish Play,” Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” 

Considered one of The Bard’s darkest and most powerful works, this tragedy dramatizes the corrosive psychological and political effects produced when evil becomes the means to power. The play is suitable for children over 12 and most adults.

Cost: $10 adults, $5 kids under 16. Come early for the best seats.

What’s Coming This Week: Ice Cream and a Mad Scientist at the Beech, Chef Gerry Returns Again

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• Another sign that summer is nearly over: the return of the Belmont Board of Selectmen! It is meeting on Monday, August 18 in Town Hall at a special early time of 6 p.m. On the agenda: an update on the storm water regs and a presentation for a Belmont Veterans Memorial project.

• Meet Belmont’s new school super as John Phelan holds a open house coffee for all residents at the School Administration building in the Town Hall Complex in Belmont Center on Monday, August 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

• Come to one of the final Summer Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library – at the corner of Oakley and Old Middlesex – on Tuesday, August 19, at 10:30 a.m. Story time will be hosted by summer intern Lenora Ellison or Denise Patnod for children ages 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must be present. Siblings may attend with adults. Registration is not required.

• Chef Gerry is back! After making sushi, California rolls and other great food at Belmont Public Library, Belmont resident Gerry Connolly – a Cambridge School of Culinary Arts Professional Chef Program graduate with 20 years of experience as a personal chef and event caterer – is coming to make flat breads and dressings on Tuesday, August 19 at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event is free thanks to the generosity of Chef Gerry and the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Space is limited, so please sign up online or sign up by phone at 617-993-2870.

• The Belmont Public Library is providing one-on-one Digital Library Help on Tuesday, August 19, from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 20 at 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Reference Room. Learn how to download eBooks from the library and set up a device. Get started with Zinio to read free digital magazines. E-mail and Internet basics, social media, or basic computer skills. Registration is required; register online or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone. Some services require downloading an app. Please come prepared with your Apple ID, Adobe ID, Amazon Account information, or other password and log in information for your device.

• Duplicate Bridge Club meets from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Beech Street Center at 266 Beech St. The club holds American Contact Bridge League-sanctioned games. All are welcome to play. Cost is $7. Phone: 339-223-6484 for more information.

• A genre party for the Belmont Public Library’s Children’s Summer Reading Program will take place in the Assembly Room on Wednesday, August 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• It’s an Ice Cream Social and Mad Science Extravaganza for all Belmont residents as the Beech Street Center welcomes back the Mad Scientist on Friday, August 22 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Children will be dazzled and entertained as they interact with the Mad Scientist, whose show includes foggy dry ice and demonstrations of floating beach balls in the air. He will unlock the mystery of how to get “Egg-bert” back into his house using suggestions from the audience. Ice cream will be served at 1:30 p.m. and the entertainment will begin at 2:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $1. Tickets are available for 160 people. reserve by calling 617-993-2970 or come by in person.

 

Beech Lot Closed: Parking Area Resurfaced This Week

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Most people know the Beech Street Center as the home of the Council of Aging, where events and concerts take place and, for one day, a center of attention on election day 2012.

It is also known for a number of the neighbors as a place to stash their cars overnight.

But beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 13 and running through Sunday, Aug. 17, the lot will be closed so the parking area can be resurfaced for the upcoming winter season.

Belmont Police wants to public to know that any vehicles left on the site after 11 p.m, on Wednesday will be towed.