Love Now
Two Lexington moms and artists have combined efforts to bring you "LOVE NOW: A celebration of our common humanity!"
Come journey with us through the magic of music, dance and spoken word while we celebrate all that we hold dear: family, friendship and the places we call home.
Join us on Sunday, March 22, 2026, 3PM at Cary Hall in Lexington.
Mary Ross
Long time resident of Lexington, Mary Ross is a singer-songwriter with an activist bent and a background in writing and law. Her musical roots come from her large family, who sang together in a crowded house through times of struggle and times of joy.
"For as long as I can remember music was always at the ready: several differently sized and strung guitars, a piano, uke, drum kit, turntables, albums and many singing voices." She started songwriting at eleven, and played in coffee houses throughout college.
Her album "This Day" can be found on Spotify and itunes under the artist "Mah Ree."
Jayshree Bala Rajamani
Jayshree Bala Rajamani is one of the leading practitioners and teachers of the ancient Indian dance form of Bharathanatyam in Massachusetts. She was initiated into this art by her mother and then came under the tutelage of eminent Guru K.J. Govindarajan. She specialized in Abhinaya with Guru Jamuna Krishnan.
Continuing her Guru’s legacy, she founded Bharathakalai School of Dance in 1987.
Over the years she has received numerous awards and accolades for both performing and teaching. In 2021 LexSeeHer, organized by the Town of Lexington, honored her by giving her a Visibility Banner for her service to the community through dance. In 2019 she had a successful performance tour of India to rave reviews. 2012 marked the 25th Anniversary of her dance school and her imparting training to multiple students both in India and now in the greater Boston area.
Regie O'Hare Gibson
Named the inaugural poet laureate of Massachusetts in May of 2025, Regie O'Hare Gibson has served as consultant for the NEA’s “How Art Works” commission & the “Mere Distinction of Color”: a permanent exhibit at James Madison’s Montpelier home focusing on American slavery & the U.S. constitution. He has composed texts for The Boston City Singers, The Mystic Chorale, the Handel+Haydn Society, & has featured with the Lexington Symphony. He’s an actor & creator of The Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy— a theatrical, literary-concert focusing on the life & works of William Shakespeare. He serves on the boards of the New England Poetry Club & Grub Street Writers. He teaches at Clark University & Berklee College of Music.
Artistic and Administrative Contributors
Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL)
With special thanks to Archana Singhal, IAL president and Geeta Kannan, head of the Cultural Committee. https://www.indianamericansoflexington.org/
Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL)
With special thanks to Archana Singhal, IAL president and Geeta Kannan, head of the Cultural Committee. https://www.indianamericansoflexington.org/
Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) with Dr. Qian Hu
Dr. Qian Hu, vice president of CAAL has been a resident of Lexington for nearly 20 years and is a chief scientist specializing in speech technology and artificial intelligence. In 2016, she became the inaugural co-chair of the CAAL Culture Committee. Dr. Hu has also served as the artistic director for several prominent events, including China Day at Cary Library in 2015, the 2nd Dance Around the World in 2015, and the CAAL Lunar New Year Galas in 2018, 2021, and 2024. In her leisure time, she enjoys dancing, playing tennis, and gardening.
Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) with Dr. Qian Hu
Dr. Qian Hu, vice president of CAAL has been a resident of Lexington for nearly 20 years and is a chief scientist specializing in speech technology and artificial intelligence. In 2016, she became the inaugural co-chair of the CAAL Culture Committee. Dr. Hu has also served as the artistic director for several prominent events, including China Day at Cary Library in 2015, the 2nd Dance Around the World in 2015, and the CAAL Lunar New Year Galas in 2018, 2021, and 2024. In her leisure time, she enjoys dancing, playing tennis, and gardening.
Lexington Council for the Arts
The Lexington Council for the Arts’ mission is to promote and fund community arts and culture activities to enhance the quality of life for Lexington residents.
Lear more at https://www.lexartscouncil.org/
Lexington Council for the Arts
The Lexington Council for the Arts’ mission is to promote and fund community arts and culture activities to enhance the quality of life for Lexington residents.
Lear more at https://www.lexartscouncil.org/
The Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the vitality of our communities. Learn more at: https://massculturalcouncil.org/
The Massachusetts Cultural Council
The Mass Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the vitality of our communities. Learn more at: https://massculturalcouncil.org/
Ms. Angela Carpenter, Children's Community Chorus Director
Angela is the K-12 Coordinator of Performing Arts for the Lexington Public Schools. Prior to stepping into administration, she was the Music Specialist at Harrington Elementary School (in Lexington). Angela also serves on the Board of Directors for the Lexington Symphony.
Angela has taught in the public school system since 2005, having previously taught in Rochester, New York, and Binghamton, New York. She moved to Bedford, MA in 2015 with her husband and son. Angela was a semi-finalist for the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. She was also the recipient of the 2022 Massachusetts PTA "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" Award and presented with a Lexington Public Schools Core Value Award in the Spring of 2022.
Angela attended the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, New York) where she received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in Music Education. She is passionate about CCC being a musical vehicle to reach students, develop significant relationships, and help them become positive contributors to society.
Ms. Angela Carpenter, Children's Community Chorus Director
Angela is the K-12 Coordinator of Performing Arts for the Lexington Public Schools. Prior to stepping into administration, she was the Music Specialist at Harrington Elementary School (in Lexington). Angela also serves on the Board of Directors for the Lexington Symphony.
Angela has taught in the public school system since 2005, having previously taught in Rochester, New York, and Binghamton, New York. She moved to Bedford, MA in 2015 with her husband and son. Angela was a semi-finalist for the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. She was also the recipient of the 2022 Massachusetts PTA "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" Award and presented with a Lexington Public Schools Core Value Award in the Spring of 2022.
