PEABODY — There will be live music after all this spring at the Peabody Institute Library. The library has announced that its Winter/Spring Concert Series, which was held virtually last year, will be held in person in the Sutton Room. Sponsored by the Peabody Institute Library Foundation and the McCarthy Family Foundation, all concerts are free, but registration is required. For those preferring to watch from the comfort of home, concerts may also be streamed live. Patrons are advised to check the library website, www.peabodylibrary.org/calendar, as concerts may be changed to fully virtual due to the pandemic.
Harpist Aine Minogue kicks off the series on Monday, Feb. 14. Minogue will play a show in celebration of Valentine’s Day and also in celebration of February, the month that honors Brigid of Ireland, goddess and saint. Minogue will feature many unusual and haunting old Celtic selections, as well as her own original works.
The show will feature such selections as “Buachaill Ón Éirne (The Boy From Ireland)”, a song of marriage proposal; to music that reflects love of nature, like “Sliabh na mBan,” which means “The Mountain of Women,” a beautiful air named after a mountain in Minogue’s home county of Tipperary.
The New England Chamber Players make a return visit on Monday, Feb. 28 with a program of music for winds and strings. The players will be back on Monday, April 11 for an encore performance, which will feature the works of Stravinsky, Rivier, Beethoven, Hovhaness and Francaix, featuring their core woodwind players.
Singer/songwriter Karen Grenier will be the featured musician on Monday, March 28. A polished performer, Grenier’s smooth, penetrating voice, rhythmic acoustic style, catchy melodies and positive emotional energy make for an excellent concert experience.
“You’ve got to reach for your dreams and do what you love,” said Grenier, a former guidance counselor in Peabody. “It’s an attitude I’ve always tried to inspire in my students and now I am living mine.”
Grenier has performed at clubs, festivals, coffee houses and colleges throughout the Northeast. Currently promoting her “Crazy Love” CD, Grenier says, it’s all about being genuine and connecting with the audience.
“If I can do that, I’ve achieved success,” she said.
On Thursday, May 12, Dance Caliente will bring “Dancing Joy” to the library, a one-hour, multicultural ballroom dance program.
Owners Raul Nieves and Eileen Herman-Haase say the evening will be an interactive sampler-type performance with four to five dances, such as the waltz, swing, Argentine tango, salsa, and foxtrot with time in between each dance for a short lesson. The lessons will be interactive and low-impact, tailored to seniors and beginners, and do not require a partner.
On Monday, June 13, the library welcomes back Peabody native and recording artist Stephanie James, an artist who is known for bringing an evocative, fresh experience to the world of pop music. A gifted storyteller and powerful performer, James style is likened to a cross between the legendary Linda Ronstadt combined with modern-day super talents Sara Bareilles and Kacey Musgraves. Her debut album “Unbreakable” was released in collaboration with Grammy-nominated producers Jorel Corpus and Simone Torres. The album explores vulnerability, self-reliance, themes of growing up, and learning from the past.
COVID-19 protocols are in place for all performances at the library, per the Peabody Board of Health. Masks covering the nose and mouth must be worn at all times while in the library and library spaces. Three feet of distance must be kept between all attendees. Room capacities have been decreased to allow for safe distancing.
Patrons may register online on the Peabody Library calendar at peabodylibrary.org/calendar, or by calling 978-531-0100. Patrons are advised to check the website for changes in location or format.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
