Boston Landmarks Orchestra

The Landmarks Orchestra is a distinguished musical institution founded in 2001 by Charles Ansbacher. The orchestra was conceived with the mission of making the arts an integral part of life for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Ansbacher's vision was to perform historical music at landmark locations, which is reflected in the orchestra's name and operational ethos. In 2002, the orchestra was officially named "Landmarks," a title that signifies its commitment to performing at historically significant sites. This unique approach to concerts was aimed at enhancing the cultural experience by combining music with the rich narratives of the venues. The orchestra experienced a significant expansion of its audience in 2007 when it began a nine-week concert series at the DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell on the Esplanade. This series became a cornerstone of the orchestra's offerings, bringing classical music to a broader public in an iconic outdoor setting. In 2009, the city of Cambridge paid tribute to Charles Ansbacher by naming a promontory at Fresh Pond in his honor. This recognition was a testament to Ansbacher’s core principle that art should be accessible to everyone and celebrated his contributions to enhancing the cultural landscape of the city. Tragedy struck in 2010 with the passing of Charles Ansbacher. In the following year, Christopher Wilkins took up the baton as the new music director, continuing the legacy of his predecessor. 2011 also marked the launch of the orchestra's "Breaking Down Barriers" Accessibility initiative, which provided services such as American Sign Language interpreters at concerts, reserved seating areas, text-to-speech programs, and trained ambassadors to assist attendees. The orchestra's commitment to social issues was further demonstrated in 2013 when it commemorated the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" speech. The concert featured pieces resonating with the themes of King's speech, and the orchestra commissioned the first ASL translation of the speech, performed at the Hatch Shell concert. In 2019, the Landmarks Orchestra tackled the topic of race and representation in music with the "Deep River" concert, which included music written by Black Americans. The event sparked a broader conversation about racial portrayal in musical theatre and on the concert stage, both historically and in the contemporary context. The global Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 necessitated a shift to virtual programming for all of Landmarks' events. The orchestra adapted by creating the "Interludes" series, offering stories and music to provide comfort and joy during a time of uncertainty. By 2021, the orchestra celebrated its 20th season and a return to live music with performances at various locations, including the Bethel AME Church in Jamaica Plain and the Arlington Street Church. This milestone underscored the organization's resilience and its enduring commitment to its founding principles. Looking ahead, the Landmarks Orchestra continues to enrich the cultural life of Boston and its neighborhoods through its dedication to bringing great music to notable venues. The organization's success over the past two decades has been made possible by the support of its community, and it looks forward to presenting more concerts in the future.