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We greatly appreciate Newton Community Pride kicking off our fundraising campaign with a generous grant. We are also a proud recipient of a Newton Cultural Council Grant. Your contribution will help the Summit continue to be a world-class sustainable tradition in our city. Any amount is highly appreciated and tax deductible.

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Anastassiya Petrova : Jazz Alchemist

Jazz pianist/organist from Kazakhstan currently based in New York City after spending 8 years in Boston, Massachusetts. She’s blowing up worldwide with her musical prowess and creativity. Throughout her musical career, she has been given opportunities to share the stage with artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Noah Preminger, Allan Chase, Patricia Pérez, Ben Street, Adam Cruz, Marco Pignataro, Ellis Hall, Catherine Russell, and others.

She participated in international festivals such as Umbria Jazz Festival 2013 (Italy), Wave of Ideas 2015 (Bulgaria), Panama Jazz Festival 2020, 2021 (Panama), Beantown Jazz Festival 2018 (Boston, MA), Monterey Jazz Festival 2018 (Monterey, CA), Soular Jazz Festival 2021 (MA), and Arlington Jazz Festival 2022 (MA), Winter Jazz Festival 2023 (NYC). She received her bachelor’s degree in professional music and performance at Berklee College of Music and a master’s degree in global jazz from Berklee, studying in the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. In 2019 she was awarded a DownBeat Student Music Award for the Best Graduate Arrangement.

In 2021 received a grand-prix at the International Jazz Bridge Competition as a pianist, composer, and arranger, and became the finalist at Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. In 2022 Petrova received a prestigious New Jazz Legacy Grant, which let her perform alongside the renowned jazz saxophonist Chris Potter and get creative mentorship with Kris Davis. She currently holds an Assistant Professor position at Berklee College of Music and Longy School of Music of Bard College. 

Dennis Montgomery III : Gospel Giant

Montgomery grew up singing and playing in Baptist churches around the upper Louisiana area under the tutelage of his father and mother,  By the time he was nine years old he was proficient enough on the Hammond B3 Organ to get hired to work alongside his father. Montgomery came to Berklee College of Music in 1983. Shortly after he arrived at Berklee, he headed for the gospel choir which had only recently come into existence. While Berklee’s education is focused on jazz,  “We know that jazz has its roots in the negro spiritual, which is gospel music. Gospel is also the mother of a lot of other secular music that America has produced.”

Gospel at Berklee grew rapidly and when Mongomery graduated he assumed the direction of the Reverence Gospel Ensemble as a full-time faculty member. Montgomery believes that the choir is a fundamental ingredient of the American experience for international students, which is probably why students from all over Asia, South America, Europe, and Australia all come to be a part of the choir. Montgomery states, “When I was young, I had to learn European musical styles. So when foreign students come to Berklee, I think it is important to educate them in a true form of American music.” The choir has served as a catalyst for some premiere voices in the music industry such as Paula Cole, Lalah Hathaway, Susan Tedeschi, Claude Kelly, Rob Lewis and Mark Whitfield.  

Paul Bloom : Defies Category

Paul distinguished himself quickly as a prodigiously creative talent in the Boston area before moving to New York City. Originally from Needham, Massachusetts, Paul was enthralled by music as a child and started taking piano lessons at age 5. As a teenager, he took lessons with Steve Sussman, Doug Johnson, and Hal Crook, while performing weekly at Wally’s Jazz Club. He also joined New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music programs, studying with renowned artists and educators including Austin McMahon, Tiger Okoshi, Alexei Tsiganov, Joanne Brackeen, Wes Wirth, Ken Schaphorst, and Julian Lage.

Paul participated in the Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program from 2012-2013, where he worked with mentors Joe Gilman, Stefon Harris, Patrick Langham, and Brian Kendrick. After moving to New York City in 2013, he began studies at Columbia University and discovered a fascination with neuroscience. Over the following years, he balanced studies in developmental neuroscience with a regular schedule of performances and recording sessions, as well as lessons with Frank Kimbrough and Bruce Barth.

