609 Congress St
Portland, ME 04101
USA
* $5 18-and-under student tickets available in person at the box office only.
Palaver Strings is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Founded in 2014, Palaver has established itself as a forward-thinking ensemble whose mission is to strengthen and inspire community through music. In our musician-led model, Palaver’s musicians share artistic and administrative leadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Palaver has toured widely throughout the United States, performing at the Kennedy Center and a celebration of the Lullaby Project at Carnegie Hall. The ensemble has enjoyed residencies at Rockport Music (2019-2020), Boston Center for the Arts (2017-2019), and Bay Chamber Concerts (ongoing). Each year, Palaver presents 40+ live performances featuring diverse musical programming, cross-genre projects, and community collaborations. Equally committed to education, Palaver offers quality music instruction through the Palaver Music Center in Portland, currently serving over 325 students per year.
Welcome Here celebrates the vitality of Maine’s indigenous and immigrant communities through music and storytelling. Palaver Strings, in partnership with the Abbe Museum, Immigrant Welcome Center of Greater Portland, and Indigo Arts Alliance, will collaborate with guest artists of Wabanaki, Congolese and Puerto Rican heritage, sharing traditional music and personal narratives. The program explores themes of Motherland, Mother Tongue and Mother love–interweaving stories of our relationship with the natural world, our cultural and linguistic traditions, and our dreams for the future generation of our grandchildren. The multidisciplinary production will be shared with seven communities across Maine.