Thank you!
The Sing-alongs were held on Tuesday nights from Sept. 9 -Nov. 11, 2025 at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church at 630 Massachusetts Ave. in Arlington and were a huge success.
Mystic Chorale is profoundly grateful to the song leaders who created the programs and led the songs, to the board for creating a brand new kind of season that introduced the Mystic to new people, reconnected with long-ago Mystic singers, to the Mystic volunteers who helped make every sing-along possible and to those who attended, some or all of the sing-alongs!
Check out the lineup for Mystic Outside the Box 2025!
Sept. 9 – Nick Page: Songs To Sing Right Now POWER SING
Mystic Chorale’s Founding Director, Nick Page, opens our exciting Mystic Outside the Box series with a transcendent Power Sing, led in the oral tradition, inspired by the great Ysaye Barnwell. The evening will begin with Bobby McFerrin listening games to wake and charge the ear, followed by songs where the chorus creates the harmonies. The big four-part song will be Ysaye’s arrangement of I Feel Like Goin’ On with its stirring words, “When trials mount on every hand, I feel like goin’ on.”
Enjoy singing in powerful community, and revel in the energy of the rhythms, harmonies, and stories behind tonight’s songs, including Freedom Is Sweet by Duke Ellington; We Are Free by Sakhele Msome; Venceremos by Bernice Johnson Reagon; Together arr. by Anders Nyberg and Hine Ma Tov (Behold How Good) English version by Nick Page.
Nick Page is a song leader, composer, conductor and author who is best known for his song leading. In the 1980’s he was a conductor with the Emmy Award winning Chicago Children’s Choir. From 1990-2022, Nick led the Mystic Chorale and guest conducted around the world including at three of the four Carnegie Halls (Pittsburgh, New York, and Scotland). His choral works have premiered everywhere from Lincoln Center to schools. He is the author of three books and has close to one hundred published choral pieces. Learn more about Nick here.
Sept. 16 – Linda Brown-San Martin: The Three “E”s of Gospel Music: Elucidate, Empower & Enliven!
Mystic is thrilled to welcome back Linda Brown – San Martin, who has led several Mystic gospel seasons. The Three E’s of Gospel Music will offer a full-throated, full-bodied immersion into the singing of Gospel music and inspirational songs. Selections will include Somebody Prayed for Me, The Hymn Medley, I Am Happy to Be Alive (an original round), and the Civil Rights anthem, Hold On (Just a Little While Longer).
Join us for the full gospel experience!
Linda Brown-San Martin has served in Music Ministry for more than five decades. Currently, she is the music coordinator at Unity Church of North Easton and directs gospel choirs at First Parish Cambridge and Wellesley College, her alma mater. Linda was a Mystic Chorale soloist with founder Nick Page and directed three Mystic Gospel concerts. She has led choirs at multiple churches as well as local colleges including Lesley, Regis, Gordon and Bentley. Linda also founded Eastern Mass. Gospel Choir, a community ensemble with members of all ages.
Sept. 30 – Mary Cunningham: Lift Up Your Voice: Exploring the Justice Choir Songbook
We were delighted to have Mary as guest director for Mystic two years ago, and we’re tickled to welcome her back to lead a sing-along!
This week’s focus is on community singing for positive social change. Join us in singing some of the very best selections from the Justice Choir Songbook, including Melanie DeMore’s One Foot/Lead With Love, the African-American spiritual Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round, I Lift My Voice, Resilience, and James Weldon Johnson/ John Rosamond Johnson’s iconic Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Mary Cunningham has been the artistic director of the Halalisa Singers since 2004, creating and directing unique and dynamic world music-themed concerts for the Lexington-based chorus founded in 1993 by Nick Page.
Mary is active as a conductor, performer, and educator in the Boston area, including as guest conductor of the Mystic Chorale, 10 years as music director of the UU Church of Reading, and six years as music director of the Melrose UU Church. She also a professional flutist and is on the faculty at Winchester Community Music School and has conducted the Watch City Singers in Waltham also as faculty of the Powers Music School in Belmont.
Oct. 7 – Gary Backstrom: The Music of The Beatles and Paul Simon
Gary Backstrom has performed with Mystic on several occasions as a member of our concert band and at Nick Page Beatles Sings. He returns as this week’s leader, bringing us the opportunity to sing the marvelous music of the Beatles and Paul Simon. We will sing a variety of both artists’ songs that move the heart and evoke emotions from intense joy to melancholy and introspection, and many flavors in between… music that makes us feel alive and celebrates our own lives together. Come sing the Beatles’ Hey Jude, I’m Only Sleeping, and Simon’s Mother and Child Reunion , You Can Call me Al, and more!
You can’t beat Gary on guitar… come experience the magic!
Gary Backstrom was the front man and guitarist for the legendary Jiggle The Handle jam band. Currently he leads the Gary Backstrom Band, a Boston-based band that mixes soul, R&B, funk, rock and Latin grooves. Learn more about Gary here.
Oct. 14 – Jonathan Singleton: Pop Goes the Chorus!
Join Mystic Gospel Director Jonathan Singleton and his band for a special evening celebrating some of the greatest popular songs that have featured choirs in the background. From timeless classics like Aretha Franklin’s I Say a Little Prayer and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2, to the modern anthem Freedom by Jon Batiste, Jonathan will have us raising our voices together, reliving the power of a chorus to elevate any song in any genre!
A joyful night of music and community — don’t miss it!
Jonathan Singleton directs the Mystic Chorale Gospel concerts with grace and a deep appreciation of the history and meaning of the repertoire. Jonathan is currently an assistant professor at Berklee, teaching in the Ensemble and Piano departments and directing the Berklee Summer Gospel Week. In addition, he serves as musical director for saxophonist Andre Ward, and is the minister of music at the historic Twelfth Baptist Church of Roxbury. He is the piano/keyboard player for the gospel/roots band, Meeting Across the Water, and the dance band Downtime.
