THE MECHANICS HALL PODCAST

Amazing upcoming events at Mechanics Hall for the Holidays. Fill your holiday season with the joy of music. Sunday Nov. 13th a special, FREE, event. A NIght to Remember: Folk Guardians of Worcester. Presented by Guardians of Traditions and Mechanics Hall. 3-5 PM: Hall of Culture 6-8PM: Live Performances.

Mechanics Hall is host to the inaugural Historic New England Summit 2022. Carissa Demore tells Hank and Mechanics Hall Executive Director Kathleen Gagne about this extraordinary event that is expected to attract over 500 attendees talking about culture as a catalyst for inclusion and social justice and the importance of preservation. Then Kathy Gagne invites you to the Founder’s Day Celebration. This is a FREE event. Sunday October 16th from 2 – 4:30pm. Doors open at 1:30. Tours including 19th Century Portraits and the magnificent Hook Organ. Plus, the premiere of the Many Voices Mechanics Hall Youth Singers. Check out the music that introduces today’s show and links our segments together, that is “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band performing at Mechanics Hall on Monday October 17th at 7:30 pm. That is a free show but please get tickets in advance at mechanicshall.org.

Inside Mechanics Hall with Executive Director Kathleen Gagne. Join Mechanics Hall on September 27th for the Celebration of Excellence and 179th Annual Meeting. State Senator Harriette Chandler will speak and be honored with the Master Mechanics Award. Organist Will Sherwood will also receive the Master Mechanic Award. On October 16th it is Founders’ Day and on the 17th don’t miss The President’s Own – United States Marine Band. They only come around every five years. Information on these and other great events on this edition of Inside Mechanics Hall.

Kathy Gagne, Executive Director Mechanics Hall, gives us the history of the Hook or Worcester organ. The Hook brothers installed the 3,504 pipe tracker organ in 1864. It is the oldest, unaltered four-keyboard pipe organ in the Western hemisphere that is still located at its original installation site. It will be played twice in August and the public is invited. The public is also invited to the 179th Annual Meeting of the Worcester County Mechanics Association on September 27th. Master Mechanic Award Recipients will be Mechanics Hall Principal Organist, Will Sherwood. And, Senate President Emerita, Senator Harriette Chandler, who will also be the evening’s guest speaker.

On this edition of “Inside Mechanics Hall” Executive Director Kathleen Gagne talks about youth. Mechanics Hall plays host to such groups as the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and the John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band along with nurturing area young people through Many Voices, Mechanics Hall Youth Singers. Mechanics Hall Youth Singers are 5th and 6th graders from anywhere and everywhere in the city of Worcester. Mechanics Hall is the home base of the Worcester Chamber Music Society. Their Neighborhood Strings program offers free music lessons in violin, viola, and cello to youth from Worcester’s Downtown and Main South Neighborhoods.

Executive Director Kathleen Gagne tells us about a musical celebration taking place this Sunday at 4 PM to benefit the Worcester Organ.

Kathleen Gagne, Executive Director of Mechanics Hall brings us up to date on the shows and events coming to Worcester.