A wintery view of the Darrow School in New Lebanon, N.Y., where a number of Boston Symphony Orchestra members will perform a free community chamber concert Sunday, March 10. Photo courtesy Darrow School

PREVIEW: Boston Symphony Orchestra to perform free community chamber concert at Darrow School

The main reason they're giving a concert Sunday, March 10, at Darrow School is because they enjoy performing music we usually don't associate with the BSO: folk, especially in the traditional Celtic style.

Due to pending inclement weather this weekend, the March 10th Community Chamber Concert scheduled at The Darrow School has been cancelled. We will provide any further updates as soon as possible. The BSO apologizes for the inconvenience, and hopes that you’ll join them at a future event!

New Lebanon, N.Y. — What could possibly induce five members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to drive all the way out here from the City of Champions during the dead of winter? The opportunity to cheer us all up? Well, sure. These players do like to see their audiences smile. But the main reason they’re giving a concert Sunday, March 10, at Darrow School is because they enjoy performing music we usually don’t associate with the BSO: folk, especially in the traditional Celtic style.

Bonnie Bewick. Photo courtesy Boston Symphony Orchestra

BSO fiddler and crossover artist Bonnie Bewick has been making music with her brother, guitarist and songwriter Ken Bewick, since they were children. Billing themselves as “Frame,” the two (often joined by BSO bassist Lawrence Wolfe) have performed together in local venues like No. Six Depot in West Stockbridge. (Ken Bewick will sing and play guitar with the group on the 10th, and maybe they’ll include a couple of his own songs.)

Here’s Sunday’s lineup:
Bonnie Bewick, violin
Si-Jing Huang, violin
Lawrence Wolfe, bass
Ala Jojatu, violin
Mickey Katz, cello
Ken Bewick, guitar

Ken Bewick. Photo: David Noel Edwards

Sunday’s program is approximately one-hour of highly accessible music. This makes it ideal for families with children who may not be ready for a two-hour classical music concert:

Liz CARROLL Catherine Kelly’s (4)
Mark O’CONNOR Limerick (5)
Mark O’CONNOR Quartet (20)
Plus two other Celtic-based sets compiled by Bonnie & Ken Bewick (25)

Sunday’s performance begins at 3 p.m. but, at 2:15 p.m. the BSO’s associate director of program publications, Robert Kirzinger, will interview one or more of the musicians on stage. Mr. Kurzinger has worked as a writer, editor and lecturer for the BSO for over 20 years. A composer himself, Robert is the editor and primary writer for the program book of Tanglewood’s annual Festival of Contemporary Music, and he is astonishingly good at it. He knows how to unravel the mysteries of contemporary classical music so that even first-time listeners can enjoy it. He also happens to be a fan of American roots music.

Each community chamber concert program is followed by a coffee and dessert reception for the audience and musicians. (When was the last time you got to hobnob with BSO players following a Tanglewood concert?)

Admission to Sunday’s concert is free, but the BSO needs your RSVP, so please reserve your tickets here.