Feb. 1: Halalisa Singers present 'All for Love' Cabaret

Boston-based vocal ensemble The Halalisa Singers presents All for Love, a special evening of cabaret music on Saturday, February 1 at First Parish, 327 Concord Road, Sudbury. Curated by artistic director Mary Cunningham and soprano Jessica Tunick Berens, the show features soloists and small ensembles in classic romantic tunes by Rodgers & Hart, George & Ira Gershwin, Jobim, and more, all accompanied by pianist Trevor Berens. The evening also features refreshments, libations, and a silent auction. Proceeds support The Halalisa Singers. Suggested donation for admission $20. For more information visit www.halalisa.org/concerts.

“Halalisa presented its first cabaret evening a few years ago to support the group’s Ireland tour,” says Cunningham. “Audience members have been clamoring for a repeat, and we can’t wait to sing all about love to warm a chilly winter’s night and celebrate Valentine’s month.”

The event comes on the heels of last spring’s popular American Songbook concert, and features a reprise of a few of those pieces, along with many new selections. Cabaret seating, cozy ambience, and delicious refreshments make All for Love a wonderful evening out. The silent auction, available online at www.32auctions.com/halalisa2025 features more than 20 items including vacation getaways, massage, artisan bread, tarot readings, home baked treats, handcrafted textiles and pottery, a seat at the table for a lavish Ina Garten-inspired comfort foods dinner, and a personal session with the Boston Book Lady.

The Halalisa Singers are a celebrated world music vocal ensemble of Greater Boston dedicated to the performance of music across cultures and nationalities. Halalisa is a Zulu word for celebration, and in that spirit, Halalisa’s repertoire includes African, Latin, American Spiritual, Gospel, Jewish, Folk, and Jazz. Founded by Nick Page in 1992 and under the leadership of Artistic Director Mary Cunningham since 2004, the chorus offers vibrant performances inspired by the belief that music is a universal language with the power to uplift and unite us all.

Artistic Director Mary Cunningham is in her 19th year of leading the Halalisa Singers, creating and directing unique and dynamic world music-themed choral concerts. Following her vision to share their music across the Boston area and beyond, Halalisa continues to reach out to wider audiences to perform an ever-expanding repertoire. She is well known in the Boston area as an active choral conductor, vocalist, and flute soloist. She has directed music ministry since 2008 in the UU churches of both Melrose and Reading, is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Association of UU Music Ministries. A member of the New World Chorale and a frequent performer with the Christmas Revels, Mary is on the faculty of the Winchester Community Music School and the Powers Music School in Belmont.

Pianist, composer, and accompanist Trevor Berens plays in many different styles, specializing in avant-garde classical music, traditional classical music, and free improvisation. Trevor holds degrees in piano performance, composition and music therapy from Loyola Marymount University, California Institute of the Arts and Lesley University. As a collaborator, he enjoys working with solo vocalists and instrumentalists, chamber groups, choruses, and with dancers and actors. Trevor is the founder, pianist, and resident composer of the new music ensemble Sonic Liberation Players. Trevor is the Pianist at the First Parish of Stow/Acton and, with his wife Jessica, runs the Berens Voice and Piano Studio out of Pepperell, MA.