Family Concert Scheduled for June 5th

May 20, 2021

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (NBSO) and Cape Verdean Association (CVA) will be holding Junta Mon: Together in Music, a collaborative musical event on Saturday, June 5, 2021, from 3 to 6 PM at Island Park at 1157 Acushnet Avenue in the North End of New Bedford. This no-charge musical event for the whole family will feature songs by Cape Verdean musicians, a second set by several NBSO musicians, and then culminate as the two groups play together in partnership.

Musicians for the CVA include Carlos (Kalu) Lopes on the bass guitar and José (Josca) Lopes and Vicente Brito on acoustic guitar.  Musicians for the NBSO include Peter Zay on the cello, EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks on the violin, and Piero Guimaraes on percussion. This fun and informal concert will include a wide range of styles including Cape Verdean, popular, classic, and fiddling. This project is funded in part by Wicked Cool Places, financed by the city of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund.  This concert will follow all applicable State and local safety measures.

The event will celebrate the park construction which is scheduled to start in July. Plans for the park’s renewal include transforming the empty lot into an area with an amphitheater, open lawn seating, lawn oval, paved walkways, and plantings. Island Park is located alongside the former Strand Theatre at 1157 Acushnet Avenue and features a multi-panel mural painted by local artist Eden Soares. The theater is currently undergoing renovation into a multi-purpose Cape Verdean Community Cultural Center which will reflect the City’s diversity and inclusivity.

The Organizations

CVA - The mission of the Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford, Inc. is to preserve and promote Cape Verdean culture. As the Vanguard of Cape Verdean heritage in the United States, CVA-NB aspires to reach, build and strengthen partnerships throughout the Diaspora. We foster continued appreciation for our history, deliver culturally competent programs and services that enrich our communities and make a difference in the lives of the Cape Verdean people here and abroad. 

NBSO – The mission of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is to place the world’s finest music at the center of the cultural life of the South Coast community. The NBSO enriches the lives of adults and children through the transforming power of great music, performing concerts at the highest level of professional standards and providing educational programs for children and listeners of all ages that deepen their enjoyment and understanding of music and make it a part of their daily lives.

Each season, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra brings more than a dozen superb Classical, Pops, Chamber Music, and community concert performances to the South Coast, as well as serving as many as 8,000 local students. Our innovative and exciting educational programs, such as Learning in Concert and the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras, provide authentic and engaging musical experiences for the children in both local schools and beyond. The NBSO was founded in 1915 by Clarence Arey.