Explore Music in Lexington

Are you looking to embrace your inner musician? Come and visit Lexington, where all kinds of musically talented people come together to make beautiful sounds that are pure magic. From bands, symphonies, and musical theater, here are four ways that this historic town celebrates the power of music.

The Lexington Bicentennial Band

The Lexington Bicentennial Band first made musical waves in 1974 to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington. Jeff Leonard, an accomplished Lexington High School music teacher, performer, arranger, and conductor, operates as the music director while Al Dentino is the assistant conductor for the summer concerts. The band performs seasonal concerts throughout the year and a free summer concert series at Hastings Park.

On April 19, 2024, the Lexington Bicentennial Band performed for the Countdown to 250 Concert, commemorating the one-year countdown to the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. During this concert, they featured music from the British Isles. 

Metropolitan Wind Symphony (MetWinds)

MetWinds is made up of 60 woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists. Founded by Jerry Gardner in 1971, this organization provides audiences with high-quality concerts and offers members opportunities to grow as a musician. These performances include traditional and contemporary wind band repertoire and some informal pop concerts throughout the metropolitan Boston area. Each individual who is a part of the symphony must go through an audition process. The band was awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll Award in 2015.

While the MetWinds come from Jamaica Plain in Boston, they perform in Lexington. Recently, on March 3, 2024, the musical group played their Winter Band Concert at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum at 33 Marrett Road in Lexington, MA.

Lexington Symphony

Founded in 1995, the Lexington Symphony includes an orchestra of professional musicians and talented nonprofessionals. The symphony brings high-quality live music under the direction of Principal Conductor Jonathan McPhee, who is also the music director of Boston Ballet. For the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the Lexington Symphony has a collection of insightful works that include historical themes for Lex250. These performances include Vive La France, The Will to Live, Holiday Pops, The Fight for Freedom, The Cost of Freedom, and Coming to America. 

The historic Cary Hall is where the symphony calls their performance space home. This performance hall has a grand auditorium, outstanding acoustics, accessibility, and air conditioning. 

The Lexington Players

While The Lexington Players aren’t necessarily a musical performance group, they are a theater group that dabbles in musical theater performances. Founded in 1995, this is Lexington’s only theater group. Productions within this group have expanded from two to four performances, now with an additional show for children. 

Along with shows, The Lexington Players also provide workshops, including a recent season focusing on new directors. Once this workshop concludes, these directors plan, audition, cast, and direct a one-act play. In the past 5 years the group has established a Women’s Dance Ensemble and a YouthStage Summer Drama Program.  

Whether you are a musician yourself or just love the sound of music, you’ll find so many opportunities to dabble in the musical arts in Lexington, MA.