September 23 – 2-4pm  Trails & Sails  Anne Bradstreet, Founding Mother and First Poet. Her Story and Poetry with Susan Lenoe programs in North Andover to honor Anne / FREE

Memorial Hall Library 2 North Main Street, Andover, MA

Learn about the life and work of Anne Bradstreet, the first female published poet of the New World, with Susan Lenoe. In the 17th century, most women could not even read, let alone write. Yet Anne’s reflections about motherhood and love, as well as early stirrings of feminist feelings ring true today. Anne Bradstreet is indeed a seminal figure in our culture. The Friends of Anne Bradstreet are excited to celebrate her unique accomplishments and her contribution to history.  Special Instructions: The Memorial Hall Library is located in the center of Andover, on North Main Street (Route 28) at the intersection of Elm, Main and Central Streets (also known as Elm Square). 

    

Sun 09-23 2:00pm-4:00pm

Directions: I-93N to Exit 41 toward Andover/N.Andover. Merge onto Rte-125 East, then exit onto Rte-28 North. Follow Rte-28/Main St. toward Andover/Lawrence for ~4 miles into Andover Center. Turn left onto Central St., then immediately turn right onto Essex Street. Turn right into the Library parking lot. From Rte-114 North Andover: At the intersection of Rte-114 and Elm Street (Merrimack College and Bertucci’s), turn onto Elm Street towards Andover. Go 1.5 miles to Andover Center and cross the intersection of Elm Street, Central Street, and Rte-28/Main St. and turn right onto Essex Street. Then turn right again into The Memorial Hall Library parking lot. The rear entrance to the library is wheelchair accessible. Handicapped van and auto parking is available in the lot behind the library.

Sept 23, 2012- Anne Bradstreet, Founding Mother and First Poet. Her Story and Poetry with Susan Lenoe  Memorial Hall Library,  Andover  2PM / FREE

September 29, 2012 – Merrimack College, “Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up Anew “ A Symposium Celebrating 400 Years of Anne Bradstreet /  FREE

September 30, 2012 – Anne Bradstreet’s 400th Birthday Gala Concert: Celebration of Her Life and Poetry, including Poetry Set to Music – featuring Cappella Clausura – Amelia LeClair Director; Essex Chamber Music Players Michael Finegold – Artistic Director; North Andover High School Scarlet and Black Singers – Sara Durkin Director; New England Classical Singers – David Hodgkins – Director, and Susan Lenoe as Mistress Anne Bradstreet

May 20, 2012- Anne Bradstreet, Founding Mother and First Poet, Her Story and Poetry with Susan Lenoe  Stevens Library, North Andover  3PM / FREE

May 20, 2012- Sheep Shearing  “Barkfest and Beyond”  Tribute to 400 Years of Animal Service from Guardian and Hunter to Therapist / 10am to 3PM  FREE

April 20, 21 & 22- MA Poetry Festival In Salem, MA,  Anne Dudley Bradstreet: Then and Now   4:00 – 5:15pm on Friday, April 20 in The House of the Seven Gables, Room 1  – more info

Date TBA, Gordon College / Salem Pioneer Village– Anne Bradstreet play and film,  Dr. Kristina Stevick, Producer  http://www.pioneervillagesalem.com/

April 2, 2012- “Anne Bradstreet Year” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Congressional and State proclamations to begin National Poetry Month.

March 17, 24 & 25th – Cappella Clausura –  Newton, Cambridge & Jamaica Plain. Come celebrate the 400th anniversary of America’s first poet, Mistress Anne Bradstreet. You’ll hear Hilary Tann’s CONTEMPLATIONS, Dorothy Crawford’s PORTRAIT, plus works by Bradstreet’s contemporaries Barbara Strozzi and Isabella Leonarda.  All locations are handicapped accessible.

April, 2012 – Massachusetts Poetry Festival.   Go to www.masspoetry.org to see the entire schedule.  Here are our programs,given on Friday the 20th  .  .  .

“Fire and Ice” – January 1, 2012  6 pm 

Light up the New Year with a festive bonfire, songs, and poetry at Smolak Farms in North Andover. Bring favorite poems to share and hear readings of poems by Anne Bradstreet and Robert Frost. Presented by Friends of Anne Bradstreet Foundation.  Free admission.

Smolak Farms, 315 S. Bradford St., North Andover MA.

Contact  valleyofthepoets@gmail.com

“To My Dear Children”: An Afternoon with Mistress Anne Dudley Bradstreet and the Essex Chamber Music Players – Poetry and Music – November 15, 2009, 2:00 PM –

 North Parish Universalist Unitarian Church, 190 Academy Rd., North Andover MA 01845

Poetry recited by Susan Lenoe as “Mistress Anne Dudley Bradstreet” with some audience participation alternating with music –
David Bennett Thomas: Contemplations: Five Songs on Anne Bradstreet for Soprano, Flute, Cello and Piano
Ned Rorem: To My Dear and Loving Husband for Soprano and Piano
Eric Sawyer: Earthly Store: Two Anne Bradstreet Songs for Soprano, Flute, Cello and Piano on poems Verses upon the Burning of our House, July 10th, 1666, and A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public Employment (World Premiere)

Charlotte Russell– soprano; Michael Finegold– flute; Kevin Crudder – cello; David Pihl– piano

General admission: at the door $15, in advance $10 (advance group rates: buy 3 get the 4th free), children $5. (Advance purchases can be made online at MVarts.info, and at the Andover Bookstore, Andover Historic Society, North Andover Historical Society.

A collaboration between the Essex Chamber Music Players, the Andover Historical Society and North Andover Historical Society and the North Parish Universalist Unitarian Church
Supported by the Andover Cultural Council