Angela attended the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, New York) where she received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in Music Education. She is passionate about CCC being a musical vehicle to reach students, develop significant relationships, and help them become positive contributors to society.
Ms. Leah Bartell
Leah is the founder and music director of the Great Meadows Chamber Orchestra, and is the music director at the Waldorf School of Lexington. She has conducted young orchestras at New England Conservatory, Longy School of Music, and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.
She is a passionate performer and educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. Her teaching philosophy is that musical expression is fundamental to the human experience. In her work as a teacher, she has combined young, aspiring musicians and seasoned professionals to create performances that are moving, inspirational, complex, strong.
Ms. Bartell has performed as a soloist with the Calcutta Foundation Orchestra in India , and with Lexington Symphony in MA where she is a member. She has performed with the Vermont Symphony, Opera North, PORT Opera, National Lyric Opera, Emmanuel Music, and the Portland Ballet. She has played under conductors János Sándor, Jaime Laredo, and Jonathan McPhee. Ms. Bartell has collaborated with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Handel and Haydn Society, and with world-renowned harpsichordist Shalev Ad-El, and has performed in recitals across the U.S. and Canada.
Ms. Leah Bartell
Leah is the founder and music director of the Great Meadows Chamber Orchestra, and is the music director at the Waldorf School of Lexington. She has conducted young orchestras at New England Conservatory, Longy School of Music, and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.
She is a passionate performer and educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. Her teaching philosophy is that musical expression is fundamental to the human experience. In her work as a teacher, she has combined young, aspiring musicians and seasoned professionals to create performances that are moving, inspirational, complex, strong.
Ms. Bartell has performed as a soloist with the Calcutta Foundation Orchestra in India , and with Lexington Symphony in MA where she is a member. She has performed with the Vermont Symphony, Opera North, PORT Opera, National Lyric Opera, Emmanuel Music, and the Portland Ballet. She has played under conductors János Sándor, Jaime Laredo, and Jonathan McPhee. Ms. Bartell has collaborated with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Handel and Haydn Society, and with world-renowned harpsichordist Shalev Ad-El, and has performed in recitals across the U.S. and Canada.
Trail Mix – Uncommon Folk
Refreshing the folk songbook with inventive vocal harmonies and sparkling instrumental arrangements.
Trail Mix – Uncommon Folk
Refreshing the folk songbook with inventive vocal harmonies and sparkling instrumental arrangements.
Noel Symons
vocals, mountain dulcimer
Jane Minasian
vocals, guitar
Bayard Klimasmith
vocals, guitar
Matt Mayerchak
percussion, harmonica
Paul Bain
violin, mandolin
Steve Smith
bass guitar
Encore Dance Ensemble
Encore Dance Ensemble
Dorothy Anderson
Dorothy Anderson trained at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. As an independent choreographer, her work has been performed in cities across Canada as well as in the Boston area. She performs with the Deborah Abel Dance Company, most recently in Mexico, 2019. Dorothy has been a contributing member of Encore Dance Ensemble since 2018, performing in diverse New England venues. Over the pandemic Dorothy created a new repertory of solo works that were first shown as videos, then in live zoom links and finally in in-person services at First Parish, Bedford.
Anne Schwartz
Anne Schwartz, is a math tutor and folk dance instructor, and joined Encore Dance Ensemble in 2011. She has performed with Kelley Donovan and Dancers, Ann Carlson, Margaux Skalecki and Boston Rock Opera. Anne serves on the board of directors of Beth Soll and Company and Deborah Abel Dance Company. She currently studies modern dance with Deborah Abel.
Ann Budner
Ann Budner is a founding member of Encore. She has performed with Christien Polos’ Ariel Dance Theatre, Cle Douglas Dance Theatre, Perla Joy Furr, and Joie de Vivre. She currently studies modern dance with Deborah Abel and Pilates with Shawn Giles.
Elaine Sisler
Elaine Sisler is a teacher and arts advocate, and a founding member of Encore Dance Ensemble. She has performed with the Buffalo Dance Theatre Ballet Company, Estelle Dennis Dance Theatre, Peabody Conservatory and Cultural Arts Institute of Baltimore. In 2006 Elaine was awarded the “Distinguished Arts Educator in Dance Award" by the Massachusetts Alliance for Arts Education. Elaine is a member of Skyloom Liturgical dance group and the international Sacred Dance Guild.
Jill Baker
Jill Baker was a quiet kid with a whole lot of wiggles, then she discovered dance. Many decades later, she has studied, choreographed, taught, and performed in the United States, as well as abroad. She has a passion for teaching children and believes that dance is for everybody. Jill joined Encore Dance Ensemble in 2022 and is thrilled to be a part of this joyful, collaborative group.
Heidi Schauster
Heidi Schauster is a new member of Encore, joining in the summer of 2022. She is a nutrition and somatic therapist, author, and mother of twin teenagers. Her dance training foundation included twenty years of ballet, as well as some modern dance. In the last few decades, she explored more improvisational dance forms like African, Contact Improv, Swing, and Tango, as well as Ecstatic Dance and dishwashing dance parties. She has also performed as a professional stilt dancer with the troupe Mortal Beasts and Deities. Heidi loves eclectic music and dance forms that combine elements from different genres, and she finds dancing to be both grounding and spiritual.
Michelle Rosen
Michelle Rosen started dancing at the age of 2 and only paused briefly to have her own children. Her dance background is broad, and includes ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz. She performed with Circle of Dance in New York, and currently studies modern dance with Deborah Abel. She’s thrilled to return to choreographing and performing with Encore.
