Community & Education Partners

A Far Cry fosters relationships with community groups and educational institutions across the country and has developed the following partnerships in the city of Boston:

Project STEP Residency

We are honored to be participating in our ninth year of residency activities at Project STEP, a comprehensive string training program for children from communities that are typically underrepresented within classical music. The residency includes weekly chamber music coaching, one-on one mentoring sessions, and free tickets to AFC concerts across the season. Criers also coach the Project STEP Honors Quartet, who continue to delight AFC audiences with pre concert performances in Jordan Hall.

NEC/A Far Cry Collaborative Competition

A Far Cry’s competition through New England Conservatory and its Preparatory Division offers students the opportunity to perform with A Far Cry on select concert programs each season. The competition seeks to recognize talented young chamber musicians and inspire deeper communication through musicianship. The winners are invited to rehearse and perform as members of the ensemble, experiencing first hand the sensitivity and discipline necessary to work as part of a self-conducted chamber orchestra.

Venue Partners

St. John’s

St. John’s Episcopal Church was formed in 1839 and moved to its current location when the church building construction began in 1882. This building was later expanded with the addition of the Parish Hall. The church was formed and built to serve the needs of the local community.

St. John’s church and its parishioners are woven into the historic fabric of the City of Boston, the community of Jamaica Plain, and the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. The parish was founded by prominent local residents who desired a neighborhood-based place of worship. Early parishioners included General William Hyslop Sumner, Justice John W. McKim and Samuel G. Goodrich, better known in world literature as Peter Parley and former Ambassador to France. Although these men are visible in the historic documents of the parish and Jamaica Plain community, it is notable that a number of women parishioners were known for their accomplishments, in a time when women played a more limited role in community life. These included: writer and publisher Caroline Ticknor, friend of Longfellow, Twain, Dickens and Whitman, Elizabeth Bethune Campbell, the first woman to present a case before the Privy Council of London (she won) and Susan Revere Chapin, great-granddaughter of Paul Revere, who was active in the war effort during both WW I and WW II. The presence of these remarkable women in the parish perhaps presages St. John’s current diverse roster of parishioners and commitment to issues of social justice and activism. Today, St. John’s is a parish with increasing diversity along race, income and sexual orientation, not just in its membership, but those in leadership positions. LEARN MORE

Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory

New England Conservatory (NEC) an independent, not-for-profit institution, is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools, educating and training musicians of all ages from around the world. With music students representing more than 40 countries, NEC cultivates a diverse, dynamic community for students, providing them with performance opportunities and high-caliber training by 225 internationally-esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. NEC pushes the boundaries of making and teaching music through college-level musical training in classical, jazz and Contemporary Improvisation. It offers unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships that empower students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC's mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, the Preparatory School and School of Continuing Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students and adults.

Founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867 by Eben Tourjée, NEC created a new model of conservatory that combined the best of European tradition with American innovation. NEC is at the center of Boston’s rich cultural history and musical life offering concerts performed in NEC’s renowned venue Jordan Hall. Alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios and arts management positions worldwide. LEARN MORE

First Church

First Church in Cambridge is a historic congregation established in 1633, making it one of the oldest churches in New England. Located at 11 Garden Street, it has long served as a spiritual, cultural, and community hub in Cambridge. The church's building, completed in 1872, is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, with its distinctive stone façade and striking stained-glass windows.

First Church has a deep-rooted commitment to social justice, inclusivity, and outreach, actively participating in local and global causes. Throughout its history, the church has been a welcoming space for all, promoting dialogue and action on issues such as racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and homelessness. Its congregation reflects a diverse and vibrant community that values both tradition and progress.

Today, First Church continues to foster community engagement through arts and music. The church’s acoustically resonant sanctuary has hosted numerous concerts and events, becoming a beloved venue for musical performances in Cambridge. LEARN MORE