Oct. 21 – Mike Pfitzer: Broadway Show Tunes
We’re over the moon to have Mike Pfitzer return to lead this evening’s journey onto Broadway! It’ll be a chance to sing with him again AND a chance to wish him well in his enhanced position at Deerfield Academy, where he’s now the director of Arts.
In this workshop, we’ll explore some musical theater favorites, singing some songs he’s led with Mystic before (Seasons of Love, Try to Remember), maybe even a little Keep Marching!), some Broadway standards, and some newer songs we’ll learn by ear. We’ll start off with some warmups for the stage. Harmonies will be invited and taught but not required for any voice part. No previous knowledge of musical theater repertoire is needed – the evening is designed to be fun for everyone!
Mike Pfitzer is an innovative and engaging conductor, educator, and community music maker. Music Director for the Mystic Chorale for its 2024-2025, he recently became the director of Arts at Deerfield Academy, having been the music director, a position he has held since 2021. He previously worked for three years as the Director of Choral Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York, and has taught and conducted choirs at Harvard University, Boston University, Framingham State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has also led international performances in Cuba, Romania, and Brazil. Learn more about Mike here.
Oct. 28 – Linda Shoemaker and Louise Grasmere: Wassa, Wassa! African Songs of Joy and Celebration
Linda and Louise have a long history with Mystic Chorale, enriching many concerts with their voices, their amazing percussion, and their hearts and souls. We’re so happy to have them leading tonight’s Sing!
“Wassa” is the Malinke word for JOY, the goal of this sing-along! Join us for an uplifting evening of songs from Africa, accompanied by live drumming. We’ll sing exciting, rhythmic call & response songs, including Kuku, a song of celebration sung throughout Western Africa, and Sila, a song from Guinea that promises you can always find your way back home. The chorus will also sing two African energizing choral pieces: Ipharadisi from South Africa and Kakilambe from Senegal.
You’ll be singing and dancing in your seats – or in the aisles!
Linda Shoemaker has been the administrative director for Sharing a New Song since 2019. In addition to her administrative role, Linda is a gifted, joyful song leader and percussionist, leading a song in each SANS season. She was also the administrative director for Mystic Chorale for five years. Previously, Linda served as executive director of the Arlington Center for the Arts.
Louise Grasmere was an original member of the Mystic Chorale, singing with Nick Page from the days of his earliest “Power Sings” in the 1990’s, and was a regular featured soloist with the Mystic for over thirty years. She is currently recording a new album of all-new original songs, due out later this year. Learn more about Louise here.
Nov. 4 – Quinn Eastburn and Arlea Forbes-Prater: From Classics to Hidden Gems: A Folk Sing-along
Both Quinn and Arlea were raised in musical families and started performing publicly at a very young age. They both play multiple instruments and perform as singers as well. This incredibly talented pair of Berklee School of Music students will lead us in a sing-along featuring a wonderful mix of folk songs. We’ll enjoy timeless classics like The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell, contemporary favorites such as In the Morrow by Brandi Carlile, and hidden gems like Down in the Valley by May Erlewine. Together, we’ll learn simple harmony arrangements for the refrains and possibly some light backup parts for the verses.
There may even be opportunities to step forward for a solo for those who are feeling adventurous!
Quinn Eastburn is a multi instrumentalist, bluegrass musician and teacher from the Boston area. He started playing at age 4 and was soon fronting a band, performing at festivals and on many stages including Club Passim, the Stadium Theatre and the Boston Esplanade (92.9 Earthfest). He has soloed with orchestras and performed with many notable musicians including Rick Faris, Darol Anger, Martin Sexton, Alastair Moock and Tony Watt. For several years, Quinn has been privately teaching music to people of all ages and leading a group class on theory and sight singing for adults. He is currently a student at the Berklee College of Music majoring in music production and engineering. Learn more about Quinn here.
Arlea Forbes-Prater is a violinist and Americana folk guitarist/singer from Seattle, Washington. She began playing classical violin at a young age, but quickly adopted other genres of music into her repertoire, such as Bluegrass, Celtic, and swing. She placed first in the swing division of the National Old-Time Fiddle Contest, and has won and placed in numerous violin competitions. She also performs frequently as a solo act, playing original music as well as covers from artists such as Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs and Gordon Lightfoot. She is currently attending Berklee College of Music for a degree in Performance. Learn more about Arlea here.
Nov. 11 – Donnell Patterson: Pandora’s Music Box – An Eclectic Potpourri of Music Genres, Styles and Surprises!
We welcome back the inimitable Donnell Patterson, with his incredible energy, for what will surely be an amazing night and finale to Mystic Outside the Box.
As Donnell describes it, this week’s focus is “…on what was left after Pandora’s curiosity led her to open her box: hope, optimism, and resilience! If we, as a nation or the Mystic Chorale, ever needed these before, we sure do need them now!” Songs will include This Little Light of Mine, The Dream Lives on and There Is a River!
No one energizes like Donnell- join us as we wrap up our series on a high!
Donnell Patterson is chair of the Gospel Music department in New England Conservatory’s (NEC) School of Preparatory and Continuing Education. Since 2022, he has directed Sharing A New Song. He also directs the NEC Community Gospel Choir. Since 2006, Donnell has served as the Director of Music for both the Upper and Lower Schools at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Mass.
In 2014, Donnell joined as the Director of Boston community gospel choir, Joyful Voices of Inspiration. In addition, for over 20 years, he has been Minister of Music at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Mass. Learn more about Donnell here.