Over the past decade, Paul has been an active member of the New York City music scene, playing and recording with artists spanning many musical styles, including Jess Best, Taylor Simone Harvey, iiii, Justin Carter, Alex Graff, Bria Monét, Chandanie, Sedric Perry, Elysse, Jazze Belle, Marcus Machado, Kendra Foster, and JSWISS. He has had opportunities to perform at premier venues, including the Blue Note, Apollo Theater, Dizzy’s Club, Nublu, Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazz Festival, The Bowery Ballroom, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the California Jazz Conservatory.

George Russell Jr. : Fusion of Gospel and Jazz

George Russell Jr. is a name that hardly needs an introduction. With this year’s performance, he will become the Summit’s first three-time performer since leaving the Waban Library. A pianist renowned for his passion, fire, soul, and spirit, he has recently embarked on a sabbatical from his teaching responsibilities to focus on his latest recording project, Reimagined. This album offers a fresh and inspired take on his favorite spirituals and hymns, reflecting his deep musical roots.

During his college years, George discovered jazz and the harmonies that define the genre, which transformed his understanding of the music he had been playing in church and in his classical repertoire. This period marked the beginning of his distinctive fusion of gospel and jazz—a style that has since become his signature.

Currently, George serves as Chair of the Harmony Department at Berklee College of Music, a role preceded by his tenure as a Professor of Harmony and Piano. Despite his focus on the piano, George often describes himself as “a drummer who happens to play the piano.” This rhythmic sensibility is evident in every performance, where his strong sense of groove and timing infuses his music with dynamic energy and depth.

Through his teaching, performances, and recordings, George Russell Jr. continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of music, blending tradition with innovation in ways that resonate with audiences and inspire future generations.

Domas Žeromskas: Dynamic Trailblazer

The music of Domas Žeromskas is fresh, creative, full of spirit & wonderful musical ideas and his playing shines thru all.– Bob James

Domas Žeromskas’ playing showcases beauty, inventiveness, maturity, and excitement. All of this, along with his considerable writing chops, make him a player to watch out for.
– Greg Tardy

All the younger artists that have headlined the Summit have displayed prodigious abilities that signal long careers ahead. The 24-year-old Lithuanian jazz pianist and composer has spent his early formative years on stage alongside prominent jazz veterans. By the time he graduated high school, Domas was already a sought-after player, known for his technical versatility and soulful, eclectic taste.

He resides in Boston while pursuing his master’s at the New England Conservatory.  Domas’ original music combines Post-Bop and metrically-nuanced modern jazz with Gospel/sacred music traditions and Afro-Caribbean styles. The repertoire is also enriched by modern adaptations of his native Lithuanian composers’ songbook and Baltic folklore.  

At the age of 18 Žeromskas released his debut album “Infinite Itinerant”, showcasing original music composed and arranged during his teenage years, some tunes dating back to 2015. Along with an abundant team of Lithuanian musicians, the album featured guest performances from Braxton Cook & Gustav Karlström.

In the following years he has been recording and touring internationally with artists such as Greg Tardy, Farayi Malek, Naledi Masilo, Tom Scott, and was also part of Euroradio Jazz Orchestra, hosted by WDR (Cologne, Germany).

Upon graduating from Berklee, Domas recorded “Meditations on Providence and Perseverance, Vol.1”. Featuring collaborations with Gregory Groover Jr., Nadje Noordhuis, Gregory Tardy, Alexandria DeWalt and many others, the album appeared in March 2024.

Camila Cortina Belo: Cuban Roots, Global Rhythms.

“If it’s all about musicality, good taste, versatility, passion, professionalism, stage presence and good vibes, it seems like we’re talking about the exquisite pianist Camila Cortina Bello.”
— Paquito D’Rivera

“Camila Cortina Bello is one of the most exciting artists I’ve ever worked with. As a composer, she creates beautifully kaleidoscopic sound worlds, and as a performer, she captivates with her magnetic storytelling.”
— Dr. Samantha Ege

Camila Cortina Belo is an acclaimed Cuban-born pianist, composer, and educator whose work masterfully reimagines the rich sounds and rhythms of her heritage through the lenses of jazz, classical, and world music. Known for her distinctive style, Camila has shared stage with legendary artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Dianne Reeves, to name a few.

Camila moved to Singapore where she performed as a pianist and music director for different international bands across Asia, including Indonesia and Malaysia. From 2015 to mid-2018 she dedicated her time to teaching while also working actively as a Latin jazz pianist and composer for audiovisual works, mainly related to Cuban culture. She performed at prestigious festivals like Singjazz 2017 (Singapore), Jazz by the Bay (Perth, 2017) and Borneo Jazz Festival (Borneo, 2018).

In 2023, she was awarded New Music USA’s “Next Jazz Legacy” fellowship. Since moving to New York, she has been making a name as a performer in the jazz scene, captivating audiences with her dynamic artistry and cross-genre exploration. Performance credits include the Punta del Este Jazz Festival in Uruguay, Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, and an NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with the band Okan, amongst many others. In 2024, she became a finalist for the prestigious CINTAS Foundation’s Brandon Fradd Fellowship in Music Composition (2024)

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Latest videos from last season:

Why you should attend these concerts:

• Experience the beauty of live music: There is nothing like hearing a talented artist play a beautiful piece of music in person, with all the nuances and subtleties that a recording simply cannot capture. No high-end system with vinyl, super audio CD, or any other recorded format can deliver all the energy and drama of a live performance.
• Expand your musical horizons: You may discover new composers and styles of music that you never knew existed, and develop a deeper appreciation for the art form.
• Connect with like-minded people: Attending the Summit can also be a great way to connect with people who share your passion for music. You may meet the performers themselves, and have the opportunity to discuss your favorite pieces of music and exchange ideas and insights.
• Unwind and de-stress: Listening to live music has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, and even lowering blood pressure. We most certainly can all use that!
• It is unlikely the next opportunity you will have to see these artists someone else will be footing the bill, consider this a free $100 ticket!
• These are some of the very best talents making music today! We have searched high and low with great expertise in finding out who’s hot, who is innovative, and who is making incredible music.
• Excepting previous Newton Piano Summits, not since Dizzy Gillespie played in Newton over three decades ago have Newtonites had the opportunity to see this level of talent for free. These are the concerts people will talk about for generations. 
• Just showing up is supporting the arts and helps ensure that talented musicians continue to have opportunities to perform and share their gifts in Newton.

This program is supported in part by grants from the Village Bank which has a long tradition of commitment to the Garden City, Advance Auto in Nonantum – providing quality service for everything automotive, Honda Village, and the Newton Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, Newton Community Pride, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Charles River Foundation and private donors.

You can make a tax-deductible donation by clicking here.

Click these links to see the concerts on: FaceBook or YouTube

Performers are selected from an A-list of recognized artists. Their reputations often include decades of experience performing at International Festivals and venues as headliners and/or with other recognized performers, numerous awards and recordings, and availability. Sometimes someone new is highly recommended and we are lucky to catch a rising star!

If you would like to help out and donate to the event you can contribute online with the button below or you can contact Chris Pitts or anyone with Next-Arts. Videos of all previous performances are available here. 

The Historic Second Church in Newton

We are excited to again hold this season’s performances at the amazing Second Church. Great acoustics, ample parking, plenty of comfortable cushioned seating, and easy wheelchair access.

We don’t waste a nickel! Here’s where your money goes: 2023 season cost a little over $17,000. Marketing was spent on internet advertising and lawn signs.

In-kind donations: Videographers and Audio engineers are donating 25 – 50% of regular fees. Performing artists are generally taking lower fees. More than 20 volunteers help staff the event. Producing and Video editing is done for free.