Concert Series

2025-2026 PACC Concert Series

Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Road, Arlington, MA 02476
Advance Tickets: Adults $18, Seniors, students $12; at the door- $23 & $15
Reserve tickets: concertseriestix@pacc-ucc.org
For more info: 781-643-8680

Songs That Carry Us, From Classical Arias to Folk and Beyond

Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Andrew Chukwuka Egbuchiem, Countertenor
Accompanist: Nonso Obiezue

Mr. Andrew Chukwuka Egbuchiem is an internationally acclaimed countertenor, with a recent performance at Carnegie Hall in New York. This recital journeys through a rich tapestry of vocal music — from the soaring drama of classical arias and the intimacy of art songs, to the heartfelt simplicity of folk melodies and the vibrant rhythms of African art music. Each piece carries a story, a spirit, and a connection that transcends boundaries, inviting the listener to experience the many ways music uplifts and unites us all.

PACC’S 35th Annual Christmas Concert: Christmas Stories

Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3:00PM
PACC Festival Choir, PACC Youth Choir, and other special guests

Christmas is a time of family, friends, music, and stories of past Christmas celebrations. This year’s concert promises our traditional audience sing-along, solos, and choir selections from different countries, from classical to down-home cozy, with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure. Come and enjoy the stories and music of Christmas. While this concert is PACC’s gift to the community, we appreciate support for our historic E. M. Skinner pipe organ
and music program. Suggested donation $10-$15.

A Journey of Musical Stories: Duets, Solos, Songs & Arias by Classical to Contemporary Composers

Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Sara Michale Smith, Soprano; Joanna Porackova, Contralto; Nathan Johnson, piano

This musical journey with two exceptional opera singers will include works from Rossini, Handel, and Wagner. Jeffrey Brody’s new composition will bring an exciting perspective to Lady Macbeth’s mad scene. The interesting stories of each selection will be introduced by the singers. Sara Smith has performed in New England opera companies and has appeared as a soloist in concerts of classical, art song, and Broadway repertoire.  Joanna Porackova has performed with leading opera companies throughout the world and more locally with the Boston Lyric Opera and the Boston Wagner Society.

About the series

In 1989, the Music Committee of the Park Avenue Congregational Church undertook the task of restoring our historic Skinner organ. At that time, a price of $60,000 was quoted for the restoration work. Restoration work proceeded slowly due to budget constraints. In 1991 our then choir director, John Cavicchia, directed a Christmas Concert with our Choir, putting the money raised towards the restoration fund. This was the start of the PACC Concert Series.

In addition to our annual Christmas concert, we have invited a number of soloists and groups, all professionals, to perform in the acoustically vibrant Sanctuary as well as more informally in the Parish Hall. Concerts have ranged from classical, to choral, to folk coffeehouses. While the initial restoration process is nearly complete, good stewardship of our beautiful instrument means we need to establish an on-going fund for future repair and maintenance so that we will never again be faced with such a large task for restoration. As a result, the Music Committee has decided to continue its mission of promoting local musicians in the PACC Concert Series, which will raise funds for additional projects in the Music program at PACC and establishing a permanent fund for the E. M. Skinner Organ Maintenance.

Our Sanctuary seats about 300 and features a handsome brick interior with exceptional acoustics – chamber music and a capella groups particularly enjoy using our Sanctuary as a performance space.  It is large enough for a good sized concert, yet intimate enough that everyone can see the performance easily.

We have some recordings of Concert Series performances for you to hear.

If you are an artist looking for a venue or looking for information about participating in our Concert Series, contact the Concert Series Committee.

Prior seasons

Be sure to explore the names of performers from some of our prior seasons, and try to see them again this year when they perform in the New England area:

Press releases for the concert series have appeared in modified form in the Arlington Advocate and on YourArlington: